Portsmouth P.E. teacher gets top honor

Posted to: Education News Portsmouth
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By Cheryl Ross
The Virginian-Pilot
© April 6, 2011

Tom Shenk, a physical education instructor at John Tyler Elementary School, was named the city's Teacher of the Year on Tuesday night.

Shenk has spent his 20-year career in the city's schools. Before working at John Tyler, he was a classroom teacher at Churchland Elementary for 14 years.

"I'm very humbled and surprised at this honor," Shenk said at a ceremony in the Renaissance Portsmouth Hotel and Waterfront Conference Center. He said he has learned from "some really good" teachers who pointed him "in the right direction."

At the event, Wilson teacher Diane J. Brame was named high school teacher of the year. Jeff Pennington of Churchland Primary and Intermediate was named elementary school teacher of the year, and Niki Johnson-Thrash of Cradock Middle was announced middle school teacher of the year.

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