Lori Peltonen isn’t one for the spotlight. She prefers to work behind the scenes.

So, when she was announced as the 2022 Division Teacher of the Year, she was a bit bashful. 

“It’s amazing and validating to be named Teacher of the Year, but also super awkward for me,” Peltonen said. “It’s very humbling, too, but it makes me uncomfortable,” she laughed. “I’m more behind the scenes and supportive. I like to see other people succeed and shine.” 

Perhaps that humility is one reason she earned the title of Teacher of the Year. 

Peltonen is a 30-year educator and the librarian and media specialist at Staunton High. She’s been with SCS for seven years and has remained because she values the freedom to imagine and create.  

“It’s a small school district that encourages creativity, is innovative and always willing to try new things,” Peltonen said. “It doesn’t take forever to get approval for an idea, and I have full support, from building leadership to the central office. They’re willing to help me think outside the box.”

Equally important, her relationships with the students and staff have given her purpose over the last three decades.

“Every week, we need to get a little motivation from somewhere to go on,” she said. “And when you’re not having the best moments, it’s usually the kids or relationships with staff and teachers that give you determination to keep going.”

Read more about Mrs. Peltonen and all the school-level Teachers of the Year.

SCS has funded the Staunton Kindness Challenge solely with donations, and that trend will continue in the upcoming school year, thanks to the generosity of two community partners. 

The Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge is supporting the Kindness Challenge through a $10,000 grant, and Redbeard Brewing Company has contributed $5,000 for Challenge activities that specifically boost teacher morale. 

“We appreciate the generous support we’ve received from both the Community Foundation and Jonathan Wright, owner of Redbeard Brewing Co.,” said Dr. Smith. “Their gifts will allow us to spread an abundance of kindness to our students, staff, families and community. We are grateful to have their partnership as we go into the 2022-23 school year."

In addition to the one-time donation, Wright plans to generously provide ongoing financial support for the school division by donating a portion of the proceeds from Redbeard’s summer concert series. 

If you’d like to provide financial support for the Staunton Kindness Challenge, please email us at kindnesschallenge@staunton.k12.va.us. 

Look Out for Kindness Rocks

Our community partners at Shenandoah Green and the Youth Volunteers Corps of the Staunton-Augusta YMCA joined us for Kindness Day in April to celebrate the earth. 

Shenandoah Green volunteers primed rocks for students to paint with kind messages. Students will place the painted rocks around the city for passersby to find and enjoy. Many thanks to Shenandoah Green and the YMCA Youth Volunteer Corps for their support of our students and staff!

Start It! Brings the Flavor

Eighth-graders recently served up a variety of tasty meals and desserts in their Start It! class.

Start It! is an 18-week, 8th-grade exploratory class taught by Stacey Mooneyham and Dana Folks, where students learn the concepts of starting, owning and running a successful food truck business. Students built businesses that made and sold tacos, appetizers, salads, drinks, and sweets.

The result was a smorgasbord of goodies for staff to purchase and a simulated business experience that taught students the characteristics of entrepreneurs, marketing strategies, finances, employee responsibilities, cooking, kitchen and food safety, and evaluating business profits and losses.