From left to right, Chevelle Simeon and Chaselle McConnell. Photo Credit: V.I. DEPT. OF EDUCATION
An AP English Literature and Composition teacher on St. Thomas, and a Foreign Language Department Chair on St. Croix are the V.I. Department of Education’s District Teachers of the Year for 2023-2024.
According to the the department, among the six finalists considered for the honor, Chevelle Simeon and Chaselle McConnell were ultimately chosen as Teachers of the Year. Ms. Simon teaches Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition at the Charlotte Amalie High School on St. Thomas, while Ms. McConnell is the Foreign Language Department Chair at the St. Croix Educational Complex High School.
Dionne Wells-Hedrington, commissioner of the Department of Education, congratulated the District Teachers of the Year. “I am proud of these dedicated teachers who have demonstrated exceptional commitment, passion, and innovation in their classrooms, inspiring students, and colleagues alike. Their contributions to the field of education not only impact the lives of the students they teach but also serve as a shining example for the entire educational community,” said the commissioner.
Ms. Simeon, a 15-year veteran in the teaching service, holds a bachelor of arts degree in creative writing from Florida State University, and matriculated from the University of the Virgin Islands with a master’s degree in education with a concentration in Administration. At CAHS, she goes beyond her classroom duties by serving as a member of the elocution contest committee, as well as co-ordinating the Word of the Day and Poetry Out Loud programs, the department said.
Ms. McConnell graduated from the University of the Virgin Islands with a bachelor of arts in elementary education with a concentration in Spanish before completing a Master’s in English as a Second Language from the University of Ana G. Mendez. Both Ms. McConnell and her mother – an educator for almost 4 decades – completed the program together. The St. Croix District Teacher of the Year serves on several school committees and is the Senior and Junior class advisor, as well as the Junior Achievement Program site advisor for Complex.
After being selected as District Teachers of the Year following a rigorous evaluation process, which included a portfolio submission, classroom observation, and a face-to-face interview, Ms. Simeon and Ms. McConnell will now be considered for the State Teacher of the Year award, which will be announced at the end of the 2023-2024 school year.
Other candidates for the district award included Dara Battiste and Candeya Turnbull-Browne in St. Thomas/St. John, and Annie Errilienne and Chantelle Greene Quinones for St. Croix.
“We are grateful for the unwavering dedication of these educators, and we applaud their leadership in recognizing and celebrating excellence in teaching. Their commitment to fostering a culture of knowledge as we transform today’s learners into tomorrow’s leaders is truly commendable,” said Mrs. Wells-Hedrington.
