HENRICO, Va., March 24, 2026 — Tireless, transformative, unmatched and unflappable are some of the words used to describe 15 staff members across Henrico County Public Schools who go above and beyond to serve the schools, students, families, staff members and communities they represent. Chosen from more than 400 nominations submitted by students, parents/guardians and peers, these standout staff members were honored for their exceptional contributions with the inaugural Heart of Henrico Awards, which were presented last week in a celebration at the Advanced Career Education Center at Hermitage.
Nominators described the commitment and dedication of the 15 honorees to their school communities or the school division, categorized by the five core values in HCPS’ strategic plan, the Journey to 2030: Student-Focused, Belonging, Collaboration, Innovation and Equity.
The honorees span every section of Henrico and a wide variety of roles within Henrico Schools:
Student-Focused
Dillon Fail, principal, Cashell Donahoe Elementary School
Jill Rich, teacher and director at the Center for Environmental Studies and Sustainability at Varina High School
Debra Verbeeck, clinic aide, Gayton Elementary School
Belonging
Sandi Chesworth, library assistant, Glen Lea Elementary School
Howard Moodie, custodian, Nuckols Farm Elementary School
Angela Stewart, cafeteria manager, L. Douglas Wilder Middle School
Collaboration
Tomeka Campbell, associate principal, Three Chopt Elementary
Dottie Tyler, bus assistant, Transportation
Erica Wood, school counselor, Hungary Creek Middle School
Innovation
Brewster Brown, director of school counseling, Tuckahoe Middle School
Nick Lapres, innovative learning coach, Fairfield Middle School
Alexis Miller, Family Resource Center coordinator, Family and Community Engagement
Equity
Jehan Gabrual, associate principal, Dumbarton Elementary School
Jennifer Robinson, Early Learning Preschool family advocate, Federal Programs and Foundational Learning
Victoria Goss Stepp, drama teacher, George H. Moody Middle School
“The Heart of Henrico Award is more than recognition,” said Dr. Amy Cashwell, HCPS superintendent, who celebrated the winners with members of the Henrico School Board. “It is a reminder that Henrico County Public Schools is at its best when its core values are not just words on a page, but values lived out in classrooms, cafeterias, front offices, libraries, school buses and every space where students and families are served.”
During the awards ceremony, which was emceed by 12 On Your Side meteorologist Andrew Freiden, the school division also celebrated its content educators of the year as well as seven exceptional school nurses whose quick action and medical expertise saved the life of a student or staff member at their respective schools.
Watch video highlights from the awards ceremony and learn more about our Heart of Henrico Award recipients at https://www.henricoschools.us/page/heart-of-henrico.
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