For 13 years, Mrs. Meier has been sharing her infectious love for learning with her students. Now teaching 8th grade physical science at Greenbrier Middle School, this 2009 Western Branch High School graduate and East Carolina University Alumni brings enthusiasm to the classroom every single day.
"My love for children has charted my career path," she shares. "My cup is full as I watch my students achieve success." Mrs. Meier creates a positive environment that challenges her students to learn, grow, and develop into confident young adults.
Her advice to fellow educators? "Face each day as a new day with enthusiasm. This sets the tone for a daily fresh start, and students will respond accordingly."
Thank you for 13 years of dedication and inspiring future scientists, Mrs. Meier! 💚🩶 #CPSCelebrates #CPSTOY2026
🎉 Shout out to Teacher of the Year Finalist: Chauncey Foreman! 🎉
For 7 years, Mr. Foreman has been transforming lives through teaching. Now, he's come full circle: inspiring students at Deep Creek HS, the very place where he graduated in 2012. This Liberty University graduate and history teacher is dedicated to showing students what's possible beyond high school.
He helps students see their potential through mentorship and real-world connections. As co-founder of Men of Excellence, a life-changing mentoring group, and recipient of the WTKR People Taking Action Award for his inspiring COVID-era music video, Mr. Foreman leads by example.
Words from his former teacher still guide him: "Do what you can and let everything else work itself out."
Join us in celebrating Mr. Foreman! 💜🤍 #CPSCelebrates #CPSTOY2026
For 8 years, Ms. Lemm has been pouring her heart into educating the next generation. Currently, a first grade teacher at Deep Creek Central, this Indian River High Class of 2013 graduate and JMU degree holder knows what matters most: the beautiful relationships and trust she builds with every student and family. "No matter what happens, I'm always in their corner."
Her advice? "Learning follows connection. Create a safe space where students feel loved first. They have to feel it to believe it."
When she's not teaching, she's curled up with a good book, cheering on her favorite teams, or making memories with family and friends.
Congratulations, Ms. Lemm! 💜🤍 #CPSCelebrates #CPSTOY2026
🚌 Join the Chesapeake Public Schools Team!
We're hiring for multiple classified positions at our ONE STOP Job Fair. Come prepared to interview on the spot!
📅 Wednesday, December 10
⏰ 11 AM - 2 PM
📍 School Administration Building
💼 Now Hiring:
Bus Drivers
School Nutrition Workers
Custodians
Substitute Teachers
📋 Bring With You:
Two forms of ID (all applicants)
Transcript copies (substitute teacher applicants)
❗ This is your chance to become part of the CPS family! We can't wait to meet you.
💻 Learn more and explore additional opportunities at: https://www.cpschools.com/careers
🎉 Celebrating Our Teacher of the Year Finalist: Michael Powers, Jr.! 🎉
Mr. Powers is an 8th grade math teacher at Crestwood Middle School. For 8 years, Michael has been transforming the way students see themselves and mathematics. A proud graduate of Indian River High School (Class of 2007) and Old Dominion University, he brings both hometown heart and impressive credentials to the classroom, including experience as a former NASA Faculty Fellow and two-time National Science Foundation Summer Research Intern.
One of his proudest moments was watching a student persevere after initially failing their Math SOL, then bouncing back to pass on the second attempt - a powerful reminder that growth and resilience matter just as much as the final result.
Michael's wisdom to fellow educators says it all: "Always be yourself. Authenticity creates trust, connection, and genuine learning."
Please join us in celebrating Mr. Powers and the incredible impact he makes on our students every single day! ❤️🩵📐 #CPSCelebrates #CPSTOY2026
For 25 years, Mrs. Solis has been a dedicated Chesapeake Public Schools educator. Currently, she teaches 2nd grade at Chittum Elementary. Inspired by her own 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Pritchard, she's spent over two decades making learning fun and meaningful for countless students.
Her superpower? Empathy. She plans every lesson with her students at the forefront of her mind, understanding that each group brings unique personalities and learning styles.
This James Madison University and Old Dominion University graduate knows that "every year is a fresh start," and she approaches each one with the same passion that sparked her love of teaching all those years ago.
When she's not shaping young minds, you'll find her cheering on her own children from the sidelines- whether it's at baseball fields, dance studios, or volleyball courts.
Mrs. Solis, thank you for 25 years of making a difference where it matters most! 💙💛 #CPSTOY2026 #CPSCelebrates
For 6 years, Mrs. Ratz has been a beacon of kindness at B.M. Williams Elementary, teaching English Language Learners in grades K-5. Her superpower? Giving students the universal language of kindness and love.
Her commitment to leading with kindness earned her the Virginia Department of Education's Ambassador of Kindness Award 2025, and her impact extends far beyond academics. As she reminds us: "You may be the very best part of their day and the only positive impact they may have that day. You will change lives!"
This Liberty University grad loves fishing, backpacking through the mountains, and cheering on her college football team with her incredible husband and three remarkable kids.
Congratulations, Mrs. Ratz! 💙💛 #CPSTOY2026 #CPSCelebrates
🌟 Support: Timothy Jackson, School Security Officer, Western Branch Intermediate
🌟 Teach: Arika Green, Science Teacher, Deep Creek Middle
🌟 Lead: Naomi Dunbar, Principal, Indian River High
👏 We are proud to recognize these individuals who exemplify dedication, professionalism, and excellence in their roles. Learn more about each of our honorees or submit a nomination at https://www.cpschools.com/o/cps/page/employee-recognition
Kicking off the holiday season in style!
This afternoon, Great Bridge Intermediate hosted its annual Thanksgiving parade in advance of the upcoming holiday!
From Monopoly to Guess Who, students and teachers brought their "board game" theme to life, dressing up as their favorite tabletop games. Big thanks to the Great Bridge High marching band and Santa for joining the fun!
As a reminder, schools and offices are closed from November 26th to November 28th for the Thanksgiving Holiday!
We're planning the 2026-27 school budget and need YOUR input. Whether you're a parent, student, staff member, or community member, your voice matters. Our quick 5-minute survey is open until Nov 30: https://www.cpschools.com/surveys
Huge thanks to Orchestra teacher, Mrs. Kate Malaby, for arranging this special masterclass through the Virginia Arts Festival Education Program.
Students were first treated to a stunning performance by the professional quartet. Then, they received personalized, expert coaching from the musicians! The focus? Their upcoming December concert piece: Themes from the Nutcracker, arranged by Gruselle.
Happy Education Support Professionals Day! 🎉
Today we celebrate the incredible ESPs who make our schools run smoothly every single day. Thank you for your dedication, your compassion, and the countless ways you support our students and staff. We see you, we appreciate you, and we couldn't do this without you! #CPSCelebrates #WeLoveOurESPs
✨ Happy GIS Day! ✨🌍
🌍 Today we celebrate Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the powerful technology that helps us map, analyze, and understand our world! From weather forecasting to urban planning, GIS shapes the world around us every day.
Here's to curiosity, exploration, and the incredible young minds who are mapping a brighter future for all of us!🚀#CPSCelebrates
Yesterday, several 9th graders from across our district embarked on a journey exploring their future possibilities! This inaugural Future Focus event was a full day of career exploration, touring facilities, asking questions, and learning what different careers entail.
🔧 Morning: Students toured the Chesapeake Career Center, discovering diverse technical training pathways.
📚 Mid-morning: At the Central Library, city representatives- including police officers, firefighters, public works professionals, Human Services staff, City Planning experts, and many more- shared insights into public service careers.
🏥 Afternoon: Students visited Chesapeake Regional Healthcare and toured different hospital departments (surgical units, labor & delivery, labs, and more), speaking directly with healthcare professionals.
This hands-on exploration gave our freshmen an invaluable glimpse into the many career paths available right here in our community. We're incredibly grateful to all the professionals who shared their time and expertise!
Here's to the first of many Future Focus events! ✨ #InspireCPS
📢 Project SEARCH Open House - Discover Our Transition-to-Work Program! 📢
Interested in learning about an innovative work experience program for students with disabilities? Join us for an Open House!
Project SEARCH is a unique school-to-work program that takes place entirely at the workplace. Come see what our interns are learning and how this program is making a real difference in their transition to employment.
📅 When: Thursday, November 20, 2025 🕥 Time: 5:30 p.m.
📍 Where: The Lifestyle Center at Chesapeake Regional Healthcare 800 N. Battlefield Blvd. Chesapeake, VA 23320
Whether you're a parent, educator, student, or community member, we'd love to have you learn more about this transformative program!
For more information,visit https://www.cpschools.com/o/cps/page/project-search
📽️ Take a look at this video highlighting just one of the many Project Search success stories: https://youtu.be/97V0u88Brmg
On Friday, Hickory Elementary School school hosted their annual Veterans Day parade to honor their military families! Students dressed in their red, white and blue to cheer on their military-connected classmates and the service members they were escorting. We thank all of our veterans for their service and we wish everyone a wonderful Veterans Day!
As a reminder, schools are closed on Tuesday, November 11th in observance of Veterans Day.
#CPSCelebrates #InspireCPS #VeteransDay
📊☁️ WEATHER SCIENTISTS AT WORK! ☁️📊
Brrr! Tomorrow is shaping up to be the coldest day of the year so far in Chesapeake, with highs only in the 40s and lows dipping into the low 30s! 🥶 Perfect timing for Crestwood Elementary’s weather labs activities!
Fourth grade students are recording daily weather data and tracking patterns such as air pressure and cloud cover to see how they correlate. Some classes use spreadsheets that auto-graph their findings, others create their own graphs by hand, and some do both! 📈
Thanks to the CWE’s outdoor weather station right on campus, students have access to accurate, real-time weather data that updates every 2.5 seconds. Now THAT'S cutting-edge science! 🌡️
👉 Check out Crestwood’s live weather data and STAY WARM! #EmpowerCPS
The upcoming holiday season is filled with excitement, but it can also be a time when some of our families need a little extra support. 💛 🎙 In our newest episode of Amplified, we sit down with Lisa Kerry, one of our Family & Community Engagement (FACE) specialists and Nischelle Buffalow from Buffalow Family and Friends to talk about partnership, compassion, and how our community works together to make sure no one feels alone this season. 🎧 Hear the stories, learn how to access support, and discover ways to get involved at cpschools.com/amplified or wherever you get your podcasts. #EmpowerCPS #CPSCelebrates
We celebrate the rich cultures, traditions, and countless contributions of Native American and Indigenous peoples to our community and our nation's history.
Let's join together in deepening our understanding and respect for Indigenous cultures, today and every day. #CPSCelebrates
