Melinda Williams, associate principal at Short Pump Middle School, was recognized as the latest “Yay of the Day” honoree by Superintendent Amy Cashwell. The recognition took place recently at Short Pump Middle School.
Williams received praise from several nominators for her commitment to student engagement and support. Miriam Thorpe noted, “Mrs. Williams goes above and beyond for the sixth graders. She has made a positive impact on our students by having students be at the forefront of everything she does. She has started weekly ‘student of the week’ for two students. She has implemented star system for each advisory. She daily comes in for trivia based on our curriculum. They can then earn stars for over the doors. She also has badge contests to help the students wear their badges. She also decorates the hall with the posters of the students winning student of the week. They look forward to her trivia questions every morning. She then rewards the top three advisories at the end of the quarter with time in gym, food and lunch outside. She has gone over the top motivating our students to excellence.”
Another nominator, Nelson Stammer, said, “She is thoughtful, creative and has a fun attitude. The kids know what to expect and how to be successful in the Puma nation. When she gave a student who was struggling with her disability a genuine hug and asked her if she was ok, this simple act of kindness was all I heard about for the next week. It obviously had a HUGE impact on this student’s education here at Short Pump.”
Yasmín Castillo-Hoffman added, “She keeps the students motivated to learn and participate with a positive atmosphere. She came in to my class and motivated my students to be prepared for the next time she came by to reward them. Even when we do not win, we felt good about our efforts.”
Superintendent Amy Cashwell leads Henrico County Public Schools (HCPS), which provides educational services throughout Henrico County, Virginia, adjacent to Richmond according to its official website. HCPS emphasizes positive learning experiences through dedicated staff members in both educational and support roles as described online. The district’s motto is “The right to achieve. The support to succeed” as stated on its website.
Henrico County Public Schools have been recognized for teaching excellence and educators have earned awards such as REB Awards for classroom performance and professional development according to district information.
Community members can nominate standout staff members like Melinda Williams for future “Yay of the Day” recognitions through an online form.