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An elementary teacher known for innovation and immservice learning in the classroom and a school nurse with a reputation for kindness, compassion, and support were honored by Louisa County Public Schools on Wednesday, May 6th as the school division’s top certified and classified employees for the 2025-2026 school year!
Trevilians Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Megan Barrett received the 2026 William G. Thomas Educator of the Year Award, which honors the top certified educator at LCPS, during the school division’s annual banquet on Wednesday night. Meanwhile, Louisa County High School nurse Mazie Rowe was named the 2026 Wallace L. Tingler MVP of the Year, which goes to the school division’s top classified employee.
Barrett and Rowe received the awards during a ceremony at Tavern on the Green at Spring Creek on Wednesday night, where they were two of 13 division employees being celebrated for their level of excellence. The duo of Barrett and Rowe have a long track record of excellence at LCPS, with the two providing a combined 28 years of service to the school division.
“These two ladies represent the values that we emphasize every single day here at Louisa County Public Schools,” said Doug Straley, division superintendent for Louisa County Public Schools. “They are both great examples of the positive impact an educator can have on the people around them.”
Each May, LCPS hosts its Educator/MVP of the Year Awards ceremony, where each of the school division’s six schools is represented by a classified and certified employee (the school division’s central office and operations team is also represented by a classified employee). Each of the 13 honorees earned the opportunity to represent their school by first receiving a #TeamLCPS MVP nomination during the 2025-2026 school year. Then, a vote was held amongst each school’s employees to determine each school’s individual winner.
From there, an independent panel made up of representatives from schools throughout the county collaborated to select the 2026 William G. Thomas Educator of the Year and the 2026 Wallace L. Tingler MVP of the Year, the school division’s two most prestigious honors.
Both of this year’s winners were commended for continually going above and beyond the call of duty to assist students and staff, and doing so with a consistent and positive attitude.
Barrett, who is in her 18th year at Louisa County Public Schools, is well known for leading fun room transformations to help students learn in an immersive way. During the school year, her room was transformed into Jamestown, a poetry cafe, and even a pirate ship! It’s a level of ingenuity that is anchored in her passion for teaching.
“I live for the moments where a student says, ‘That was so fun!’” Barrett said. “Those moments never get old.”
Similarly, Rowe was also spotlighted for her level of support and care. Now in her tenth year of serving as a school nurse at Louisa County Public Schools, Rowe is known for her positive, can-do attitude and for always supporting the mental and physical health of students and staff.
“I take the most pride in being part of a place where kindness, compassion, and connection aren’t just words; they are a part of who we are,” Rowe said. “LCPS is truly a special place to be.”
At Wednesday’s ceremony, Superintendent Straley applauded the work of Barrett, Rowe, and the entire group of honorees for their extraordinary efforts during the 2025-2026 school year.
“Every single day, our educators show how dedicated they are to our students,” Straley said. “One of the most enjoyable parts of our Educator/MVP of the Year ceremony is getting to hear some of the behind-the-scenes stories about how our educators are changing the lives of our students. I always say that people are your most valuable resource, and we have a team full of incredible people here in Louisa County. I’m just so proud of each one of them, and it’s an honor to be their Superintendent.”
There were a lot of proud supporters in the crowd on Wednesday night, too. Members from both the Louisa County School Board and Board of Supervisors were in attendance, as well as administrative teams from each school. The night’s 13 honorees were also able to invite up to five guests to join them as well.
After Wednesday’s ceremony, Louisa County School Board Chairman Greg Strickland praised all 13 honorees for their passion for education and helping others.
“Our school division takes so much pride in the hard work of our team members, and these 13 individuals demonstrate what it means to truly love your job,” Strickland said. “They are such a positive influence on those around them, and it’s hard to put into words how valuable that is. They are truly superheroes.”
Wednesday’s ceremony was the culmination of a year-long voting process known as the #TeamLCPS MVP Awards. Each week, the school division accepts nominations for students, classified staff members, certified staff members, and community members who are living out the school division’s non-negotiables. Each week, approximately 400 nominations are submitted, and one person from each of the four categories is recognized and featured in a highlight video. The weekly #TeamLCPS MVP videos have become a highlight for many people, generating thousands of views online each week.
Superintendent Straley said one of the most rewarding aspects of the process is how everyone in the community is able to be involved.
“Our nominations this year have come from people with diverse backgrounds from all across this county, and what connects them is that they’re thankful for what members of #TeamLCPS are doing for this community,” Superintendent Straley said. “It’s a real boost for our team members when they receive a nomination for doing things the right way. I’m thankful to everyone who has submitted a nomination this school year.”
The full list of school-level MVPs of the Year who were honored on Wednesday night included:
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Jouett Elementary School: secretary Jackie Grubbs
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Moss-Nuckols Elementary School: custodian Keith Nixon
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Thomas Jefferson Elementary School: secretary Jessica Ellis
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Trevilians Elementary School: instructional assistant Jennifer Sparks
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Louisa County Middle School: bookkeeper Brittany Williams
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Louisa County High School: nurse Mazie Rowe
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Central Office and Operations: technology systems administrator Randy Fisher
The full list of school-level Educators of the Year who were honored on Wednesday night included:
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Jouett Elementary School: fifth-grade teacher Breanna Freidhoff
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Moss-Nuckols Elementary School: kindergarten teacher Jennifer Colsey
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Thomas Jefferson Elementary School: fifth-grade teacher Erika Halle
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Trevilians Elementary School: fourth-grade teacher Megan Barrett
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Louisa County Middle School: special education teacher Jessica Bagby
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Louisa County High School: science teacher Rebecca Kazio
Louisa County Public Schools would like to thank The William A. Cooke Foundation, Old Dominion Insurance & Investments, Walmart in Zion Crossroads, and Lake Anna Food Lion for sponsoring the 2025-2026 #TeamLCPS MVP Awards process. Their support helped make the entire 2025-2026 Educator/MVP of the Year process possible.
The Wallace L. Tingler Award is named after Wallace “Chuck” Tingler, a longtime member of the Louisa Education Foundation. Tingler also tremendously assisted the Louisa County community through his philanthropic efforts while serving as Chairman of the Board for the William A. Cooke Foundation and William A. Cooke, Incorporated. The William G. Thomas Award is named after Dr. William Thomas, who served as the superintendent for Louisa County Public Schools for 11 years.