Glen Allen HS teacher named Henrico’s ‘Teacher of the Year’

Lindsey Pantele, the 2020 HCPS Teacher of the Year, stands in her front yard with Amy Cashwell, HCPS superintendent and Kristi Kinsella, the School Board’s Brookland District representative. Cashwell and Kinsella held Pantele's award from the Henrico Federal Credit Union for $1,000. (Courtesy HCPS)

Glen Allen High School English teacher Lindsey Pantele today learned she had been named Henrico Schools’ 2020 Teacher of the Year during a surprise visit to her home by Henrico Schools Superintendent Amy Cashwell and Brookland District School Board member Kristi Kinsella, who arrived in a school bus.

As part of her award, Pantele received $1,000, courtesy of Henrico Federal Credit Union. The four other finalists – Melinda Pastuszak of Chamberlayne Elementary School, Candace Wilcox of Twin Hickory Elementary School, Tedra Buckler of Quioccasin Middle School and Jamie Roberts of John Rolfe Middle School – each received $500. (One finalist was selected from each of Henrico’s five magisterial districts.)

Because of HCPS’ closure for the coronavirus pandemic, the school division’s usual announcement ceremony had to be canceled.

Jessica Orzechowski, a world history and government teacher at Varina High School, poses in a submitted football-season photo with her son. Orzechowski was surprised Tuesday at an online staff meeting with the news that she has been named the 2020 HCPS First-Year Teacher of the Year. (Courtesy HCPS)

Winning is “humbling and rewarding and shocking,” Pantele said from her porch, to a small, socially distanced crowd of well-wishers gathered in her yard. “We don’t enter this profession as teachers to win awards, and I think considering the type of year we all have had, what an honor this is.

“As a product of Henrico County, it has been a privilege getting to work in the county that shaped who I’ve become as a teacher. We have worked so hard for 10 years [since Glen Allen opened] to build a sense of community. I think winning this award is another way for the school and the staff to be proud. I would not be the teacher I am today if not for all of them.”

Pantele graduated from Mills Godwin High School after attending Gayton Elementary School and Harry Byrd (now Quioccasin) and Pocahontas middle schools. She is an alumna of Christopher Newport University, where she earned undergraduate and master’s degrees.

Earlier Tuesday, Jessica Orzechowski, a world history and government teacher at Varina High School, was named HCPS’ First-Year Teacher of the Year. She was surprised with an announcement during an online Varina staff meeting.

Orzechowski grew up in Philadelphia. She earned her undergraduate degree from Delaware Valley University. Orzechowski decided to pursue a career in education after a stint managing horse farms and working in small animal veterinary clinics. She has a master’s degree in secondary education from Gwynedd Mercy University.

“This award means everything to me and my family,” said Orzechowski. “From the moment I stepped onto Varina’s campus, it felt like home — the school’s dedication to professional growth and academic excellence has challenged me in ways I have never been challenged before. The students at Varina are exceptional and I really owe my success to them. They immediately appealed to my Philadelphia roots with their passion and love for their community. They are strong in the face of adversity and will move mountains for you. It is an honor to refer to them as ‘my kids.’ This is as much their award as it is mine and I am so proud to share it with them and my colleagues. Go Blue Devils!”