Six Henrico County Public Schools educators have received the 2024 REB Award for Teaching Excellence, earning grants of $10,000 to $15,000 to pursue transformative learning experiences. The Community Foundation, which recognizes Richmond area teachers who stand out for their inspiring classroom work, awarded these grants to support hands-on study across a range of fields. A seventh HCPS teacher was honored as a finalist.

This year’s awards celebrated 18 teachers regionally, with 14 finalists chosen from a pool of 85 nominees submitted by students, parents and colleagues. The HCPS recipients were surprised at their schools with announcements attended by division leaders, administrators, fellow educators and students.

Among the winners, Glen Allen High School’s Ryan Conway will use his $14,900 grant to study teacher training programs and advanced instructional methods in Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, focusing on strategies tailored for Generation Alpha, the population born since 2010. Highland Springs Elementary’s Kionna Bobbitt will invest her $15,000 grant in earning certification in culturally responsive leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University and attending the K-12 Innovative Schools Summit, broadening her expertise in equitable school practices.

Elizabeth Broda of Henrico High School will apply her $13,700 award to travel to Hawaii, where she will work with nonprofits and learn how Native Hawaiian cultural principles promote community strength and empowerment. J.R. Tucker High’s Yvette Lee plans to pursue courses in design thinking and web development, visit England for insights into play-based computer learning and travel to Tanzania to study tech initiatives that support young women.

Hungary Creek Middle School’s Kendra Thomas, awarded $10,300, will take advanced writing and morphology courses, study dyslexia programs in Vermont, and explore cross-curricular middle school approaches to watersheds and Native American history in New England. Lastly, Jason Abril of Douglas S. Freeman High School will expand on a senior thesis by following the paths of ancient cave-painters and modern authors in Southern France to delve into the relationship between memory and personal storytelling.

Additionally, Twin Hickory Elementary School’s Donna Letson received $1,000 as a finalist.