HCS celebrates Virginia Kindness Week

Virginia Kindness Week, observed February 9–13, 2026, is a Virginia Department of Education initiative aimed at promoting inclusive, safe, and welcoming school environments through intentional acts of kindness. Hampton City Schools marked the week by recognizing 250 Kindness Ambassadors from across the division.  “It is exciting to see so many staff members from various roles being recognized, along with students who consistently go above and beyond to spread kindness,” said Carla Mahn, director of student development and counseling.

 

The honorees included both staff and students representing a wide range of roles and grade levels, with several individuals receiving multiple nominations for their continued efforts to spread kindness within their school communities.

 

“We want to recognize the importance of kindness and how it contributes to a positive teaching and learning environment,” added Heather Peterson, director of climate and culture.

 

Each Kindness Ambassador received a certificate of appreciation in recognition of their nomination and contributions to spreading kindness across the school division.

Aberdeen

Bianca Bemley, Teacher

Marilyn Green, School Counselor 

Taneisha Lawrence, ELL Teacher

Nicole Lewis, Assistant Principal

Jada Marshall, Teacher

Ajah Mooring, Teacher

Adult Education and Alternative Learning Center

Becky Gentry, Teacher (2 nominations)

Janet Mitcheltree, Secretary (2 nominations)

Dr. Kellie Robinson, Teacher

Andrews PreK-8

Nyron Martin, Student

Tiffani Vessells, Bus Driver 

Armstrong School for the Arts

Whitney Champion, Teacher

Martha Grondin, Assistant Principal

Anita Holley, School Security Officer (2 nominations)

Kathy Isom, Secretary

Frances Marshburn, Teacher

Amanda Tarmy, Secretary

Susana Whiteside, Instructional Assistant

Asbury

Crystal Britt-Smith, Instructional Assistant

Erica Bryant, Teacher (2 nominations)

Ariana Garcia-Otero, Student

Tiara Lebrew, Teacher

Tyrreion Turner, Custodian

Barron

Janet Coe, Teacher

Robyn Gatling, Teacher (2 nominations)

Elizabeth Smoot, Teacher 

Bassette

Stephanie Lewis, School Counselor (3 nominations)

Dr. Rohan Cumberbatch-Smith, Principal

Keith Tucker, Behavior Interventionist

Madison Whitlock, Teacher (2 nominations)

Taylor Young, Teacher

Bethel

Adrienne Barker, Teacher

Kimberly Coleman, Teacher

Alicia Cooper, Student

Diamond Greene, School Counselor

Dr. Sharmaine Grove, Academy Principal (2 nominations)

Katelyn Harlan, Teacher (2 nominations)

Angel Joo, Teacher

Carl-John Kamp, Teacher

Teelia Lowery, Teacher

Patrick McRae, Academy Principal

Alicia Myrick, Teacher

Angela Ochsenfeld, Secretary

Kira Smith, Teacher

Justis Valentine, Student

Bridgeport Academy

Alecia Melvin, Teacher

Amy Ziemba, Teacher

Bryan

Takieshyanna Bryant, School Security Officer

Noelle Barefoot, Math Support Specialist (2 nominations)

Ashley Malmgren, Teacher 

Burbank

Danny Ashley, School Security Officer

Jennifer Carter, Assistant Principal (2 nominations)

Alicia Dilligham, Teacher

Mia Dillingham, Teacher

Colleen Doolen, Math Interventionist

Stacey Gomes-Henderson, Family Engagement Specialist (4 nominations)

Christian Haithcock, Student

Lauren Manners, Instructional Assistant

Emily Sims, School Counselor

Nicole Smith, School Nurse

Ashley Valazquez, Teacher

Blakelei Wheeler, Teacher

Christian

Rachel Battle-Fauntleroy, Teacher

Jeffrey Speller, School Counselor

Cooper

Tenaya Bagwell, Secretary (2 nominations)

Lenora Carter, Teacher

Sharonda Downing, Teacher

Amy Hoover, Instructional Assistant

Erika Lewis, Teacher

Marcia Muller, Secretary (3 nominations)

Valencia Prescott, Teacher

Kim Proctor, Reading Specialist

Stacy Thomas, Teacher

Amy Wolfe, Teacher

Maverick Yeboah, Student

Eaton

Samantha McCartney, Student

FLEx

Jennifer Lockett, Teacher Specialist

Forrest

Dr. Amanda Corbin-Staton, Assistant Principal

Shari Drake, Literacy Support Specialist

Rena Evans, Student

Glory Gill, School Nurse

Maranda Washer, Secretary

Hampton 

Jessi Brown, Teacher

Leonard Carpenter, Custodian

Lydia McKeithan, Teacher

Mia Moore, School Counselor

Marvin Parker, Long Term Substitute (3 nominations)

Nichole Pennington, Teacher

Ronnie Ratliff, Academy Principal

Laura Shaw, Instructional Assistant

Alexandra Snyder, Academy Principal

Caroline Timmons, Teacher (2 nominations)

Cecelia Venditti, Library Technician

Alicia Wright, Teacher

Jackson

Clifton “Skip” Lassiter, Bus Driver

Nicole Reoyo, Teacher

Melani Thomas, Teacher

Jones

Beth Barnwell, Teacher

Susan Booth, Teacher

Dr. Heidi Brezinski, Principal

Sabrina Burbanck, Teacher

Michelle Colby, Teacher

Michelle Credle, Teacher

Amy Fatek, Teacher

Dianne Hawkins, Custodian

Gregory Hopson, Assistant Principal

George Jacobs, Teacher

Rachel Lintemoot, Finance Specialist

Sallena Nikitas, Secretary (2 nominations)

Paulette Townsend, Assistant Principal

Kecoughtan

Debra Allen, Bus Driver

Tracy Bourne, Teacher

Lori Carrier, Teacher

Alicia Hamilton, Teacher Librarian

Angela Renee Kidd, Teacher

James Kimbrough, Teacher

Sally Lewis, Teacher

Eugene McCain, Custodian (3 nominations)

Jane Merryman, Teacher

Deon Moore, School Security Officer

Llewchean Radford, Academy Principal (2 nominations)

Karen Sheene, School Security Officer

Christina White, Teacher

Kilgore Gifted Center

Josette James, Teacher

Emily Klotz, Teacher

Alyson Mayers, Teacher

Kraft

Lakiesha Carter, Custodian

Langley

Cheryl Hiers, Assistant Principal

Lenny Jones, Teacher (2 nominations)

Stephanie Slater, Secretary

Nayomi Wilson, Student

Lindsay

Jeraye Booth, Teacher (2 nominations)

Janel Eley, Teacher

Stacey-Ann Facey, Teacher (3 nominations)

Brittney Foster, Assistant Principal

Sonya Gordon, Literacy Support Specialist

Noelle Munn, Student

Tiffani Stewart, Teacher

James Ward, Student

Machen

Noelle Barefoot, Math Support Specialist (2 nominations)

Shawna Brock, Reading Interventionist

Janet Heller, Math Interventionist

La'Kisha Jones, Teacher

Taneeka Moore, Family Engagement Specialist (2 nominations)

Cynthia Reedy, Teacher

Crystal Rosey, School Counselor

Moton

Sharhonda Brown-Hayes, Secretary

Kierra Gray, Teacher

Michelle Johnson, Teacher (2 nominations)

Latrice McGill, Teacher

Stephanie Reppert, Teacher

Amy Twisdale, School Counselor (2 nominations)

Patrick

Blondell Doswell, Instructional Assistant

Dr. Christine Moore, School Counselor

Peake

Jorden Brown, Teacher

Irma Burrow, Teacher

Billie Holbrooks, Reading Interventionist

Ambar Javier, Teacher (2 nominations)

Brooklyn Johnson, Math Interventionist

Walter Jones, Teacher

Phenix

Erin McCoy, Teacher (2 nominations)

Sade McLean, Instructional Assistant

Rubye Phillips, Teacher

Shyla Watlet, Student

Phillips

Erica Butler, Reading Specialist (2 nominations)

Whitney Davis, Teacher

Rachel Fieseler, Instructional Assistant

Zander Fieseler, Student

Kristin Minkoff, School Counselor

Emily Redding, Teacher

Phoebus

Theodore Walker, Custodian

School Administrative Center

James Bailey, Security Supervisor

Brittany Cooper, Attendance Focused Social Worker

Marisa Easter, Speech Language Pathologist

Andrew Foley, Director, Television Services PEGTV

Dr. Brittny Gainey, School Social Worker (2 nominations)

Elizabeth Goodwyn, Science Curriculum Leader

Ashley Hall, HR Event Specialist

Alina Hamblin, World Language Teacher Specialist (2 nominations)

Shari Huggar, HR Staffing Specialist

Office of Accountability & Information Systems

Christina Kang, Language Programs, Family Engagement Specialist

Doris Orgain, Digital Learning Specialist

Elizabeth Penny, Financial Specialist

Dr. Cory Primka, School Psychologist

Sha'Ron Radford, Coordinator Restorative Practices

Natia Revis, HR Support Specialist

Michelle Smandra, HR Technician

Tarita Stonewall, Speech Language Pathologist

Liam Strickland, Language Programs Teacher

Smith

Ellen Bastian, Teacher

Scherrhawn Brinkley, Teacher

Robbie Everette, Teacher

Elizabeth Hester, Literacy Support Specialist (2 nominations)

Alexis Jones, Assistant Principal

Jasmine Kent, Teacher

April Pitzer, Instructional Assistant

Yolanda Vaughan, School Counselor

Cicely Washington, Math Interventionist

Syms

Susan Bowers, Technology Support Specialist

Raven Hawkins, Teacher

Denice Rhodes, Teacher Librarian (7 nominations)

Tarrant

Jailah Bowen, Teacher

Kim Garner Boone, Teacher

Shaneka Lee, Teacher

Fallen Lee-Brown, Teacher