Business education teacher Sarah Routsis of Kempsville High School’s Entrepreneurship and Business Academy is a finalist for citywide Teacher of the Year.
She is the academy’s senior internship coordinator.
“In her classroom, Mrs. Routsis goes beyond traditional instruction, providing students with real-world experiences that spark a love for learning,” said Melissa George, principal of Kempsville High. “She brings the curriculum to life working closely with the business community, ensuring that students not only learn theoretical concepts but apply them in practical ways.”
Routsis has been with Virginia Beach City Public Schools for 12 years, six of them in her current position. She leverages student industry credentials to assist them in securing internship opportunities.
“Mrs. Routsis has transformed the EBA curriculum, setting a model for extending education beyond classroom walls, and her initiatives resonate with the latest educational theories that emphasize experiential learning,” George said.
Routsis said she struggled as a student in the early years of her own education, and this gives her valuable insight as a teacher.
“I know the importance and significance of instructionally sound teachers that are caring and passionate about the success of their students,” she said. “Each day, I work to challenge students beyond their highest potential. I believe students can achieve anything when provided the right support.”
Beth Anne G. Campbell, president and CEO of MidAtlantic Surveying and Land Design, has worked with Routsis since 2018 as a partner in education, participating in Job Shadow Day.
“Mrs. Routsis is dedicated to preparing her students for success in a constantly evolving world, both academically and personally,” Campbell said. “Her approach integrates critical thinking, collaboration, social awareness and flexibility — essential components of the Future-Ready Profile.”
Routsis is an advisor for Future Business Leaders of America and served on the school’s cyber security team. She is a lead representative on the principal’s advisory committee, secretary of the Entrepreneurship & Business Academy Foundation Board and a member of Kempsville’s graduation committee.
Olivia O’Bry-McCollins is the parent of a current and former academy student. She’s impressed with Routsis’ commitment to engaging students in meaningful, real-world applications of their studies.
“My children have benefitted immensely from her mentorship, and I have seen them grow in confidence and capability under her guidance,” she said. “She is a dynamic educator who cares deeply about the success and well-being of every student she serves.”
