PWC teachers serve with distinction in supporting music, arts and Autism Society

Stonewall Jackson High School’s Music Department has been recognized nationally for supporting music education. The faculty received the National Association for Music Merchants’ SupportMusic Merit Award. This award is given to individual schools across the nation in recognition of the school’s strong support for and commitment to music education. Stonewall Jackson was one of 118 schools recognized with the SupportMusic Merit Award, and only one of three schools in Virginia to receive the award. Jennifer Malechek is the orchestra director, Tom Hiravi is the band director, and Wanda Boley is the choir director.

Clare Phillips, an ESOL teacher at Occoquan Elementary School, earned a Certificate of Study from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for continuing her professional learning in the arts. She is one of 55 teachers honored for participating in the Kennedy Center’s Changing Education Through the Arts program. The workshops focus on enhancing educators’ knowledge of and appreciation for the arts and on developing skills for teaching about the arts or teaching other subject areas through the arts. The courses and workshops are designed for teachers of Pre-Kindergarten through grade 12 and address issues of teaching students with diverse needs.

Reagan Middle School’s Cheryl Scofield, director of the Theatre Department, will study in Ireland this summer. She was accepted to the summer graduate study abroad program at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. The program is part of the University of Maryland’s graduate program in “Teacher Leadership with a Focus in Arts Integration.”

Robin Weisman, administrative coordinator for Special Education, was recently been appointed to the Board of Directors for the Autism Society of Northern Virginia. This society supports families in the entire Northern Virginia area.