2024-2025 IWCS Teachers of the Year
Deana Hubbell is in her fifth year with Isle of Wight County Schools(IWCS) as a third-grade teacher at Carrsville Elementary School. Before joining IWCS, she taught for sixteen years as a third grade teacher and an Instructional Technology Specialist with Virginia Beach City Public Schools. Although she is originally from Michigan, she obtained a Bachelor Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Old Dominion University and a Masters Degree in Mathematical Leadership from Regent University. Throughout her twenty-one year career, she has held many leadership positions in her schools. She currently serves on the School Leadership Team, has been a new teacher mentor, and participated in the Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) Core Curriculum Committee. She loves that no year in education is exactly the same as any other, and she strives to find ways to inspire her students with relevant and engaging learning opportunities. There is no greater joy for her than seeing a student excited about learning! In addition to teaching, she assists with her school’s social media and co-chairs students participating in the annual Great Computer Challenge sponsored by WHRO. Mrs. Hubbell currently resides in Carrsville with her husband, and is a proud mother to her two adult sons.
Jennifer Rickmond is a Math 8 /Algebra I teacher at Georgie D. Tyler Middle School and in her eighteenth year of teaching. Her teaching career has taken her to Halifax County High School, Surry County High School, and Surry County Middle School before coming to Isle of Wight County Schools in 2021. She has a bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Virginia Tech and a Masters in Mathematics Education from Nova Southeastern University. Jennifer is a dedicated educator that strives to be the best teacher she can be for her students. She works diligently to plan engaging lessons and build a love of mathematics that her students may not have experienced before. Jennifer is also an involved member of her school community. She has served as an active leader of the School Leadership Team for three years. She also strives to directly support her colleagues through peer mentoring and involvement in the Sunshine Committee. Outside of working with her peers, she also works with students to grow their own academic and leadership skills by being a Jr. Beta Club sponsor for the last several years. Outside of school, Jennifer is an involved member of Bacon's Castle Baptist Church where she is a leader for the church nursery. Jennifer resides in Surry County with her husband and son.
Sumner Bradshaw in his seventeenth year of teaching visual arts. Prior to coming to Windsor High School, he spent nine years teaching Art at Franklin High School in Franklin, VA. An Isle of Wight County native, Mr. Bradshaw attended Carrsville Elementary, Windsor Middle School, and Windsor High School. He graduated as an honor graduate from Windsor High School in 2003. He then went on to earn his Associates Degree from Paul D. Camp Community College followed by 3 years at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, graduating from ODU in 2008. While at ODU, he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education with a concentration in Painting and Minor in Art History. In addition to his teaching role, Mr. Bradshaw coaches both the Windsor High School Wrestling Team and the new Windsor High School Powerlifting Club, serving as the head coach of both entities. He also serves as the club sponsor for the Windsor High School Art Club, which focuses on both in-school projects and community outreach projects. Mr. Bradshaw is very involved in his community. An Eagle Scout himself, he actively serves with his wife and son as a leader in Carrsville’s Cub Pack/Boy Scout Troop 37. He is a Personal Trainer at Retro Flex Gym in Courtland, VA and occasionally competes with his son and students in powerlifting with the United States Powerlifting Coalition. He recently started taking Kung Fu classes with his son. Mr. Bradshaw lives in the town of Sedley in Southampton County with his wife, daughter and son, along with their four pets.
Carter is in his ninth year as a teacher, all with Carrollton Elementary, where he is currently teaching second grade. Prior to teaching, Carter served as a chemist with a hazmat disposal company, an entomological research assistant, Boy Scouts of America district executive, and a director of a learning center. He earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Environmental Science at CNU and a Master’s of Science in Education at ODU. Carter Goerger felt the call to become a teacher near the end of his undergraduate college career. Given a familiarity with the profession through family and other relationships, he felt that he was not able to meet the challenges that came with the job. Through working with youth in various volunteer roles, the call became too great to ignore. Especially seeking an opportunity to have a direct impact in character development, he returned to college in 2012 to make this a reality. He saw a greater opportunity to accomplish this goal by working with children at the elementary level and entered the ODU Darden College of Education in 2013. In the spring of 2016, he served as a student teacher at Westside Elementary in a 4th grade inclusion classroom. He began his career with Isle of Wight County Schools that fall. Carter is active in several organizations in his community. He is a graduate of IWCS Schools and a native of Windsor. He resides there with his wife and two children.
Tiffany Snipes is currently a kindergarten teacher at Hardy Elementary School, where she has taught for four years. She graduated from Norfolk State University in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education. Her teacher licensure includes an English for Speakers Endorsement (ESOL). She mentors teachers who are at varying stages in their career, serves on the School Leadership Team, the school’s United Way Committee, and is the Grade Level Chairperson for the current school year. Interestingly, after graduating from Lake View High School in rural South Carolina, Tiffany was a first- generation college student and is proudly the first college graduate in her family! Ms. Snipes believes that all students learn best when they feel safe and are in a loving environment. She establishes a sense of community in her classroom that inspires confidence and risk-taking. She understands that every student is unique and deserves equitable learning. Her students become problem solvers. The mindset of “I can’t do that, yet.” is the expected response. She always says, “Students are like seeds: you plant, water, and nurture them, then watch them grow into beautiful flowers that blossom.” Tiffany lives in Smithfield with her daughter.
Angela Pyrtle is a fourth grade teacher at Westside Elementary School. Originally from Danville, Virginia, she earned both a Bachelor of Science and a Masters of Science in Education from Old Dominion University. The first few years of her career began at Thomas Eaton Middle School and Christopher Kraft Elementary School in Hampton. She has dedicated over 30 years to teaching with the last 19 years at Westside Elementary School. Throughout her career she has served in various leadership roles, including K-2 Math Curriculum Specialist, member of William and Mary Clinical Faculty, member of the School Leadership Team, Grade Level Chair, member of curriculum writing teams and Computer Challenge Coordinator and Coach. Currently, she is a New Teacher Mentor and is serving as the House Leader for Hulya, one of the four houses of Westside Elementary’s house system. Angela is passionate about teaching and believes that forming positive relationships with students is the best form of classroom management. She enjoys reading, crafting, boating, and spending time with her grandchildren. Angela resides in Windsor with her husband.
Anne Marie Semple is in her third year with Isle of Wight County Schools as a fourth-grade teacher at Windsor Elementary School. Before becoming a Hornet at Windsor Elementary, she worked for twenty years in a neighboring division as a middle school teacher. A graduate of Longwood and Old Dominion universities, Anne holds a Bachelor Degree in Liberal Studies with an Elementary Education (NK-8) Certification and a Masters Degree in Secondary Education, General Curriculum (K-12). Throughout her twenty-two-year career in education, she has had the privilege to serve in various leadership roles within the schools of which she has been a part. This includes being a member of the school leadership and improvement committees, serving as a lead teacher for an after-school enrichment program, serving as a new-teacher mentor for several teachers entering the profession, and as a department chairperson at the middle school level. During her tenure Ms. Semple has also coached and mentored several student organizations, groups, and teams such as FIRST Lego League and Odyssey of the Mind. Currently, she enjoys collaborating with her colleagues on planning field trips, activities, lesson plans and challenges that will inspire and foster a love of learning in her students. Ms. Semple is dedicated to building positive relationships with her students. Her desire to see every child learn, grow, and succeed is evident as she strives to meet the needs of each student, dedicated to encouraging all to be the very best person they can be. Anne currently lives in Franklin where she enjoys spending time with her friends and family.
Ryon Nance is a history teacher at Smithfield Middle School, and in his fourteenth year in education. He began his career at Bayside High School in Virginia Beach, where he discovered that relationships were the key to student buy-in. It was this philosophy he carried with him to the Renaissance Academy for high-need students. After four years, he made the leap to Smithfield Middle School. Continuing his relationship-building philosophy, he’s challenged himself to do new things. He became the sponsor of the school yearbook and soon the Jr. Beta Club coordinator. His relationship with his students has brought him to baseball, soccer, plays, musicals, and football games. With each year, Ryon challenges himself to grow, embracing new opportunities to inspire his students and leave a lasting impact. Ryon lives in Virginia Beach and commutes over an hour each way to be a part of the Smithfield Middle family.
Cathy Riddick is in her twenty-third-year teaching driver education, health and physical education at Smithfield High School. Prior to coming to Smithfield, she spent five years working at the Hampton Family YMCA as the youth fitness coordinator and aquatic director. Originally from Portsmouth, Virginia, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Leisure Studies and Physical Education from Christopher Newport University (CNU). While attending CNU, Cathy was a four-year letter recipient on the lady’s softball team and received numerous athletic awards, to include being selected as the first CNU softball player to have a jersey number retired (#14) and being inducted into the CNU athletic hall of fame in 2002. In addition to teaching at Smithfield High, she has coached the varsity volleyball team, varsity swim team, and varsity softball team. While coaching softball, she led the team to nine championship titles over a 22-year span. She has also served as department chair, is a member of the school leadership team and provides behind the wheel instruction after school to students that are completing their licensing requirements. Cathy currently resides in Smithfield with her wife, and their two rescue dogs, Remedy and Cotton.