Helping Hands Awards
The staff members listed below were nominated by students, parents, colleagues and community members and recognized with the Helping Hands Award for their dedication to the students of Powhatan County Public Schools.
Do you know a Powhatan County Public Schools employee who is Inspiring, Empowering, or Innovating? We want to hear from you! Tell us about any staff member who is making a difference in the lives of our children by inspiring, empowering or innovating. Please use the online nomination form linked here to tell us about a Powhatan Schools staff member who deserves to be recognized. We welcome suggestions from students, families, co-workers or community members.
Ms. Ellen Yoder - Inspiring
 |
Ms. Ellen Yoder was nominated by one of her parents, Ms. Joanna Hoyt for INSPIRING. Ms. Hoyt wrote: Mrs. Yoder is the most positive teacher my children have ever had. I feel we’ve had many, many wonderful teachers, however, Mrs. Yoder goes out of her way to constantly praise and pick out every positive thing she can about each child. She continues to check in on past students and offers help when your family has had a lot of sickness. She boosts her students’ self-esteem (even the ones that don’t think highly of themselves). We need more Yoders! |
Mr. Marcellus Beasley - Inspiring
 |
Mr. Marcellus Beasley was nominated by one of his students, Ms. Michele Sanchez for INSPIRING. Michele wrote: Both Board Game Club and the Robotics Team are places where I've felt as though I belong. When I first transferred, I had a really hard time trying to fit in with kids who have known each other their whole lives. When Mr. Beasley invited me to board game club, I was nervous but the other kids waved me in and set up a seat for me! That day, they also invited me to come to a robotics scrimmage, where the same thing happened. I'm now proudly part of both groups, and Mr. Beasley helps give kids a place to belong when they don't feel like they have one, and that's beautiful. |
Ms. Mae Church - Inspiring
 |
Ms. Mae Church was nominated by Ms. Amanda Church for INSPIRING. Amanda wrote: Ms. Mae Church has been going out of her way to help the students of Powhatan County get to and from school safely for 45 years! |
Officer Corbin Kelley - Inspiring
 |
Officer Corbin Kelley was nominated by a parent, Ms. Amy Cardwell for INSPIRING. Ms. Cardwell wrote: Officer Kelley connects with the kids at school and personally has become my son's mentor. My son has the same hobbies as SRO Kelley and he has personally befriended my son and they chat about projects they are working on. If my son has a problem, he is comfortable talking to SRO Kelley. |
Ms. Phyllis Price - Inspiring
 |
Ms. Phyllis Price was nominated by a parent, Ms. Sarah Oatman, for INSPIRING. Ms. Oatman wrote: Mrs. Price shows so much love and respect to each and every one of her students. I can tell by the way students talk about her that she is so much more than a teacher. Eli loves to go to school every day. She often quotes Mrs. Prices’ wise advice, and comments on her "no chaos" policies. I think she is investing all of herself into making great future generations. We are blessed to have so many wonderful teachers at this school, and she's a diamond at this Flat Rock!! |
Mr. Jarrod Lisker - Empowering
 |
Mr. Jarrod Lisker was nominated by one of his former students, Rachael Stanton, for Empowering. Rachael wrote: Mr. Lisker went above and beyond to help me with math. He is the reason I passed high school Algebra. He helped me deal with a very hard move from New Hampshire to Virginia. Mr. Lisker took his time to talk with me and help me one-on-one until I understood the material. He never gave up on me. |
Mrs. Donia Spott - Innovating
 |
Ms. Donia Spott was nominated by one of her colleagues, Ms. Gillian Lambert, for Innovating. Ms. Lambert wrote: In her new role as STEM Coach, Donia has created a truly innovative learning environment. She is able to seamlessly connect numerous STEM lessons and activities to any content area. She is always willing to help students in various science competitions, as well as gives her time to students who want to create a variety of projects during Tribe Time. Donia's success with all populations of students, regardless of ability level, is indicative of the efficacy of her skill set and the ownership she demonstrates for the craft of teaching and instruction. |
Ms. Lisa Reid-Miller - Inspiring
 |
Ms. Reid-Miller was nominated by one of her students for being Inspiring. Casey wrote: You may be thinking, “She's just the art teacher”, but there is so much more to Mrs. Reid-Miller. She once told me she smiles or says hi to anyone she sees in the hallway because she wants them to be happy. I only had Ms. Reid-Miller for tribe time 2 years ago, but still, to this day I still find myself trying to fill her shoes and do what she does best, which is trying to make people happy. Whenever I have a friend or myself that feels bad, I always ask myself what would Ms. Miller do because, to me, that always seems like the best decision. |
Ms. Christine Bowen - Empowering
 |
Ms. Christine Bowen was nominated by a parent, Ms. Katherine Levermore for being Empowering. Ms. Levermore wrote: Ms. Bowen has helped my son improve by 5 reading levels last year. She has greatly improved his self-esteem and confidence about reading. |
Ms. Libby Acampora - Inspiring
 |
Ms. Libby Acampora was nominated by one of her colleagues, Ms. Sarah Cosner for being Inspiring. Ms. Cosner wrote: Libby is such an amazing person, friend, and colleague. She is always finding ways to make a genuine difference and connection with all of our citizens. She leads by example and shares her findings from self-studies. I am incredibly inspired by Libby's loving spirit and everything she shares with this community. SHE IS MAKING A PROFOUND DIFFERENCE every single day. We are so very blessed to have her here with us. |
Ms. Liz McCrory - Inspiring
 |
Ms. Liz McCrory was nominated by a parent, Ms. Tiffany Abbondanza, for being Inspiring. Ms. Abbondanza wrote: Mrs. McCrory had her students study the 7 Habits of Happy Kids. While learning about the habit of being Proactive, Mrs. McCrory asked the children what a change was they knew their parents were trying to teach them. My daughter offered that it was sleeping through the night without waking us up. Mrs. McCrory encouraged my daughter to set that as a goal, but to be proactive by working with mom/dad to identify a way to celebrate when she reached the goal. Fast forward two weeks and our daughter started staying in her room and sleeping through the night for the first time in years. The change was astounding and inspired by her awesome teacher. Not only was our daughter very proud, mom and dad got to sleep through the night too! |
Lt. Col. Veronica Baker - Empowering
| |
Lt. Col. Veronica Baker was nominated by a parent, Ms. Beth Belcher, for being Empowering. Lt. Colonel Baker has both inspired and empowered her students all 6 years she has been at PHS. Through her leadership and required responsibility tasks she gives her students, |
Ms. Carol Antone - Inspiring
 |
Ms. Carol Antone was nominated by one of her colleagues, Ms. Libby Acampora for being Inspiring. Ms. Acampora wrote: Carol makes everyone who enters school counseling feel like they matter, they are going to be heard and taken care of. When she speaks, you hear compassion and kindness. Students feel like everything is going to be okay. For staff, she can be a shoulder to cry on, a person who will politely answer questions, a masterful problem solver and a great friend. She will print off documents, forms, and even run to the closet to get salt/pepper packets. Carol is organized, professional and caring to parents as well. Powhatan Middle School is blessed to have Carol Antone in our ONE TRIBE!!! |