About Our People

Posted on April 1, 2009

About Our People

Francis "Buck" Payne * Francis “Buck” Payne, a social studies teacher and program coordinator of the AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination) program at Falls Church High School, has been named the Fairfax County Public Schools 2009 Teacher of the Year. Payne will represent FCPS in Virginia’s Teacher of the Year competition; the winner will be announced in fall 2009.

Payne has also won the Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award for educational excellence, which is presented annually to a teacher from each school division in the Washington metropolitan area. The goals of the Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Awards are to recognize excellence in teaching, to encourage creative and quality instruction, and to contribute in a substantive way to improving education in the Washington area. The award includes a $3,000 prize, which Payne will receive at a recognition ceremony in April.

Visitors to Falls Church High may see students wearing T-shirts stating “No Payne, No Gain.” These would be Payne’s students, beneficiaries of the dedication, commitment, enthusiasm, and countless hours he dedicates to challenge, inspire, and encourage them to succeed in school. Since taking over the AVID program in 2001, Payne has watched it grow from 16 to 185 students, 98 percent of whom are accepted to four-year colleges. The students in his social studies classes post a 90 percent pass rate on their Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) exams. How does this retired U.S. Navy weapons officer—who drives 90 minutes to and from work every day and raises cattle on his farm in Sperryville—motivate AVID students facing economic need, language issues, or family challenges to become college-ready?

Payne requires students who are not meeting their full potential to agree to a behavior contract requiring them to get after-school help at least three days per week. “He empowers the students by teaching them how to use AVID organizational tools and study strategies,” says nominator Kristen Jones, Falls Church High social studies department chair. “Perhaps most importantly, he holds them accountable for their own actions.” Students who don’t meet the terms of the contract are removed from the program, but, adds Jones, “Under the mentoring and tutelage of Mr. Payne, a highly effective facilitator and motivator, nearly every student rises to the challenge.”
(view press release)

Finalists for the 2009 FCPS Teacher of the Year award are John Hawes, social studies teacher at Annandale; Karen Hertel, health and physical education teacher at Mount Vernon; Katie Keier, first and second grade teacher at Bailey’s; and Jennifer DeMarco, preschool autism teacher at Franklin Sherman.

Nominees: Margaret Barnes, Cynthia White Borer, Delores Bradee, Noell Brinley, Aretha Cunningham, Deborah Daly, Susan Duda, Wendy Ergler, Gilpin Fegley, Jacqueline Fong, Nicole Giehll, Pamela Gomez, Laurie Heinecke,
Christopher Hinton, Dianne Jennings, Kimberly Levin, Janey Markon, Susan McCarthy, Malinda McClain, Theresa Orlando, Payal Patel, Luis Perez, Kimberley Robinson, Chad Rummel, Oraib Saah, Heather Shapiro, Trudi Shjeflo, Judith Skirbunt, Patti Soderberg, Dianne Tenney, Susan Trinka, Ghislaine Tulou, Sueann Tupy, Ann Lam Wong, and Rebecca Wysocki.

For more information about FCPS' employee awards, go to http://www.fcps.edu/DHR/employees/awards/index.htm.

* Kevin Garrahan, sixth grade teacher at Louise Archer, has published his first book, Third House Down Hidden Cove. He is an avid storyteller and enjoys sharing the joy of writing with his students. Third House Down Hidden Cove tells the story of Dan, a student who fits comfortably between Eddie, the unquestioned leader, and Scott, an undeniable follower. It shares Dan’s struggle with jeopardizing his friendship with them or doing what is right.

* Anna Slevin, English teacher, and Lance Baldwin, technology education teacher, both at Rocky Run, were chosen to be featured in a video distributed by the American Society of Curriculum Development, Promoting Creativity and Innovation in the Classroom, for their curriculum that promotes 21st century skill development.

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The following categories of items will be published:

Employees who receive regional, state, or national awards for their professional accomplishments.
Employees elected to serve on regional, state, or national education organizations.
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Those who successfully defend doctoral dissertations.
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