First-Class Awards
An annual celebration of individuals who support, design, and implement inclusion activities that result in positive outcomes for students.
First-Class Awards are presented each year t o recognize and celebrate the efforts of educators, administrators, support staff, and students who demonstrate excellence in all facets of education related to disability.
2024 Winners
Category |
Winners |
---|---|
Elementary School Teacher |
Annisa Chesnut |
Elementary School Administrator |
Emily Cope |
Middle/High School Teacher 2 Awards |
Jessica Magarelli Todd Utter |
Middle/High School Administrators 4 Awards |
Amy Brown Shannon Matheny Betsy Fawsett John Basta |
Middle/High School Support Staff |
Lisa DeCandia |
Central Office |
Christian Lanzaro |
Specialty Program Staff |
Chad Clayton |
Community Contributor |
Food Bank & Hypothermia Center Rising Hope Mission Church |
Students |
Olivia Bradley West Springfield Elementary School |
Winners from Previous Years
2023 Winners
Category | Winners |
---|---|
Elementary School Teacher | Melissa DeStefano
Special Education Teacher Silverbrook Elementary |
Elementary School Administrator | Sharyn Prindle
Principal Wakefield Forest Elementary |
Elementary Support Staff | Shawna Peterson
Instructional Assistant Rolling Valley Elementary |
Middle/High School Teacher | Jae Lee
Special Education Teacher Annandale High School |
Middle/High School Administrator | Briana Kodadek
Special Education Department Chair James Madison High School |
Central Office | Mary Beth Harrison-Cunningham
Manager Family Resource Center |
Specialty Program Staff
(Two Awards) |
Ann Smith
Emily Kaltenmark
|
Specialists
(Two Awards) |
Leslie Leisey
Ashley Kiley
|
Community Contributor | Unlimited Potential (“UP”)
Springfield South County Youth Club |
Students | Culinary Arts Program
Davis Career Center |
2022 Winners
Category | Winner |
---|---|
Secondary Administrator | Dr. Ellen Reilly McLean High School Principal |
Elementary Administrator | Scott Reeder Canterbury Woods Elementary School Assistant Principal |
Central Office | Mike Bloom Central Office Department of Special Services Director of Special Education Instruction |
Elementary School Support Staff | Katie Lacroix Special Education Instructional Assistant |
Secondary School Support Staff | Alma Ortiz-Tellez McLean High School Instructional Assistant |
Elementary Student | Jackson Allen |
Secondary Student | Lila Jones |
Secondary Student Club | Assistive Technology Club, TJHSST |
Elementary Teacher | Amy LaCrosse Rolling Valley Elementary Enhanced Autism teacher/Lead Special Education Teacher |
Elementary Teacher | Kenzie Bergh Bush Hill ES Multiple Disabilities Teacher |
Secondary Teacher | Victoria Robinson Oakton High School Multiple Disabilities Teacher |
2021 Winners
- Michael Chierichella, 5th Grade Teacher, Coates Elementary School
- Keely Norris, Special Education Teacher, Glasgow Middle School
- Julie Tiss, Special Education Teacher, Rocky Run Middle School
- Allie Ojjeh, Special Education Teacher, Herndon Middle School
- Mark Thompson, Special Education Teacher, McLean High School
- Deb Opalesky, Speech and Language Pathologist, McLean High School
- Anna Southworth, Career and Transition Teacher, McLean High School
- Mary Beth and Eric Fleming, Assistive Technology Resource Teachers, Assistive Technology Services
2019 Winners
- Kerry Peerman, Principal, Halley Elementary School
- Sarah Chawki, Student, Bush Hill Elementary School
- Jordan Bristol, Kindergarten Teacher, Canterbury Woods Elementary School
- Nancy Lucas-Heck, Multiple Disabilities Teacher, Lake Braddock Secondary School
- Debra Opalesky, Speech-Language Pathologist, McLean High School