2023 Outstanding Secondary Teacher, Finalists, and School Recipients
The Outstanding Secondary Teachers Recognized for 2023
The Outstanding Secondary Teacher Award recognizes secondary teachers who demonstrate dedication, commitment, and the ability to propel students to high levels of success. The recipients meet the individual needs of students, foster talent, instill a desire to learn, and nurture cooperative relationships among colleagues and in the community. Any FCPS employee or community member may nominate teachers with at least three full years of experience for this award.
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2023 Outstanding Secondary School Teacher
Daniel J. Miller
English Teacher
Fairfax High School, Region 5
Daniel is a teacher who is always on the move. He moves around his classroom to check with all students and around the building to support teaching and learning in all departments. Daniel also moves himself to meet new challenges and support the development of his colleagues through professional development sessions and mentoring, which helps prepare teachers to meet the needs of all students. Energy emanates from his classroom. With Daniel, students and staff feel heard, seen, and safe. Teaching three levels of English as well as Advanced Placement Capstone, in addition to serving as the Collaborative Teams coordinator for Fairfax High, Daniel ingratiates himself into all threads of the fabric of the school.
2023 Outstanding Secondary School Teacher
Annie Ray
Orchestra Director
Annandale High School, Region 2
A passionate advocate for universal access to quality music education, Annie regularly develops innovative opportunities to make music accessible to students of all demographics. For example, she created the Crescendo Orchestra program to bring the joy of orchestra to students with severe developmental or intellectual disabilities. Her work also extends beyond the classroom to include the whole school community. Her creation of the FCPS Parent Orchestra annually helps over 150 parents learn to play their child's instrument, allowing them to support and connect with their student. A colleague said, "Annie meets every student where they are and shows them where they are capable of going - through hands-on, engaging instruction."
2023 Outstanding Secondary School Teacher Finalist
Brooke-Marie LaPorta
Biology Teacher
Bryant High School, Non-Region
Brooke's classroom philosophy is to empower the students not just to learn the material but to understand it and apply it to their daily lives. Brooke believes that nature helps spark excitement for learning science and connects us all as a common denominator in this world which helps build connections to each other. Another colleague stated, "She is the chair of our Science Department, chemical safety officer for the school, garden coordinator, and mentor. In those roles, she is an outstanding example of a leader who balances and applies her time, energy, and expertise so all thrive." Students leave her classroom with a smile, talking about the ideas being discussed, and then return the next day with a thirst for learning more!
2023 Outstanding Secondary School Teacher Finalist
Shani R. Moser
Spanish Language Teacher
Madison High School, Region 1
Shani pours her heart and soul into her classes with high energy and enthusiasm. She crafts engaging and thought-provoking Spanish language and culture lessons that make her students take time to think deeply and connect emotionally with the material, often using personal stories to illustrate her point. She forms strong relationships with students and families with openness, honesty, and humor that help them to trust her, and they come to her for help and advice that reach far beyond the classroom. From teaching how to roll Rs to leading Socratic-style discussions, Shani engages her students by pushing them beyond their comfort zones in a safe environment to foster the love of learning!
2023 Outstanding Secondary School Teacher Finalist
Cristina Procaccino
Latin Language Teacher
Edison High School, Region 3
Cristina's Latin classroom defies the adage that Latin is a dead language. She shares her love of learning with her students and creates a welcoming, inclusive, and joyous classroom atmosphere. Students explore their individual interests as they "time-travel" to the ancient world and excel in Latin contests and competitions. Cristina creates a strong sense of community for her students by establishing traditions and building relationships with families, colleagues, feeder schools, universities, professional organizations, and students and teachers worldwide. She also works as a leader within her professional communities to promote and present on collaboration, multilingualism, linguistics, and engagement in language classrooms.
2023 Outstanding Secondary School Teacher Finalist
Gayle Thayer
German Language Teacher
Liberty Middle School, Region 4
Passionate about language and teaching, Frau Thayer has taken pride in helping students recognize and celebrate their growth in language and life for over 30 years. Gayle gives students a sense of belonging while ensuring high standards in both curriculum and expectations. One student said, "I feel safe in her classroom, and she makes learning fun." Her energy and enthusiasm keep students engaged and lead to student success. She creates a supportive environment by presenting rigorous yet meaningful, innovative lessons. Gayle incorporates Portrait of a Graduate skills into her lessons, so her students go into the world prepared, and she enjoys hearing success stories from former students that they are indeed using skills that she taught.
Outstanding Secondary Teacher Finalists Slideshow
2023 Outstanding Secondary Teacher School Recipients
- Annandale High School
- Annie Ray - Orchestra Director *
- Bryant High School
- Brooke LaPorta - Biology Teacher *
- Burke School
- Jessica Moberly - Emotional Disabilities Teacher *
- Carson Middle School
- Kelli L. McCoy-Williams - Resource Teacher
- Centreville High School
- Jennie Hwangpo - English Teacher
- Chantilly High School
- Kevin Boss - Health & Physical Education Teacher
- Cooper Middle School
- Paula Prosper - Mathematics Teacher *
- Edison High School
- Cristina Procaccino - Latin Language Teacher *
- Fairfax High School
- Daniel Miller - English Teacher *
- Falls Church High School
- Cori Parks - American Sign Language Teacher
- Franklin Middle School
- Lauren Sturgill - Learning Disabilities Teacher
- Frost Middle School
- Anne Marie Patterson - Orchestra Teacher *
- Glasgow Middle School
- Anne Quigley - Learning Disabilities Teacher *
- Hayfield Secondary School
- Megan Mutscheller - Business & Information Technology Teacher *
- Herndon High School
- Kevin Quinlan - Geosystems Teacher *
- Herndon Middle School
- Brian Hollingsworth - Science Teacher
- Holmes Middle School
- James Yoon - Health & Physical Education Teacher
- Hughes Middle School
- Atilio Headley - Spanish Language Teacher
- Interagency Alternative Schools
- Jude Welling Barrows - Alternative School Teacher
- Irving Middle School
- Jacqueline Rhodes - Mathematics Teacher
- Justice High School
- Edgar Jaimes Hernandez - Spanish Language Teacher
- Katherine Johnson Middle School
- Anna Sengstack - Orchestra Director
- Key Center School
- Sean Ganley - Adapted Physical Education Teacher
- Key Middle School
- Chelsea Aquino - Learning Disabilities Teacher
- Kilmer Center
- Drea Vechery - Multiple Disabilities Teacher *
- Kilmer Middle School
- Carrie Marcey - Mathematics Teacher
- Lake Braddock Secondary School
- Theresa Charles - High School Math Teacher
- Langley High School
- Caroline Player - Choir Director
- Lewis High School
- Mercedes Matson - Biology Teacher *
- Liberty Middle School
- Gayle Thayer - German Language Teacher *
- Longfellow Middle School
- Erin Caswell - Multiple Disabilities Teacher *
- Luther Jackson Middle School
- Melih Ertekin - General Science Teacher *
- Madison High School
- Shani Moser - Spanish Language Teacher *
- Marshall High School
- Kristine Elsener - Mathematics Teacher
- McLean High School
- Deidra Denson - Band Director
- Mount Vernon High School
- Russell Roache – Mathematics Teacher *
- Oakton High School
- Gabrielle Gombos - English Teacher *
- Poe Middle School
- Megan Skirving - Health & Physical Education Teacher
- Robinson Secondary School
- Meaghan Fry - Learning Disabilities Teacher, High School
- Jesse Riley - Learning Disabilities Teacher, Middle School *
- Rocky Run Middle School
- Jason Linck - History & Social Studies Teacher *
- Sandburg Middle School
- Olivia Ceppi - Eighth Grade General Science Teacher
- South County High School
- Susan Baker - French Language Teacher
- South County Middle School
- Cindy Downing - History & Social Studies Teacher *
- South Lakes High School
- Tiffany Welborn - Learning Disabilities Teacher *
- Stone Middle School
- Tracy Magwire - Band Teacher
- Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
- Kristen Kucko - Robotics Technology Teacher *
- Thoreau Middle School
- Julie Hackenberg - General Science Teacher
- Twain Middle School
- Kimberly Yeo - Health & Physical Education Teacher
- West Potomac High School
- Shari Terry - Physics Teacher *
- West Springfield High School
- Monica Haynes - Emotional Disabilities Teacher *
- Westfield High School
- Carson Huling - Learning Disabilities Teacher *
- Whitman Middle School
- Marcela Ardaya Barron - Intellectual Disabilities Teacher
- Woodson High School
- Kevin Crenshaw - Multiple Disabilities Teacher
*Denotes pyramid winner