Congratulations to the following individuals for receiving the 2023-2024 Teacher of the Year nomination for their school. These nominees are in the running to become the Suffolk City-Wide Teacher of the Year, Virginia Region II Teacher of the Year, Virginia Teacher of the Year, and ultimately, National Teacher of the Year. The Teacher of the Year program aims to recognize and celebrate excellence in the classroom and looks for teachers who represent the best in teaching.

Elementary School Nominees

Dawn Irwin - Booker T. Washington Elementary School
Travis MacConnell - Creekside Elementary School
Lynette Phillips - Elephant's Fork Elementary School
Jasmine Ryan - Florence Bowser Elementary School
Crystal Brown - Hillpoint Elementary School
Elizabeth "Erin" Kessinger - Kilby Shores Elementary School
Maya Jones - Mack Benn, Jr. Elementary School
Megan Eberhardt - Nansemond Parkway Elementary School
Jennifer Breland - Northern Shores Elementary School
Danielle Hart - Oakland Elementary School
Alaine Panagotopulos - Southwestern Elementary School

Middle School Nominees

Dawn Kanehl - Col. Fred Cherry Middle School
Francisco Sanin - Forest Glen Middle School
Lakeahia Artis Bradby - John F. Kennedy Middle School
Susan Zyra - John Yeates Middle School
Ariel Ralph - King's Fork Middle School

High School Nominees
Jon Baisden - King's Fork High School
Felicia Ingram - Lakeland High School
Deborah Oliver - Nansemond River High School
Jenese Rasberry - Turlington Woods
Rhonda Culpepper - College and Career Academy at Pruden