Celebration Event Recognizes Excellence in GCPS
May 4, 2022 – Michael Tomlin, a third-grade teacher at Byrd Elementary School, was named the Goochland County Public Schools Teacher of the Year at the division’s Celebration of Excellence.
Tomlin is an outstanding educator who is an advocate for not only his class but all students. “He works hard to encourage and support students academically, socially, and emotionally,” Byrd Elementary Principal James Hopkins said. “He is always professional in his interactions with students, families, and peers , his students love him because of his sense of humor, and they know that he genuinely cares about them,” he said.
Teachers of the Year are nominated by their peers, and Tomlin’s noted that he works hard to find the strengths of each student and always goes above and beyond. One peer noted Tomlin’s communications with families. “He lets them know exactly what is going on in the classroom and gives suggestions to assist their children at home,” the BES staff member wrote. “Michael is always willing to share ideas at faculty meetings, and he always puts the needs of the students first,” another noted.
The Goochland Education Foundation presented Tomlin with $500 for his selection as GCPS Teacher of the Year. He will now represent GCPS in the Virginia Dr. Mary V. Bicouvaris Teacher of the Year recognition program. Regional Teachers of the Year are named, and one teacher then is named Virginia Teacher of the Year and will represent Virginia in the National Teacher of the Year recognition program. “We cannot say it enough: our people make our division great,” Assistant Superintendent of Administration Andrew Armstrong, Ph.D., said at the Celebration of Excellence reception. “It is no easy task to recognize individuals among a team of 500 employees for this evening’s celebration because our work requires the commitment and dedication of everyone who wears the Goochland County Public Schools badge each day in every classroom, on every bus, in every office, and in every building.”
School-level Teachers of the Year, Rookies of the Year, Team of the Year, and Employee of the Year were recognized at the event. Retirees were also celebrated and thanked for their service.
“Our country and our community need great public schools more now than ever – public schools that not only prepare and engage students with the knowledge and skills they will need, but public schools that model teamwork, understanding, courage, creativity, honor, and excellence,” Armstrong said. “I cannot imagine there is another workplace anywhere in this world that engages in such complex and important work, and the individuals we recognize this evening for their performance and service all have a part in that work here in Goochland.”
