Shenandoah University will present this year’s Teacher of the Year Award to Shannon Allen
Shenandoah University will present its Teacher of the Year Award to Shannon Allen, a keyboarding teacher at Blue Ridge Middle School, at the meeting of the Loudoun County School Board on May 8, at 6:30 p.m., at the Loudoun County Public Schools Administration Building, 21000 Education Court, in Ashburn, Va. Allen will be honored for her commitment to her students and to the community.
Each year, Shenandoah University recognizes a Loudoun County Public Schools teacher for excellence in the specialized areas of education. The Teacher of the Year Award is sponsored by Shenandoah University’s School of Education & Human Development Office of Education Outreach, which provides courses for Loudoun County Public Schools, including Teachers for Tomorrow, Career Switchers and initial teacher licensure and recertification courses. Teachers recognized by this award have dedicated at least five years of service to the students of Loudoun County and were nominated by their peers and students as well as by parents, parent-teacher organizations and administrators.
Allen was selected from a group of 14 finalists that were honored during a reception on April 26, 2012 at Rehau, Inc. in Leesburg, Va. Other finalists included Mary Kathleen Bennett, Catoctin Elementary School; Darren Bernard, Pinebrook Elementary School; Augusta Dadiego, Freedom High School; Beth Dover, Farmwell Station Middle School; Melissa Engquist, Belmont Ridge Middle School; Julie Galvin, Steuart Weller Elementary School; Christine Ghess, Arcola Elementary School; Loretta Hall, Sterling Elementary School; Sean Hartmetz, Dominion High School; Corinne Joseph, Kenneth W. Culbert Elementary; Alexis Schaeffer, Sycolin Creek Elementary School; Ike Stoneberger, Loudoun Valley High School; and Susan Walker, Ball’s Bluff Elementary School.
Allen has taught keyboarding since 2004. She graduated with a Bachelor degree in Business Administration from the University of Tulsa and earned her teaching license through the Virginia alternative route to licensure program known as Career Switchers. Allen also earned a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction through the University of Phoenix. In addition to her keyboarding skills, Allen involves her students in Blue Ridge Middle School’s educational program for the Appalachian Trail and the development of the Purcellville Old Town Quest, which educates the public and students about Purcellville’s history.
“The award recognizes the best teachers in specializing areas of teaching,” said Kelly Burk, a member of the Shenandoah University Teacher of the Year Award Committee. “These teachers are often unrecognized, yet they contribute so much.”
