Student & Staff Recognitions

Seniors of the Month

Each high school selects a student each month who has excelled in academics, athletics, community service, school citizenship, or any area they feel deserves recognition. The student and family members are invited to attend the monthly school board meeting, where they are recognized for the achievement.


Simphiwe Matibini Bruton High School		Brenden Mills Grafton High School		Sam Whiting Tabb High School		William Hunt York High School		Sydney Duran York River Academy

Teacher of the Year

The YCSD Teacher of the Year Program recognizes outstanding teachers who have displayed extraordinary teaching, creativity, and excellence at their school and in their community.

2025 Level Winners


Michelle Rower Mt. Vernon Elementary School Elementary School Teacher of the Year & YCSD Teacher of the Year		Sarah Wilson Tabb Middle School Middle School Teacher of the Year		Melissa Madrigal Grafton High School High School Teacher of the Year

2025 School-based Teachers of the Year

The following teachers have been selected as their school's Teacher of the Year

Elementary Schools		Middle Schools
Lyndsay Underwood	Bethel Manor Elementary School	Caron Garner	Grafton Middle School
Melissa Carmines	Coventry Elementary School	Steven Casper	Queens Lake Middle School
Kathleen Matthews	Dare Elementary School	Sarah Wilson	Tabb Middle School
Ellen Knott	Grafton Bethel Elementary School	Craig Campbell	Yorktown Middle School
Amy Hicks	Magruder Elementary School
Michelle Rower	Mt. Vernon Elementary School	High Schools
Megan Mattson	Seaford Elementary School	Lee Knight	Bruton High School
Merry Carter	Tabb Elementary School	Melissa Madrigal	Grafton High School
Lynn Morris	Waller Mill Elementary School	Linnea Terndrup	Tabb High School
Tamara Lynch	Yorktown Elementary School	Jennifer Payne	York High School
		Kristin Sherard	York River Academy

2025 Para-Educators of the Year

From helping prepare materials, to monitoring students, to providing one-on-one support, para-educators play an important role in our student's learning and development. The Para-Educator of the Year award recognizes staff members who have displayed extraordinary service, creativity, and excellence in supporting student achievement as an active and contributing member of the instructional team.

Name	School
Dorothy Garrison	Bethel Manor Elementary School
Melissa Shipman	Coventry Elementary School
Jennifer Edmonds	Dare Elementary School
Savanna Furbee	Grafton Bethel Elementary School
Ada Chicas	Magruder Elementary School
Betsy Crosby	Mt. Vernon Elementary School
Kimberly Jones	Seaford Elementary School
Hannah Schiferl	Tabb Elementary School
Valerie Scott	Waller Mill Elementary School
Meghan Minkoff	Yorktown Elementary School
Shalis Brown	Grafton Middle School
Domenica Miller	Queens Lake Middle School
Regan Gavagni	Tabb Middle School
Angel Bauman	Yorktown Middle School
Sarah Andrews	Bruton High School
Nicole DiGioia	Grafton High School
Srinitha Kallem	Tabb High School
Noelle Phillips	York High School

2025 Support Staff of the Year

Support staff employees include full- and part-time office, food services, and health services staff, as well as employees in various departments across the division. They play a critical role assisting teachers and administrators in providing services to the instructional program and facilities. The Support Staff of the Year award recognizes employees who have performed their duties in such an outstanding manner that they significantly contributed to the division mission and goals.

Name	School
Donna Crumpler	Bethel Manor Elementary School
Pamela Brown	Coventry Elementary School
Wanda Phillips	Dare Elementary School
Hannah Boyles	Grafton Bethel Elementary School
Carie Sanchez	Magruder Elementary School
Hallie Sieg	Mt. Vernon Elementary School
Sydney Downs	Seaford Elementary School
Monica White	Tabb Elementary School
Erika Ferbee	Waller Mill Elementary School
Bruce Bartlett	Yorktown Elementary School
Khristi Gurganus	Grafton Middle School
Lamont Finley	Queens Lake Middle School
Deon Stephenson	Tabb Middle School
Linda Sulik	Yorktown Middle School
Steve Cole	Bruton High School
Denise Smith	Grafton High School
Holly Reeves	Tabb High School
Wendy Winer	York High School
Katherine McKay	York River Academy
Joseph Drummond	Maintenance