Three Hanover County Public Schools teachers have received the 2025 R.E.B. Award for Teaching Excellence, which recognizes them as outstanding teachers who demonstrate a sincere passion for teaching while also serving as mentors, coaches, and champions for their students.
Joined by members of the Hanover County School Board, Dr. Lisa Pennycuff, Superintendent of Schools, announced each winner at their school during faculty meetings on November 5. Combined, the three winners will receive cash grants of $36,500 to travel the world to continue their own learning and bring it back to the classroom to benefit students. Nominated by colleagues, the educators are among 15 winners from across the Richmond region chosen by the Community Foundation and the R.E.B. Foundation as being considered among the best in their field.
“These teachers represent the very best of Hanover County Public Schools, and I am so proud of the remarkable work they do each day,” said Dr. Lisa Pennycuff, Superintendent of Schools. “They have absolutely earned this recognition, and I am excited to see how their travel experiences will strengthen their teaching and continue to elevate learning for our students.”
Said Hanover County School Board Chair Mrs. Whitney Welsh: “I couldn’t be happier for these wonderful teachers. They pour so much love, energy, and creativity into their classrooms every single day, and this recognition is a special way to celebrate all they do for our students. I can’t wait to see how their travels will inspire new learning back here in Hanover.”
Ashland Elementary School Lauren Churchill called the recognition “an incredible honor and deeply meaningful to me.”
“As a school librarian, I’m especially proud to see the essential role of school libraries and teacher-librarians celebrated in this way. Teaching is built on connection, creativity, and care, and to be recognized for doing the work I love is both humbling and inspiring,” said Mrs. Churchill, who is in her 16th year with HCPS – 14 at John M. Gandy Elementary School and two at Ashland Elementary School. “I’m especially honored to have been nominated by a colleague and a former student, two people who represent the relationships that make this work so rewarding. This recognition reaffirms my belief in the power of education to shape lives and the joy of helping students discover curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning.”
Mrs. Churchill received $10,000 to experience a guided safari in Kenya.
“I chose to propose a safari experience in Kenya because of my lifelong love of learning and my dream to see this incredible ecosystem with my own eyes. As a finalist, I was asked to design an experience that would inspire my passion for teaching, and a safari immediately felt like the perfect fit,” she said. “When I teach students to wonder about and then research animals, I too, wonder about them. I have wanted to see them in real life in their natural habitat for many years. So when I was told to dream, I did! I’m especially inspired to learn more about lions and elephants, animals that connect to our school’s House System, which has transformed our community and the way our students learn and lead together.”
Ashland Elementary School music teacher Megan Standlick said she is “truly honored just to be nominated for this award, and to be selected as a recipient is incredibly humbling.”
“I’m grateful to represent the amazing educators in Hanover County who have shaped me both as a student and now as a colleague. I’m also proud to represent music education and to highlight the important role music plays in a child’s life,” said Mrs. Standlick, who has taught for 12 years in HCPS – 10 at John M. Gandy Elementary School and two at Ashland Elementary School. “Music helps students find their voice, build confidence, and connect with others in meaningful ways, and I’m honored to share that message through this recognition.”
Mrs. Standlick received $14,100 to immerse herself in the choral traditions of England and New Zealand.
“England is a birthplace and preserver of children’s choral excellence. Many youth choral traditions were established there, especially in churches where boys’ choirs have sung daily evensong services for centuries. These ensembles remain active today and serve as the exemplar for vocal pedagogy and repertoire. New Zealand, once a British colony, inherited many of these foundations but developed its own distinctive choral culture,” she said. “This style blends European traditions with rich Māori influences. Today, New Zealand’s children’s choirs reflect a contemporary model of excellence that is community based and expressive of the nation’s unique identity. By visiting both countries, I will explore how choral singing, rooted in common origins, has evolved across generations and cultures.”
She added: “This opportunity is truly a dream come true. I can’t wait to experience the rich choral traditions of England and New Zealand, but I’m also excited to bring those experiences back to my students. I want to offer my students ways to connect with music that reflects their heritage and to explore traditions beyond their own. Choral singing is a powerful and beautiful way for them to experience both.”
Marianne Veitch, a math teacher at Hanover High School, also said she is “incredibly honored” to receive the recognition and is “deeply grateful to my colleague, Robin Malone, for nominating me and believing in my work.”
“Every day, I have the privilege of working with inspiring teachers and students who challenge me to keep learning and growing,” said Mrs. Veitch, who has spent all 18 years of her teaching career at Hanover High School. “This award is a meaningful opportunity to do just that, and I feel humbled and excited by the life-changing experiences it will provide, both professionally and personally.”
Mrs. Veitch received $12,400 to visit modern engineering feats in Europe to see mechanical and structural engineering in action.
“Even with years of teaching experience, there are two important questions I still struggle to answer well: ‘Where did calculus come from?’ and ‘What can I do with it after I graduate?’ This trip will help me answer both!” she said. “I will explore the development of calculus, from its historical origins to modern applications, across London, Paris, and Geneva. My goals are to connect classroom learning with real-world innovation, enrich students’ learning experiences, and spark curiosity in future career paths. I chose this trip to inspire enthusiasm for math through relevance and to empower the next generation of mathematical thinkers.”
She added: “HCPS is full of incredible educators doing meaningful work, and I encourage everyone to nominate their dedicated and passionate colleagues for an R.E.B. Award.”
The awards program, which is a partnership between the Community Foundation for a greater Richmond and the R.E.B. Foundation, recognizes excellence in public education by awarding cash grants to outstanding public school teachers from the City of Richmond, the counties of Chesterfield, Henrico, and Hanover, and the Department of Correctional Education.