Cooke Elementary School second grade teacher Colleen Romash is a finalist for citywide Teacher of the Year.
Romash believes all students can reach their full potential.
“I have had the pleasure of having a classroom filled with special education students as well as gifted learners,” she said.
Through strategic planning, Romash differentiates lessons in each unit to include all learners.
Her goal is “to transform my classroom into an engaging environment where students are learning beyond the standards and interacting more with our content,” she said.
Cooke principal Dr. Kelly Padilla said Romash is deserving of the honor.
“Mrs. Romash is a stellar teacher, mentor, leader, community member and human being,” she said. “She goes above and beyond to meet the needs of all of her students daily.”
Romash has been an educator for 13 years, including three as a Landstown Middle eighth grade special education teacher. In 2021, she began teaching at Cooke.
She has worked to close achievement gaps by implementing targeted instruction and partnering with school specialists.
For example, the Native Americans unit is designed to transform students into historians excited to showcase their learning in different ways other than on a test.
Artifact analysis was used to pique students’ curiosity about tools used in tribal communities. Students used a variety of technological research tools.
They portrayed the Powhatan tribe’s respect for nature by crafting “dug out canoes” and writing facts and drawing pictures on them.
During art class, students were introduced to the art of Native American pottery making and sculpting, and the library media specialist recorded green screens about the students’ choices of Native American tribes.
The gifted resource teacher guided them in analyzing similarities and differences between tribes during a language arts lesson based on the book “The Rough-Face Girl.”
Romash is a member of several professional organizations, including the National Association of Special Education Teachers. She has attended numerous conferences and workshops, including the most recent Virginia Council of Teacher of Mathematics conference in July.
She has served as PTA president and vice-president and leader of the school’s STEM Club. Currently, Romash serves on the principal advisory committee, grade level chair and as an assistant leader for the Cooke chess club.
In addition to receiving the VBCPS “Distinguished Educator” award” twice, she was named the 2024 Hampton Roads Rotary Club “Teacher of the Year.”
Romash believes in inclusion, community and collaboration.
“If students are able to experience standards, immerse themselves in them and work with their community, increased potential can be met within all learners and students can gain a confidence in learning that will last a lifetime,” she said.
