Autumn Meadows, Author at West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Berkeley County Teacher Goes Above And Beyond

Lurah Cochran, an English teacher at Hedgesville High School, has earned West Virginia Public Broadcasting's Above and Beyond Award for November.

Lurah Cochran, an English teacher at Hedgesville High School, has earned West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Above and Beyond Award for November, which recognizes excellence and creativity of Mountain State teachers.

Cochran was presented the award by WVPB’s executive director Butch Antolini and West Virginia Treasurer Riley Moore. Interim Superintendent of Berkeley County Schools, Ronald Stephens, also attended. She received a monetary award and a signature Blenko Glass blue apple paperweight. The award is sponsored by the West Virginia State Treasurers’ Office, presenter of the SMART529 college savings program in the Mountain State.

Cochran was nominated by her daughter, Keandra Cochran who is currently a freshman student at Hedgesville High School. She explains first-hand how dedicated Cochran is daily whether it be face-to-face or online teaching, sometimes using herself as a guinea pig for her mother to create engaging lessons.

Cochran goes above and beyond to make learning fun for her students by using online interactive games, revamping Jenga, creating escape rooms for students, and more.

“She is a student favorite, because she engages students, she makes them think, and she cares for them,” Hedgesville High School Principal Ron Lyons told The Martinsburg Journal. “They care about her, too. It’s awesome to see the impact a teacher can have on the students.”

Based on her nomination, Cochran is a leader, mentor, and advocate for her students. “She was the original dance sponsor for five years, even though she doesn’t dance, so the girls could have a team,” states Keandra. “She has a giving nature and uses it for the betterment of her students and school.”

Cochran told Ainsley Hall at The Martinsburg Journal, “It means people are recognizing me for what I’m doing, so I guess I’m doing something right.”

Whether it is helping a student start a club, going to games and recitals, or walking with a student on seniors’ night so they are not alone, Cochran has built life-long relationships with her students through dedication and compassion.

Each month WVPB has an esteemed panel of judges that select one deserving teacher who goes above and beyond for the students in West Virginia. If you know of a deserving teacher that goes “Above and Beyond,” please click here to nominate them.

WVPB Drops In On Pleasants County 'Above And Beyond' Winner

Dustin Bell, a STEAM and social studies teacher at Pleasants County Middle School, has earned West Virginia Public Broadcasting's Above and Beyond Award for October, which recognizes excellence and creativity of Mountain State teachers.

Dustin Bell, a STEAM and social studies teacher at Pleasants County Middle School, has earned West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Above and Beyond Award for October, which recognizes excellence and creativity of Mountain State teachers.

Bell was presented the award in front of the student body, Assistant Principal Tyrell Childers, Superintendent Mike Wells, and his wife Amanda Bell during an exhilarating pumpkin drop event organized by Bell himself. He received a monetary award and a signature Blenko Glass blue apple paperweight. The award is sponsored by the West Virginia State Treasurer’s Office, presenter of the SMART529 college savings program in the Mountain State.

The pumpkin drop has been a tradition for Pleasants County Middle School for multiple years, led by Bell and two other STEAM teachers. Previously the pumpkins were dropped from the roof, and participation was limited to STEAM classes. However, in recent years, participation has opened to all students, and due to collaboration with Luminant, the experience has been amplified with a crane. Luminant representative Tim Ansell was helping with pumpkin clean up and stated that Luminant has been a partner in education for three years. They gladly help reserve the crane and donate snacks for the students.

The pumpkin drop is one example of many to support why Dustin Bell earned the Above and Beyond award for October. His lessons and activities are engaging, innovative, and fun for students. In Childers nomination for Bell, he listed lessons and projects that included woodworking, telegraphs, hot air balloons, and a Zombie Map. For example, to assess map skills, students are presented with a prompt that Zombies have taken over Pleasants County, and they are tasked with designing a new settlement using map skills they have learned in the classroom.

Bell also enjoys woodworking and incorporated this in his STEAM classes by teaching students the basics of working with wood and basic tools. Students are given choices of plans created by Bell, including a birdhouse, flower box, small chest, and a plant shelf. Bell feels that learning these hands-on skills is crucial for students and their future career choices or helping them in their own homes.

This year Bell is going Above and Beyond by encouraging students to be involved in the community by starting the Good Citizen Project. This project shows the importance of community service and how to be a good citizen. Some students picked up trash around their neighborhood, volunteered at the animal shelter, assisted an elderly neighbor, and one student cleaned leaves and trash out of their neighboring nursing home’s flower beds. Next year, Bell plans on coordinating with community members and organizations to provide a variety of projects students can choose from to practice being a good citizen.

Bell is passionate about his students and teaching them skills they can use for a lifetime. When asked what he loves most about his job, he said his students are what he loves most. “Seeing students out in public, having them come to me bursting with excitement about some news in their life, and seeing them grow from young, Minecraft obsessed little kids to amazing, fully functional adults. It is inspiring and what keeps me going on those days when I can tell it’s a full moon without even looking.”

Each month, WVPB has an esteemed panel of judges that select one deserving teacher who goes above and beyond for the students in West Virginia. If you know of a deserving teacher that goes “Above and Beyond,” please click here to nominate them.

Monroe County Special Education Teacher Receives WVPB’s September 2022 ‘Above And Beyond’ Award

Ashley Mann, a gifted and special education teacher in Monroe County, has earned West Virginia Public Broadcasting's Above and Beyond Award for September 2022, which recognizes excellence and creativity of Mountain State teachers.

Ashley Mann, a gifted and special education teacher in Monroe County, has earned West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Above and Beyond Award for September 2022, which recognizes excellence and creativity of Mountain State teachers.

Mann was presented the award during a surprise assembly by WVPB’s Education Director Maggie Holley. She received a monetary award and a signature Blenko Glass blue apple paperweight. The award is sponsored by the West Virginia State Treasurers Office, presenter of the SMART529 college savings program in the Mountain State.

Mann had just returned from a Model United Nations (UN) debate in Georgia the previous night with her students. One of those students, Braydie Carr, volunteered to speak about the positive impact Mann has had on his life and those of his peers since he’d known her since 7^th grade. Carr, now a senior, gave a special thanks to Mann for motivating him when he needed it most because it would help him with his future.

Monroe County teacher Ashley Mann was presented the September 2022 Above and Beyond Award during a surprise assembly.

Carr will be joining the other Model UN James Monroe students in January 2023 to attend Harvard’s Model United Nations conference for the third time. One of Mann’s most proud opportunities is to take her students to this event and join more than 4,000 other students from around the world. James Monroe is said to be the only West Virginia high school to be selected for this esteemed event since it began in the 1950s.

Ashley Mann goes above and beyond when providing a wide variety of experiences in fields as diverse as literature, civics, history and STEM. Not only has Mann been involved in Model UN, but she also helped form a Youth Leadership Association chapter at James Monroe High School in 2013, that has grown from one student to over 70 today.

She helps prepare the students and take them to other events such as the History Bowl and Spelling Bee competitions, as well as West Virginia Youth Government and Youth in Government conferences in Charleston. Other experiences include travel to the American Shakespeare Center for plays and theater workshops and participation in the Rocket Boys Festival. She especially appreciates the History Bowl, because it is the first event of the academic year that “starts the foundation and builds relationships for the rest of the year.”

Mann spoke very highly of her students and her passion for teaching is evident.

“You guys make it all worthwhile and easier to be away from family even when it’s hard at times,” Mann said. “I can’t wait to see what you all will do with your future, and I know it’ll be great things. I am so proud of you all and will always be in your corner.”

Each month WVPB has an esteemed panel of judges that select one deserving teacher who goes above and beyond for the students in West Virginia.

If you know of a deserving teacher that goes “Above and Beyond,” please click here to nominate them.

Students Agree, Mingo County Teacher Goes 'Above And Beyond'

Nathaniel Mitchell, a health teacher from Mingo Central High School, has earned West Virginia Public Broadcasting's Above and Beyond Award for May 2022.

Nathaniel Mitchell, a health teacher from Mingo Central High School, has earned West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Above and Beyond Award for May, which recognizes excellence and creativity of Mountain State teachers.

Mitchell was presented the award during Mingo Central’s College Decision Day by West Virginia Public Broadcasting Education Director Maggie Holley. He received a monetary award and a signature Blenko Glass blue apple paperweight. The award is sponsored by the West Virginia State Treasurers Office, presenter of the SMART529 college savings program in the Mountain State.

During the introduction, Mitchell was described by a Mingo County Board of Education member as someone who “not only lights up a room but can light up a stadium.”

Mitchell’s nominations were particularly special because he received not just one, but 16 nominations for the Above and Beyond award. All the nominations came from his students, showing how much of an impact Mitchell has made in their lives. The students described him as being involved, engaging, and passionate about his job. One student said, “He puts his heart into what he does and never fails to show he cares about what he does.”

Mitchell makes his health lessons something that every student can relate to and personalizes his lessons to each class regarding mental, physical, and emotional health. He expressed his success comes from the collaboration with other departments at the school, such as the Physical Education and Career and Technical Education.

Mitchell was passionate when answering questions about his students and teaching. He is also well known for coaching middle school sports. The relationships he builds from coaching are helpful in the classroom. He especially feels some of the best parts about teaching is when students make changes in their diets, avoid risky situations and seek help from counselors regarding their mental and emotional health. Mitchell said, “I feel overwhelmed with pride each year when students take information that they have learned in my class and apply it to their lives.”

Each month WVPB has an esteemed panel of judges that select one deserving teacher who goes above and beyond for the students in West Virginia.

If you know of a deserving teacher that goes “Above and Beyond,” please click here to nominate them.

Greenbrier County Teacher Goes 'Above And Beyond'

Jamie Howard, a third-grade teacher from Greenbrier County, has earned West Virginia Public Broadcasting's Above and Beyond Award for April, which recognizes excellence and creativity of Mountain State teachers.

Jamie Howard, a third-grade teacher from Greenbrier County, has earned West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Above and Beyond Award for April, which recognizes excellence and creativity of Mountain State teachers.

Each month WVPB has an esteemed panel of judges that select one deserving teacher who goes above and beyond for the students in West Virginia.

Howard was honored in a heartfelt ceremony at Crichton Elementary School by WVPB Education Director Maggie Holley and Education Specialist Autumn Meadows, where she received a monetary award and our signature Blenko Glass blue apple paperweight.

The award is proudly sponsored by the West Virginia State Treasurers Office, presenter of the SMART529 college savings program in the Mountain State.

Mrs. Howard was nominated by Sonja Manspile, a fellow teacher at Crichton Elementary.

Manspile also spoke at the ceremony and described Mrs. Howard’s passion for her students and her community as being supportive, caring, and patient. She said, “Jamie is always helping others and her love and care of the community shows in her relationships with the community and her students.”

Others who described Mrs. Howard’s impact on the community and school included Principal Ashley Spencer and Mrs. Howard’s mother, who also worked at Crichton Elementary for many years.

Her mother said, “I know she sees to the needs of her students whether it’s educational or personal, because when she’s around me all she talks about is her kids and how they are doing and learning.”

She continued by describing how one year Mrs. Howard learned she was receiving a student with a hearing disability the following year, so she took a class that summer to learn about the disability and how to provide the best instruction for that student. She also just completed her Master’s in Administration.

Howard is also known for her skills with technology and the creative ways she is bringing technology to the students in her school. She has introduced students and teachers to tiny robots as well as 3D pens.

When asked what inspired her to get this technology, Mrs. Howard says that she “wants to expose her students to different things and provide them with better opportunities.” The students were ecstatic and engaged with this technology, and she says it was wonderful to see the older students helping younger students.

Mrs. Howard plays a huge role in the community by attending meetings at the VFW, working with the church, and anything that involves her students. She enjoys being with her mother and honoring her father by working with veterans and helping others in the community.