Hampton City Schools announces 2026–2027 Teachers of the Year

 

Hampton City Schools proudly announced its 2026–2027 Teachers of the Year on Friday, August 14, during the division’s fourth annual Celebration of Excellence Back-to-School Kickoff at the Hampton University Convocation Center.

 

Nearly 3,000 HCS staff members were on hand as the division celebrated outstanding educators from across Hampton City Schools and announced this year’s elementary, middle, high school, and divisionwide honorees.

 

Erin Miller of Armstrong School for the Arts was named the HCS Elementary School Teacher of the Year and 2026–2027 Divisionwide Teacher of the Year. Belynda Kirby of Lindsay Middle School was selected as the HCS Middle School Teacher of the Year, and Tanisha Davis of Kecoughtan High School was named the HCS High School Teacher of the Year.

 

Erin Miller – Elementary School and Divisionwide Teacher of the Year

For Miller, the recognition represents the relationships she has built with students throughout her career and the opportunity educators have to make a lasting difference.

 

“To me, being Teacher of the Year is not just about the recognition; it is about the lives I have had the privilege to touch,” Mrs. Miller said. “Every year, my students teach me as much as I teach them, and I carry those lessons with me. I believe that everything I have learned, every opportunity I have been given, and every person who has poured into me is meant to be passed forward.”

 

Mrs. Miller said teaching is her way of giving back, believing in children, and reminding them that their voices, stories, and futures matter.

 

“I feel blessed, honored, and truly seen,” she added. “Most of all, I am grateful for the thought that my students, past and present, can see this moment and feel proud of me and themselves, knowing that they were a part of this beautiful journey.”

 

Armstrong School for the Arts Principal Dr. Tiffany Geddie-Suggs said Miller’s impact extends far beyond academics.

 

“Mrs. Miller represents the very best of what it means to be an educator,” Geddie-Suggs said. “She teaches with high expectations, leads with love, faces challenges with strength, and gives children the gift of knowing that tomorrow is always another opportunity to succeed. Her impact is not measured only by what her students learn academically, but by how they feel when they are in her presence—supported, challenged, loved, and capable of becoming their very best.”

 

Belynda Kirby – Middle School Teacher of the Year

For Kirby, a history teacher at Lindsay Middle School, her classroom provides an opportunity for students to understand not only the past, but also the role they can play in shaping the future.

“History is full of ordinary people who found the courage to change the world around them,” Mrs. Kirby said. “I want my students to see they can be part of that story too. I am appreciative of this honor to be able to share in our students’ growth each day.”

 

Lindsay Middle School Principal Sharif Hicks described Mrs. Kirby as an educator whose commitment to students is evident in everything she does.

 

“Mrs. Kirby is the definition of wearing her heart on her sleeve,” Hicks said. “She travels nearly an hour to work each day, stays late, and is willing to do whatever it takes for our scholars. Her passion for children is infectious; she is truly an amazing human being.”

 

Hicks added that Lindsay is proud to have Kirby represent the school’s culture of “accepting challenges and pushing past our comfort zone, all in the name of love for kids.”

 

Tanisha Davis – High School Teacher of the Year

For Davis, being named High School Teacher of the Year provides an opportunity to demonstrate to students what is possible for their own futures.

 

“Being named Hampton City Schools High School Teacher of the Year is an incredible honor, but what makes this recognition most meaningful is what it represents beyond me,” Ms. Davis said. “As an educator and leader, I want young people to know that excellence can look like them, leadership can sound like them, and there is room for their ideas at every table.”

 

Davis added, “My greatest measure of success will always be the students who leave my classroom believing they are capable of more than they imagined.”

 

Kecoughtan High School Executive Principal Dr. Dwayne Lucas said Ms. Davis’ influence reaches well beyond the walls of her classroom.

 

“Her commitment to excellence, unwavering dedication to her students, and willingness to serve beyond the walls of her classroom truly embody the spirit of Kecoughtan High School and Hampton City Schools,” Lucas said. “She exemplifies everyday greatness as she consistently works to create opportunities for others to grow. We are proud to celebrate Ms. Davis, a phenomenal educator who represents the best of our school community.”

 

As part of this year’s recognition, the Hampton Education Foundation, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary, awarded each level Teacher of the Year a $1,000 grant to support an idea, experience, or opportunity benefiting students and their school community. As the Divisionwide Teacher of the Year, Miller received an additional $2,500 Hampton Education Foundation grant to support an initiative with the potential for broader impact.

 

Hampton City Schools congratulates Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Kirby, and Ms. Davis, along with all of the school-level Teachers of the Year and finalists, for their commitment to students, their passion for education, and the difference they make each day throughout HCS.