Stephanie A. Doyle, a sixth-grade history teacher at Breckinridge Middle School in Roanoke and the commonwealth’s Region 6 Teacher of the Year, was named the 2009 Virginia Teacher of the Year. Doyle was selected from the eight Virginia 2009 Regional Teachers of the Year announced in September. She will be the commonwealth’s nominee in the Council of Chief State School Officers’ National Teacher of the Year program, which is sponsored by ING Foundation. “Stephanie Doyle is a shining example of Virginia’s many highly qualified, caring teachers who challenge and inspire their students,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Patricia I. Wright. “Her students are the benefactors of her passion for U.S. history.”

Among Stephanie's many accomplishments is the "Girls Rising Onto Womanhood" group, a mentoring organization she started to help mostly minority girls who wanted or needed help with things both related to their schoolwork and nonacademic topics. "Those little girls, they are my heart and soul" Doyle said, referring to the young women she hugged when she found out about her honor.

All of us at VMSA congratulate one of ours in accomplishing this honor. Stephanie exemplifies all that is good among middle school educators. We wish her luck as she continues her efforts as a middle school educator and in her pursuit of the 2009 National Teacher of the Year honors that will be announced in the spring at a White House ceremony.