Collegiate Honors Faculty and Staff for Exemplifying the Values and Ideals of Teaching

The recipient of this year’s Lower School Craigie Endowment for Teaching Excellence Award is a distinguished educator with more than two decades of dedicated service to Collegiate’s Lower School. Her profound passion and expertise have consistently enhanced the educational experience for her students. She excels in forging strong connections with each student and their families, ensuring that every student feels recognized and valued. She upholds rigorous standards and provides individualized, daily feedback to students and parents as needed. Her commitment to her students is unwavering, and she embraces challenges to support each child in reaching their full potential.

 

Recently, she expanded her leadership role within the Lower School community as a Lower School Inclusion Belonging Representative (IBR). Her dedication to advancing this important work is evident, and she is always ready to assist her colleagues in modeling and fostering an inclusive environment. Her stewardship of the Lower School IBR role also enhances our collective achievements and expectations as we work and grow together.

 

This year’s recipient has consistently demonstrated a commendable commitment to her team, stepping up to support her colleagues whenever needs arise. While embracing additional responsibilities and aiding her peers, she remains unwaveringly focused on her students and their needs. Her dedication to her role as a teacher is evident in her steadfast attention to the well-being and success of her students.

 

Please join me in congratulating Mironda Stark, the 2024 Lower School Craigie Endowment for Teaching Excellence Award recipient.

This year’s recipient of the Middle School Craigie Award wears many hats. This seasoned educator joined the Collegiate community in August of 2019 after relocating to Richmond with his family. Since then, he has established himself as a leader on the 7th and 8th Grade hall of Flippen, while also making an impact on many other areas of school life. Fitting the mold of many American naturalists before him, this 7th Grade English teacher blends his love of poetry and writing with an affinity for all things outdoors. This combination of interests makes him an observant educator who proactively connects with students and parents, directly naming their strengths and areas for growth. As the 7th Grade level coordinator, he works closely with teachers to support the ever-changing needs of the 13-year-olds in a calm and confident manner. 

 

As an avid lover of “dad jokes” who hasn’t shaved his beard in many years, Nick Sberna is always prepared to entertain students and colleagues alike with his dry, yet quick, wit. This sense of humor makes him an excellent emcee at faculty talent shows or as the Spelling Bee moderator. In addition to teaching his students to read, write, and think critically in English class, he is a strong collaborator who has been integral to the reimagination of Connect Richmond and the 7th Grade’s work with the Valentine Museum. And, when the bell rings at the conclusion of G period, Nick transitions to his role as a leader of Outdoor Collegiate. Even before he recently finished his Wilderness Training, he was already entrenched as someone many colleagues would call on for support in the event of an apocalyptic catastrophe. 

 

With his exceptional teaching and supportive nature, Nick Sberna enhances our Collegiate community every day. We are delighted to award him this year’s Middle School Craigie Award. Congratulations, Nick!