Midlothian High teacher Nicholas Kirkbride was surprised during teacher workweek with the Angelique Clarke Social Studies Teacher Leader Award. Teaching since 2012 at Midlothian High School, he was praised for his genuine care and commitment to students.
One of his nominators wrote, “He connects with students on a personal level first, which allows meaningful learning to follow. His students want to work for him. They want to succeed in his class and perform well on the AP exam. Most importantly, they want to learn. That motivation stems from the trust and belief they have in him, as well as the inspiration he provides every day. His results reflect that impact. [His] students consistently perform at exceptionally high levels, with AP scores that exceed both state and national averages.”
The award presentation included school leaders and Kirkbride’s family popping into a professional development session for secondary history teachers. Sponsored by the Virginia Credit Union, the award is given annually in memory of CCPS social studies teacher Angelique Clarke, who exemplified the characteristics of servant leadership as she helped students find success in school and in life.