May 18-31, 2017 ProfilesProfiles ofof 2020 teachersteachers whowho makemake aa differencedifference Nicole Williams, Varina HS, family and consumer sciences TT2 Top Teachers MAY 18-31, 2017 • HENRICOCITIZEN.COM Krystal Johnson Johnson said it's hard to motivate her JR Tucker HS, science students at times to care about science, but that she never gives up. Krystal Johnson loves shaping the minds “Sometimes it is hard to motivate stu- of the next generation and is always trying dents about learning about science, espe- new things to get her students excited cially my freshmen,” Johnson said. “They about science. just started high school and they don't really see the light at the end of the tunnel so Johnson grew up in nearby Hanover sometimes they don't have as much motiva- County and attended Patrick Henry High tion. But I just keep trying new things and School. She then graduated from Virginia reminding them that science is cool, be- Commonwealth University with a degree in cause it is and science is everywhere.” environmental science. It's always a struggle to get her students Johnson knew she wanted to stay in to pay attention and retain certain things, the Richmond area and this upcoming year Johnson said, especially for her earth sci- will be her 12th year at J.R. Tucker High ence class that has a standardized learning School. Johnson teaches earth science, AP test. environmental science and has taught oceanography in the past. “These kids have a long day at school, so sometimes it's hard to get them to pay at- “I love being a teacher and getting to Tom Lappas/Henrico Citizen tention to science,” Johnson said. “I do shape the minds of the next generation,” these weekly pep talks to try to get their and find a common ground. She wants them shows to let them know that they all have Johnson said.“I get to teach them all about spirits up, or I'll have little rewards for my to be able to come to her for help and not something in common and can work to- science and the environment, it's so cool class.” see her just as that “old science teacher.”She gether. and rewarding.” Johnson tries to relate to her students talks to them about music, movies and TV – Ashley Luck words when referring to The United States Constitution or our government, but that is because most people did Jeannine Chewning not have Jeannine Chewning as a teacher," a nominator wrote of Chewning. "Jeannine is able to make a docu- Hermitage HS, government ment that at first glance seems dry and lifeless come to life. She is able to make teaching government relevant Although her dreams of becoming a Major League and exciting.When students enter her AP Government Baseball player and a detective didn't quite pan out as class, they step into a magical world full of stories, ex- she'd hoped, Jeannine Chewning seems more than con- citing activities, and a teacher who loves and respects tent that another dream – to become a teacher – did. her subject." Now in her 26th year in the classroom – and her Chewning is quick to credit her coworkers and the 16th at Hermitage High School – Chewning has found students of Hermitage, who she said make it a joy to her calling as a government teacher at the school's Cen- come to work each day. ter for the Humanities. "This place is amazing," she said. She enjoys changing the minds of the high school – Tom Lappas students who feel that government is a far-flung entity – Tom Lappas/Henrico Citizen and empowering them to get involved. "They think it's very remote and ab- stract," she said, "but I tell them they'll building, like my parents were. I care if [a company] is going to build a try to go above and beyond in Walmart in someone's backyard, or if Jehan Gabrual contacting them." they're going to widen a road in front of Her efforts haven't gone un- your house – now they're interested." Dumbarton ES, second grade noticed among her peers. Chewning approach in the class- Gabrual is "a teacher that em- room is to immerse students in govern- Though she grew up in Henrico County, braces not just the child but the ment – often directly,as she has done for Jehan Gabrual's parents were natives of entire family,” one colleague the past five years through a grant from Egypt who struggled with the English lan- wrote. "She reaches out to fami- the Richmond Justice League. guage when they arrived in this country.As a lies and helps to provide re- That grant provided money for a child, she witnessed the way her teachers at sources that the parents can use human trafficking curriculum, which Crestview Elementary School – particularly to help develop their children so Chewning spends about a month each Cindy Harris and Peggy Hart – supported that they are better prepared for year implementing in class. her family and helped ensure that she ex- school. She is a role model to her celled in class. Two years ago,her students played a students and parents. She is a part role in lobbying the General Assembly to In return, Gabrual found herself anxious of their village.” pass a stand-alone anti-human trafficking to help those teachers in any way. In her classroom, Gabrual law – making Virginia the last state in the "As a child, I always wanted to grade pa- keeps a board on which students nation to do so. (Previously, sex traffick- pers," she said, laughing at the recollection. may, at any time, make notations ers were prosecuted under various other The inspiration to teach only grew when someone has done some- laws because one specifically addressing stronger, and Gabrual graduated from the thing kind or very kind – or when trafficking didn't exist. Virginia had re- University of Richmond with a teaching de- they've shown kindness them- ceived a grade of "F" for its child sex traf- gree, anxious to put it to use helping stu- selves. ficking laws from an anti-trafficking or- dents the same way she had been helped. "If they are able to participate ganization several years prior.) Now in her eleventh year at Dumbarton in kind ways in school, then The experience was eye-opening Elementary School, she feels she is living her maybe it will carry on outside the even for Chewning. classroom," she said. purpose. Tom Lappas/Henrico Citizen "This is going to save people’s lives," The school has a number of immigrant As part of the "Dumbarton And even now – well-established in her she remembers thinking. "This is going families – including some from Egypt whose Pays It Forward" program, which Gabrual own right as an elementary school teacher, to put bad guys behind bars." children speak Arabic, as she does. She can chaired for several years, her students have she thinks back to her own days as a stu- As part of the curriculum each year, call upon her childhood experiences when written and delivered letters on a nearly dent. Chewning arranges visits from experts working to build connections – and trust – monthly basis to veterans, nursing home pa- from near and far,including the Henrico with those families and students. tients and others "just so that they know "I always told [Harris] that I wanted to we're out here supporting them," she said. be like her when I grow up," she said of her Police Vice Unit, Henrico Common- "When I have parents who are struggling Crestview teacher, who still teaches at that wealth's Attorney officials, an FBI agent with a language, I try my best to build a "I want children to love learning – that's school. "I still tell her that I want to be just and others. strong relationship, try different ways to my whole motto. If they enjoy learning and like her." "The Constitution, exciting? The U.S. communicate with them," Gabrual said. think learning is fun, then you'll be able to government, interesting? Engaging? "Some may be afraid to come into the school see the successes." – Tom Lappas Maybe most people would not use these MAY 18-31, 2017 • HENRICOCITIZEN.COM Top Teachers TT3 their academic skills. "He guides them in a way," said one parent, "that makes the student Christian Nolde feel comfortable and successful." Deep Run HS, exceptional education Nolde, who attended Henrico County schools, can name a number of special teach- ers and role models growing up – from Mrs. For Christian Nolde, the chance to be a teacher is a privi- Thomas in first grade to Mrs. McGrath in lege, and he considers himself fortunate to be part of a tenth. But the ultimate inspiration for his ca- community like Deep Run. reer was working at a summer camp for "Every day," he says, "I get to work hard helping kids, young students with disabilities while he was and they make me a more energetic, creative, and compas- in college. "I knew then," he says, "that work- sionate person. ing with kids is what I was going to do the "They also make me laugh all the time!" he adds. rest of my life." For his students and their parents, the feeling is mutu- Keeping things relevant for high school al. students is one of the bigger challenges Nolde faces, and he remembers well that he himself "We are very grateful for Mr. Nolde and all that he has used to get "cranky" if he didn't see the rele- done for our son," said the parents of a student who has vance of what he was learning.