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Each year, the Office of Clinical Experiences at �鶹��ý solicits nominations for Clinical Faculty Members of the Year. The winners are selected by a placement specialist in the Office of Clinical Experiences, Ms. Brenda Houck, and the co-chairs of the School-University Partnership Committee: Ms. Jennessa Libby-Reynolds, Dr. Kristie Gutierrez, and Dr. Jori Beck. We are pleased to announce the awardees for the 2023-2024 school year!

Elementary Clinical Faculty of the Year:

LeRonica Moses

Knollwood Meadows Elementary School
Newport News Public Schools

LeRonica started her teaching journey 10 years ago as a substitute teacher and transitioned to an instructional assistant for students with disabilities. These roles sparked her passion for students who are often overlooked or excluded. She joined the initial Newport News Schools and �鶹��ý partnership in 2018 to obtain her Master's in Special Education K-12 General Curriculum and has been teaching full time since 2019. Her favorite part of the job is collaborating with other teachers, specialists and counselors to meet students' needs. Bridging the gaps for all students is her biggest passion and she looks forward to continuing to build��communities of inclusion for many years to come. Her nominator described her best, “Professionally she is strong, brilliant, wise, hard working, a true go-getter, and excellent with students (those with and those without disabilities).”

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Middle School Clinical Faculty of the Year:

Leslie Kampschmidt

Blair Middle School
Norfolk Public Schools

Leslie Kampschmidt is a veteran teacher of Earth Science at Blair Middle School in Norfolk, Virginia. She has partnered with �鶹��ý mentoring Monarch student teachers, practicum students, and Teachers in Residence for over 20 years. Mrs. Kampschmidt enjoys providing guidance and support for aspiring teachers. She loves teaching and wants to instill that passion into others to give back to students, the field of education, and community. She feels that building strong relationships with students is the key to classroom success. Her student teacher wrote of Mrs. Kampschmidt, “I'm very thankful for everything she's done for me and her teaching and this experience has made me feel prepared to go out into the world and have my own class one day.”

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High School Clinical Faculty of the Year:

Melissa Calaman

Landstown High School
Virginia Beach City Public Schools

Melissa Calaman graduated from �鶹��ý in 2006 and has been teaching Astronomy and Earth Science courses at Landstown High School for the past 18 years. Her passion for teaching enables her to establish positive relationships while delivering engaging and interactive lessons. Melissa encourages teacher candidates to develop their own positive learning environment, using creative and innovative teaching methods. Her biggest advice to all who enter the classroom is to seek positive mentors, never stop learning, and keep looking up! Melissa’s student teacher wrote in her nomination that, “Her passion has rubbed off on me, and she is a true role model in every sense of the word.”

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