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Top News — Education — Hermitage High School — Christine Suders — Amy Cashwell — Western Henrico — Near West End

Hermitage High's Suders named 2025 Henrico Teacher of the Year

,   and  Citizen Staff Reports
2 min read
The 2025 HCPS Teacher of the Year, Christine Suders, is congratulated by her daughters Dec. 12, 2024 at Hermitage High School, as HCPS Superintendent Amy Cashwell looks on. (Courtesy HCPS)

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Henrico County Public Schools has named Hermitage High School English teacher Christine Suders as its 2025 Teacher of the Year. The announcement was made Thursday morning in a surprise ceremony in Suders’ classroom.

A committee of administrators and educators interviewed and reviewed five finalists before selecting Suders. All finalists, including Suders, were named their school’s respective teachers of the year. The selection process involved essay submissions, one of which penned by Suders focused on absenteeism and the importance of supporting students with wraparound services like mental and physical health care, housing resources, and flexible learning paths.

“I'm just so thrilled to be the face of a much bigger community,” Suders said. “I don't see this as a reflection of me so much as Hermitage. It’s a win for all the hard work this community does. It means the world that the students and this incredible place are getting the positive recognition that I've known for so long they deserve.”

At Hermitage High School, Suders chairs the English department, serves on the instructional leadership team, co-sponsors the Hermitage chapter of the National Honor Society, and founded the school’s annual community literacy night festival. She also was the recipient of the school’s Golden Apple Award in 2023, an honor bestowed upon her by her colleagues in recognition of her leadership and support. Suders also participates actively in state and national professional organizations.

“Each year, there's nothing more special than honoring someone who represents the incredible qualities of Henrico County Public Schools,” said HCPS Superintendent Amy Cashwell. “Christine — in her professionalism, her dedication, the way she builds relationships — represents the best qualities we see in our teachers. I can't think of a better individual to represent the county.”

Suders' teaching career began at Varina High School, where she taught from 2011 to 2018 before moving to Hermitage in 2019. Originally from Williamsburg, Suders holds a bachelor’s degree in English language and literature from Eastern Mennonite University and a master’s degree in education from Longwood University.

The other finalists were Audra Vanderland, librarian at Glen Lea Elementary School; Adria Bader, an English teacher at J.R. Tucker High School; Audra Callahan, music teacher at Maybeury Elementary School; and Sekani Grant, a social studies teacher at Elko Middle School.

A banquet to honor all HCPS Teacher of the Year honorees, including the finalists, will be held in May at the Hilton Short Pump.