Two West End Teachers Honored with Teaching Excellence Awards

Two West End teachers were honored for their demonstrated passion for teaching and commitment to inspiring students. Beverly Brown of Echo Lake Elementary School and Mary Bruner of Godwin High School were honored with the R.E.B. Foundation’s 2011 Award for Teaching Excellence this week. Brown is known not only for teaching her students core subjects […]

November 22, 2011; 1:47 PM • by Downtown Short Pump Staff

Two West End teachers were honored for their demonstrated passion for teaching and commitment to inspiring students. Beverly Brown of Echo Lake Elementary School and Mary Bruner of Godwin High School were honored with the R.E.B. Foundation’s 2011 Award for Teaching Excellence this week.

Brown is known not only for teaching her students core subjects in school, but teaching them the core subjects of life. She wants her students to be aware of the community around them and learn that they can truly make a difference in the world. One of Brown’s greatest personal passions is providing positive experiences for veterans. Each year, her students interview veterans and their families and honor them by reading their essays in a classroom ceremony. With her $8,800 R.E.B. award, she plans to honor veterans and visit the sites where they served to protect freedom in the U.S. and abroad.

Bruner’s love for American literature is apparent to every student in her classroom. She quotes Twain and Thoreau in her everyday speech and pushes students to succeed while still allowing them to have fun. Bruner will use her $6000 award to embark on a personal survey of American literature with visits to the homes of famous American authors and will also attend Literary Week at the Chautauqua Institution in New York and South Carolina’s Piccolo Spoleto Literary and Theatre Festivals.

The 2011 class of winners were selected from 127 teachers nominated by students, parents, and colleagues. Fifteen winners and seventeen finalists were awarded a total of $163,150. The finalists not chosen for a professional development grant received a $750 unrestricted cash grant in recognition of their achievements in the classroom.

Finalists from Henrico were Brian DelCorso of Lakeside Elementary School, Mesa Hinkle of Glen Allen Elementary School, Elizabeth Miller of Three Chopt Elementary School and Cristina Rhyne of Shady Grove Elementary School.

November 22, 2011 1:47 PM 0