YAY ETHEL EVANS! Ethel Evans, an instructional assistant at the Virginia Randolph Education Center, is today's "Yay of the Day" honoree. Superintendent Amy Cashwell honored her recently at the school.
YAYWORTHY:
Nominator Analicia McClellan said:
“Ms. Evans has been with HCPS for 37 years and is an absolute asset to our team. She is calm and patient with the children and a joy to work with in the classroom. She works with the younger kids in the K-2 room, helps them with their work and keeps them on task.”
Katherine Villacorta said:
“Ms. Evans is the most reliable, warm-hearted instructional assistant, and the Virginia Randolph Education Center staff is honored to work with her every day. She makes a positive impact each day and is always willing to work with students and help them become the best they can be. She’s always looking out for students and staff members. Ms. Evans has volunteered to eat lunch with students to ensure that teachers and other instructional assistants have breaks.
“We moved from the Campus of Virginia Randolph to Varina Elementary School, which is about a 30-minute increase in her commute. She still shows up each day early, and even picks up another coworker on the way. No matter who is assigned bus duty, Ms. Evans is the first to sign up each year for the responsibility and makes sure she is one of the first friendly faces the students and staff see every morning. VREC would not be the same without Ms. Evans and it has been an honor to work with her and get to know her.”
Hannah Mayer said:
“She is a very loving and responsible coworker. I particularly remember one time she helped a student calm down and get back on an assigned task.”
Lydia Hovsepian said:
“She deserves the Yay of the Day because of her long term and dedication to the wonderful kids of VREC. Once Ms. Evans presented a plaque of appreciation to parents who were especially supportive of the Virginia Randolph Education Center.”
Samiya Spurlock said:
“She has been here 37 years and is amazing at her job. She took on the job of working with our K-3 students in 2022-23 and enjoys that class.”
Shanazz Robinson said:
“She’s been with the school division for decades and does a really great job when it come to the little ones. She does bus duties every morning and make sure every student is greeted correctly and positively.”
Requel McKeever said:
“Ms. Evans is always in good spirits, and her humor lifts others’ spirits. She is a dedicated worker and always the first one at school. She’s also the first one to come to work greeting the kids on bus duty.”
Tia Chavis said:
“She has been an uplifting member of HCPS for more than 37 years!”
Finally, Diane Glover said:
“Ms. Evans goes over and beyond to ensure that the students she works with are pushed to reach their highest potential. She sets high expectations and provides targeted support to ensure mastery. Her driving forces are consistency and nurture. She is often heard saying, ‘Yes, you can do it — keep trying!’
“Her passion for cultivating the minds of early learners ages 5-7 is remarkable, because she maintains a patient, calming tone that is reassuring even for students who lack confidence in their abilities. Ms. Evans is indeed the perfect morning bus duty monitor because she motivates each student to ‘use their words’ to greet staff, and sends the students on their way to have a great day. VREC is blessed to have her on our team.”
Thank you for all you do, Ethel Evans, to make a positive difference and move HCPS forward!
• No. 6 in a series. See previous "Yay of the Day" honorees at https://www.henricoschools.us/o/hcps/page/yay-of-the-day.