The Virginia Lottery honored Joshua McLaughlin of Barrett Elementary School on April 29 with the first Super Teacher Award of 2014. Fro left are Debbie Kilpatrick (Virginia PTA), Virginia Lottery Executive Director Paula Otto, 2014 Super Teacher Joshua McLaughlin, Addison Jones (Supply Room Companies), and Donna Colombo (Virginia PTA).
Joshua McLaughlin of Barrett Elementary School was presented the 2014 Virginia Lottery Super Teacher award last month.
He received the award in a surprise presentation at the school in front of students, faculty and special guests. The award, sponsored by the Virginia Lottery, the Virginia PTA and Virginia-based The Supply Room Companies, consists of a $2,000 cash prize and an additional $2,000 classroom credit from The Supply Room Companies.
This is the seventh year for the Virginia Lottery Super Teacher awards, which honor outstanding K-12 public school educators. Each year, the Lottery asks for nominations from all across the state and, this year, nearly 800 were received. Eight teachers are then selected — one from each geographic region across the state — to win. McLaughlin is the first educator to receive the Super Teacher Award for 2014.
“Josh takes risks in the classroom and is willing to learn about and try new instructional approaches that might improve the achievement of his students,” said colleague and nominator Dr. Laurie Sullivan. “Rather than getting caught up in theory, he focuses instead on putting new ideas into practice, reflecting on the results and keeping what works.”