Henrico's Top Teachers – Danny Jones

Thanks to his mother’s example, Danny Jones knew from an early age that as an adult he would be “investing his time, energy, and passion to teach.”

Growing up, he observed as his mom interacted with her special education students both inside and outside of school, and was inspired by the care and commitment she modeled. “You could tell,” he recalled, “that she had a passion to improve the lives of all students.”

Today, he views his own role as a first-grade teacher to be a calling rather than a job, and says he considers it “an honor to teach for Henrico County Public Schools.”

Like most teachers, Jones enjoys those “light-bulb moments” when students use their critical thinking skills, suddenly grasp a concept, or enthusiastically dive into that extra level of depth to learn.

He also cherishes the times when students work in groups and he has the chance to observe peer-to-peer learning. “I love when I watch students create new ideas [while working with] and listening to others,” he said. “It is a joy to watch.  I like to call these ‘learning-in-action’ moments.”

For Greenwood Principal Ryan Stein, observing Jones with his students provides similar inspiration.

“Mr. Jones is truly one of those rare finds in the education field with endless energy, contagious enthusiasm, positive morale, and sound leadership skills,” Stein wrote in his nomination. “He is an advocate for all students, and teaches like his hair is on fire.”
A former Top Teacher himself, Stein said that Jones’ “creativity, sense of humor, and charisma” not only excite his students, but also energize his colleagues to push themselves professionally. “Mr. Jones simply makes everyone around him better!” wrote Stein. “He has that undeniable gift when it comes to working with both children and teachers.”

As a new principal, Stein has found himself turning to Jones for advice when presenting an idea or program to his staff. “Mr. Jones has been my go-to phone call,” he said. “He is a true visionary with excellent problem-solving skills.”

Jones is also quick to volunteer whenever there is a need, and served as Henrico County’s first-ever school camp director.

“While other teachers took off the winter break vacation to rest and relax,” said Stein, “Mr. Jones organized and directed a high-energy camp with 150 students and 26 high school volunteers.” The Winter Break Tip-Off Camp featured technology, sports, and STEAM activities, and was such a success that Jones offered three weeks of summer camp serving more than 500 students.

“He transformed holiday break and summer vacation into an exciting learning experience at Greenwood for our future leaders,” Stein said.

Jones puts every one of his students “at the center of their learning” and even takes his first graders to their future middle school, Hungary Creek, for a collaborative project that improves critical thinking and problem-solving skills. His impact on his students is a lasting one, wrote Stein, describing the former students that visit his classroom daily, and the basketball players he coached that stay in touch into their adult lives.

Jones’ students are so attached to their teacher, said Stein, that it can lead to unexpected challenges on certain days of the year. Last June, Stein had to shoo several students out of Jones’ class and onto the bus when they could not bear to tear themselves away from their teacher.

“His students truly love him – which is why on the last day of school, Mr. Jones’ students do not want to leave.”