Vision, Integrity & Passion (VIP) Awards

Overview

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) launched the VIP Awards Program in October 2021 as a way to honor outstanding employees who work every day to make a difference in our school division. Throughout the year, ACPS highlights employees among four categories as a way to honor those who stand out for their dedication and achievement. This initiative operates in conjunction with the annual ACPS Teacher of the Year and Principal of the Year awards to ensure a comprehensive employee recognition program.

2024-25 VIP Award Nominations

Beginning Fri., Sept. 6, 2024, ACPS will open the nomination process for ACPS staff to recommend colleagues who they feel display outstanding Vision, Integrity and Passion in their daily work and have a positive impact at ACPS. The first round of applications for the Leadership category will close on Fri., Sept. 27, 2024.

VIP Awards nOMINATION fORM

Nomination Criteria

Nominees must be a current ACPS employee.
Nominees demonstrate vision, integrity and passion for ACPS.
Nominations are accepted from any individual or group employed by the division.
Any employee who has received a VIP award previously is not eligible for a 2024-25 VIP award (list of previous recipients can be found below).
Principals and teachers cannot be nominated for a VIP Award, as they are eligible to be nominated for the Teacher of the Year and Principal of the Year Awards.

Application Information

Nomination Categories & Deadlines

Sept. 6 - sept. 27, 2024: leadershiP

This includes all Central office and building level administration. VIP award recipients in this category will be recognized at the Nov. 7, 2024, School Board meeting.

Jan. 24 - feb. 26, 2025: Transportation, Nutrition Services, Building Engineers and custodial services

NOTE: Deadline extended to Feb. 26

This includes: transportation staff, maintenance/building engineers, custodial staff and nutrition services employees. VIP award recipients in this category will be recognized at the March 20, 2025, School Board meeting.

NOV. 8 - Dec. 6, 2024: Support staff

This includes Central office support, building-level support, administrative assistants, instructional assistants, ACPS monitors and school security monitors. VIP award recipients in this category will be recognized at the Jan. 23, 2025, School Board meeting.

March 21 - april 11, 2025: Licensed Specialists

This includes: psychologists, diagnosticians, nurses, therapists, counselors, social workers, athletic trainers and technology integration specialists. VIP award recipients in this category will be recognized at the May 29, 2025, School Board meeting.

Previous VIP Award Recipients

Leadership Staff

Marcella Ahern, Charles Barrett Elementary School, assistant principal (2022-23).
Gladis Bourdouane, Department of School and Communications, assistant director of communications (2022-23).
Michael Burch, Alexandria City High School- King Street Campus, lead administrator for operations and student support (2023-24).
Michael Covington, Department of Financial Services, director of accounting (2023-24).
Dr. Tricia Jacobs, Department of Teaching Learning and Leadership, director of career and technical education (2022-23).
MeChale' Johnson, Department of Facilities and Operations, director of pupil transportation and fleet management (2023-24).
Molly McCabe, Early Childhood Center, assistant principal (2023-24).
Rebecca Pittman, Douglas MacArthur Elementary School, assistant principal (2022-23).
Carmen Sanders, Alexandria City High School- King Street Campus, campus administrator (2021-22).
Christopher Speich, campus administrator at Alexandria City High School (2022-23).
Christopher Thompson, Alexandria City High School- King Street Campus, administrator for instruction and student support (2021-22).

Support Staff

Vanessa Duenas, Department of Facilities and Operations, administrative assistant (2023-24).
Victor Espinosa Sanchez, Department of Teaching, Learning and Leadership, language access manager (2023-24).
Kadysia Gibson, Patrick Henry K-8 School, registrar (2021-22).
Andrae Jones, Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology, special education instructional assistant (2023-24).
Casonja Lee, Alexandria City High School-King Street Campus, administrative specialist (2022-23).
Jennifer Martinez, Charles Barrett Elementary School, administrative assistant (2021-22).
Maria Portillo, Alexandria City High School-King Street Campus, security officer (2022-23).
Natlie Riley, Department of Technology Services, division-wide technology integration specialist (2023-24).
Linda Rodriguez, ACPS Office of Community Partnerships and Engagement, administrative specialist (2022-23).
Anna Spratt, Naomi Brooks Elementary School, paraprofessional (2021-22).
Sheree Stephens, Alexandria City High School-Satellite Campus, administrative specialist (2022-23).
Andrea Styles, Alexandria City High School-King Street Campus, instructional assistant II (2021-22).
Brian Tolliver, Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School, special education instructional assistant (2023-24).
Betel Yosef, Department of Teaching, Learning and Leadership, division-wide Virginia Preschool Initiative administrative assistant/registrar (2023-24).

Transportation, Nutrition Services, Building Engineers and Custodial Services

Monya Baldwin, Department of Facilities and Operations, specialized transportation coordinator (2022-23).
Abel Hernandez, Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy, custodian (2021-22).
Mike Knight, Ferdinand T. Day Elementary School, custodian (2021-22).
Dennis Payne, Charles Barrett Elementary School, bus driver (2023-24).
Laura Purdy, Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy, cafeteria food service manager (2022-23).
William Sharpe, Alexandria City High School Minnie Howard Campus, building engineer (2023-24).
Jason Tepper, division-wide executive chef (2023-24).
Jakeeya Veney, Douglas MacArthur Elementary School, food and nutrition services manager (2023-24).
Keisha Wilson, Francis C. Hammond Middle School and James K. Polk Elementary School, bus driver (2023-24).
Johnetta Wilhoit, Francis C. Hammond Middle School and James K. Polk Elementary School, bus driver (2023-24).
Mario Yach, Alexandria City High School- King Street Campus, building engineer (2022-23)

Licensed Specialists

Chanel Alford-Campbell, Francis C. Hammond Middle School, technology integration specialist (2021-22).
Jessica Angelo, Douglas MacArthur Elementary School, academic interventionist (2023-24).
Dr. Jennifer Browne, physical therapist, William Ramsay Elementary School (2022-23).
Julie Frederickson, Alexandria City High School-King Street Campus, school nurse (2022-23).
Anna Harvin, Ferdinand T. Day Elementary School, Project Guided Language Acquisition Design/Instruction (GLAD) specialist (2022-23).
Andrea Heckel, Ferdinand T. Day Elementary School, literacy instructional coach (2021-22).
Jacquelyn Lusk, Douglas MacArthur Elementary School, social worker (2023-24).
Donna Marsh, Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School, child find specialist (2022-23).
Shannon McLaughlin, Early Childhood Center, speech pathologist (2023-24).
Kathryn Pattarini, George Washington Middle School, technology integration specialist (2022-23).
Janet Reese, division-wide parent support specialist (2023-24).
Maureen Selgas, Alexandria City High School Minnie Howard Campus, literacy instructional coach (2021-22).
Christina Trozzi, Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology, counselor (2021-22).

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