Hampton City Schools announces finalists for the Teacher of the Year for the 2024-2025 academic year

Hampton City Schools takes pride in acknowledging the exceptional Teachers of the Year (TOY) for the 2024-2025 academic year. These dedicated individuals exemplify excellence through their unwavering professionalism and steadfast commitment to the students of Hampton City Schools. Their innovative and imaginative teaching methods have a positive impact on our classrooms, schools, and communities. Hampton City Schools considers itself fortunate to count such remarkable educators among its ranks, guiding our students toward a future where they can become lifelong learners and realize their aspirations.

This year, we celebrated all of the Teachers of the Year at an event held at The Landing on March 21, 2024. Additionally, we honored 12 finalists: seven from elementary schools, three from middle schools, and two from high schools. These finalists will undergo an interview process with the division-level TOY selection committee, and a team will visit their classrooms to observe their teaching practices. The teachers will receive recognition during our preservice kickoff event in August, where we will also announce the HCS Elementary, Middle, High, and Overall Division Teacher of the Year.

Elementary School Level Finalists

Lindsey Cornell – Asbury Elementary School

Lizzy Teague – Barron Fundamental Elementary School

Kara Hart – Bryan Elementary School

Alyssa Dowling – Cooper Elementary Magnet School

Sarah Hammond – Forrest Elementary School

Elda Garcia – Phillips Elementary School

Brooklynn Johnson – Smith Elementary School

Middle School Level Finalists

Sheryl McLaughlin – Jones Magnet Middle School

Shayla Shipley – Lindsay Middle School

Danielle Strother – Tarrant Middle School

High School Level Finalists 

Shareese Boseman – Adult and Alternative Learning Center

Franchesca Conley-Mitchell – Hampton High School

For a full list of the individual schools 2024-2025 Teachers of the Year, see below:

Aberdeen Elementary – Ashley Brown – Fourth Grade

Adult & Alternative Learning Center – Shareese Boseman – Biology

Andrews PreK-8 – Glenda Cothon – Kindergarten

Armstrong School for the Arts – Catherine Strand – Fourth Grade

Asbury Elementary – Lindsey Cornell – First Grade

Barron Fundamental Elementary – Lizzy Teague – Music

Bassette Elementary – Dr. Kimberly Tazewell – Literacy Support Specialist

Bethel High – Olivia Cochran – Social Studies

Bryan Elementary – Kara Hart – School Counselor

Burbank Elementary – Miranda Turnbull – Special Education

Christian Elementary – Malcolm Carpenter – Library Media Specialist

Cooper Elementary Magnet School – Alyssa Dowling – Fifth Grade

Department of Academic Advancement and Enrichment (DAAE) – Mary Beth Crawford – Gifted Resource

Eaton Middle – Porsche Moody – Eighth Grade Science

Forrest Elementary – Sarah Hammond – Special Education

Future Learning Experience (FLEx) – Jessica Thomas – Special Education

Hampton High – Franchesca Conley-Mitchell – Algebra 1

Jackson Elementary – Emily Edman – Pre-K

Jones Magnet Middle – Sheryl McLaughlin – Seventh & Eighth Grade Science

Kecoughtan High – Alina Hamblin – World Language (Spanish)

Kilgore Gifted Center – Ashley Waite – Art 

Kraft Elementary – Irma Paris – Special Education

Langley Elementary – Pamela Melillo – Second Grade

Lindsay Middle – Shayla Shipley – Sixth Grade Math

Machen Elementary – Janet Heller – Math Interventionist

Moton Early Childhood Center – Theresa Johnston – Pre-K

Patrick Elementary – Samantha Lindsay – Kindergarten

Peake Elementary – Aimee Hooper – Third Grade

Phenix PreK-8 – Christa Allen – Health & PE

Phillips Elementary – Elda Garcia – Music

Phoebus High – Alexis Upton-Savedge – Science

Smith Elementary – Brooklynn Johnson – Fourth Grade

Syms Middle – Spurgeon Foster – Math Interventionist

Tarrant Middle – Danielle Strother – Health & PE