RPS Shines

The Teacher of the Year Award is given annually to the teacher, counselor, librarian, or academic specialist who best exemplifies RPS’ core values and commitment to students. The TOY for each school is selected annually through a building-level process, at the end of the previous school year. The Division’s TOY is selected by a committee after consideration of teachers’ leadership, impact, and The Division’s 2025 Teacher of the Year will be announced in December, 2024.

The New Teacher of the Year is given annually to the early-service teacher (less than three years of teaching experience) who best exemplifies RPS’ core values and commitment to students, and demonstrates great promise for long-term impact with Richmond students. BTOYs are nominated through a building-level process, with the winner selected by a committee and announced at the RPS Shines gala. 

The Principal of the Year Award celebrates the exemplary building leader who best embodies RPS’s core values of teaching, leading, and serving with love. The POY is an exceptional and empathetic administrator who moves their students academically while inspiring their staff to greatness. This leader is selected by the RPS Administration/Community, with community- and building-level input. 

The Rodney Robinson Equity Award, named for 24-year veteran RPS educator, 2019 National Teacher of the Year, and Director, Teacher & Leader Pathways Advisor, Rodney Robinson, recognizes the educator who has made a significant contribution toward promoting equity in education for all RPS students. Any member of the community can nominate an RPS teacher or staff member for this award. Nominees must be in at least their second year. Three finalists, including the winner, are selected by an internal committee and announced at the RPS Shines gala in May.

The Lucille Brown Impact Award is given to the career educator who has made a significant impact on the achievement, well-being, and life aspirations of RPS students. All nominees must have at least twenty years of experience in RPS. Any member of the RPS community — student, parent, staff member, or community member — may make a nomination. Three finalists, including the winner, are selected by an internal committee and announced at the RPS Shines gala.

The Support Staff of the Year Award recognizes the tremendous work of the school-based office associates, custodial staff, School Nutrition Service staff, nurses, instructional assistants, bus drivers and monitors, care and safety associates, social workers, family liaisons, and interpreters who wrap our students in love each and every day. Nominations are accepted from the community, with the school’s winner selected by the building’s teachers and staff. The Divisionwide SSSOY is selected by an internal committee and announced at the RPS Shines gala.

This NEW award recognizes the non-school-based staffer who best exemplifies the RPS’s core values, and has meaningfully advanced the work of RPS over the last year. Nominations are accepted from RPS staff members across the Division, with three finalists per Office selected by that office (Central Office staff that are assigned to schools — such as a Nutrition Services staffer — are eligible for their building-based award.) Three finalists, including the winner, are selected by an internal committee. The winner is announced at the RPS Shines gala.