CONTACT Tim Bullis
Director, Community Relations
748-1433
Sept. 25, 2009

At Tomahawk Creek Middle School, Carolyn Wilkerson is usually the person behind the camera, taking photos of students in sports competitions and other school activities.

Today, Wilkerson was on the other side of the lens when school officials announced that she has been named the Virginia Region 1 Teacher of the Year, making her one of eight regional winners now in the running to become the 2010 Virginia Teacher of the Year.

She is the ninth Chesterfield teacher in 13 years to be selected as the regional honoree. A former corporate engineer, Wilkerson left that career to become a middle school teacher. “I have been teaching for six years now, and I love every minute of it,” Willkerson wrote recently. “My former principal said that I am a born teacher — I just had to take a different path to figure that out for myself!”

Jeff Ellick, principal of Tomahawk Creek Middle School, wrote this about Wilkerson: “Carolyn is the epitome of a 21st-century teacher. Her caring nature, warm smile and heartfelt inspirational passion to teach are simple contagious. … I can state with 100 percent certainty that every student, parent, staff, administrator and member of the greater Richmond community who has come to know her would unequivocally say that she is the most unassuming and dedicated teacher ever!”

This is Wilkerson’s second year at Tomahawk Creek Middle School. She is currently teaching classes in physical science and geometry. Previously, she taught at Swift Creek Middle School.
Her career path brought her home: Wilkerson grew up in the Midlothian area and attended Watkins Elementary, Robious Elementary, Robious Junior High and Midlothian High. She earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Virginia, earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Richmond and completed the Gateway to Teaching Career Switcher Program through the University of Virginia.

The photos Wilkerson takes are used in school publications and on a web site she created for Tomahawk Creek teams (TCMSTimberwolves.com). She also helped found a spirit club for Tomahawk Creek Middle and coached the LEGO® robotics team at Swift Creek Middle.

In addition to Chesterfield County, Region 1 of Virginia encompasses the school systems of Charles City County, Dinwiddie County, Goochland County, Hanover County, Henrico County, New Kent County, Powhatan County, Prince George County, Surry County, Sussex County and the cities of Richmond, Petersburg, Colonial Heights and Hopewell.

Virginia’s eight regional Teachers of the Year were selected from more than 100 candidates chosen by their school divisions. The candidates submitted portfolios highlighting their accomplishments, teaching philosophy and community involvement. A panel of representatives from professional groups and educational associations reviewed the portfolios and will interview each of the eight regional Teachers of the Year this fall to select the 2010 Virginia Teacher of the Year.

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Photos accompanying this news release
Cheer — Carolyn Wilkerson (far right) is cheered by Tomahawk Creek Middle students and officials of Chesterfield County Public Schools officials (from left to right) Donna Dalton, Lyle Evans, Superintendent Marcus Newsome, Tomahawk Creek Middle Principal Jeff Ellick and Ed Pruden.
Congrats — Tomahawk Creek Middle students surround Carolyn Wilkerson, the Region 1 Teacher of the Year and the Chesterfield County Teacher of the Year.
Carolyn Wilkerson — head-and-shoulders shot of Carolyn Wilkerson