Shelly Harrison and Dimpal Patel, instructional assistants at Skipwith Elementary School, have been recognized as “Yay of the Day” honorees by Henrico County Public Schools. Superintendent Amy Cashwell recently honored both staff members at the school.
Nominator Riian Brock highlighted their contributions:
“These two individuals are, without question, among the most remarkable colleagues I have had the privilege of working with. They began their roles together last year and have since formed an exceptional and dependable team. They know every student by name, have strong relationships with teachers, and are deeply connected to our school community. Their dedication is evident in everything they do. They are consistently present, willingly attend evening events to support the school, and respond to every request with a genuine ‘whatever you need.’ Each day often begins with car duty or cafeteria support before transitioning directly into kindergarten classrooms, where they are fully engaged—never hesitant to jump into hands-on learning with playdough, paint, or play.
“In their roles as general education instructional assistants, they have gone far beyond their job descriptions. They have served as tutors, exceptional education support, clinic backups, security monitors, restroom supervisors, play partners to our youngest learners, and, at times, a much-needed shoulder to lean on. Our school could not function day to day without their commitment, flexibility, and care. We are incredibly fortunate to have them as part of our team.”
Henrico County Public Schools provides educational services throughout Henrico County in Virginia and is located near Richmond (https://www.henricoschools.us). The district has focused on supporting students through dedicated staff in both teaching and support positions (https://www.henricoschools.us). The division has also received recognition for teaching excellence through awards for classroom performance and professional development (https://www.henricoschools.us). Superintendent Amy Cashwell leads the district (https://www.henricoschools.us), which uses the motto “The right to achieve. The support to succeed.” (https://www.henricoschools.us).
Community members can nominate other staff members for “Yay of the Day” honors through the Henrico County Public Schools website.