By Heather Bell
RADFORD – Katie Givens, agriculture teacher at Radford High School, has been selected as the Radford City School Division Teacher of the Year.
Givens, who was chosen from among a winner at each of the four RCPS schools, will be the school district’s representative for the statewide 2023 Mary V. Bicouvaris Virginia Teacher of the Year Program.
Givens teaches horticulture, floriculture, small animal care, and veterinary science in the Career and Technical Education program at RHS. RCPS Superintendent Robert Graham says Givens is integral to the development of the program at the high school.
“It wasn’t long ago when RCPS decided to bring a new agricultural program to our school division, and we were lucky enough to find and hire Katie, who has grown this program every year since she started with us,” said Graham. “In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Katie also supervises a very robust Future Farmers of America program that has earned many accolades over the years. We are certainly very proud of Katie and wish her the best of luck moving forward.”
Radford City School Board Chair Lee Slusher offered Givens congratulations on behalf of the school board.
“Congratulations from the RCPS School Board,” said Slusher. “Such a richly deserved honor. Please know how grateful we are for your dedication to students. The agriculture program is such a shiny star in our division, and we thank you for its continued growth and success.”
The other winners of Teacher of the Year at the individual schools are: Ranglette Dobson at McHarg Elementary School, Jenny Zienius at Belle Heth Elementary School and Sarah Coneras at Dalton Intermediate School.
