Last May, Lynchburg City Schools administrators huddled together outside of Ms. Jennifer Lovett’s classroom where moments later they would surprise her with a bouquet of flowers, balloons and the title: LCS Teacher of the Year.
This fall, they did it again to inform Ms. Lovett, a Linkhorne Elementary School reading specialist, that the state panel has named her the Region 5 Teacher of the Year.
Region 5 consists of 20 school divisions. Each division selected a teacher to represent them in the regional competition. Ms. Lovett is among eight teachers statewide who will now be eligible for selection as Virginia’s Teacher of the Year.
“Ms. Lovett exhibits those characteristics that all teachers aspire to have—a caring spirit, a desire to do the best for children and a passion for learning,” said LES principal Kathleen Sawyer in her May letter nominating Ms. Lovett as the division’s teacher of the year. “Ms. Lovett truly cares about her children and faculty members at LES.”
Ms. Lovett is committed to the teaching profession, and as an LCS Reading Specialist, she puts extra emphasis on the importance of reading. She partners with another teacher at the school in a summer reading program that includes visiting children at their homes, giving them books and encouraging them to read during the summer.
Ms. Lovett works with all teachers, especially new teachers. She takes time after school to meet with new teachers to show them various reading strategies, and discuss with them their questions and concerns.
Ms. Lovett says that teaching is more than meeting the academic needs of her students. “Teaching is taking ownership for the individual child and caring deeply as a parent would, providing guidance as a counselor would, preparing and carrying out a game plan as a coach would, encouraging and motivating as a cheerleader would, and organizing and directing as a manager would; doing it all from a foundation of genuine affection for each child and his or her total well being.”
And her students adore her, says Ms. Sawyer. “She puts her heart and soul into her teaching.”