Throughout the year, staff, students, parents, and community members submit nominations for Louisa County Public School (LCPS) employees who are going the extra mile to positively impact others. The nominations culminated in an annual event at Tavern on the Green on May 6 to recognize 13 staff members and also award the Educator and MVP of the Year. Louisa County High School (LCHS) nurse Mazie Rowe was recognized as the 2026 Wallace L. Tingler MVP of the Year and Trevilians Elementary School (TES) fourth-grade teacher Megan Barrett was recognized as the William G. Thomas Educator of the Year.

In his opening remarks, LCPS Superintendent Doug Straley congratulated all 13 staff members who were nominated by their peers, reflecting on the 2025-2026 theme of ‘strike the stone’, that the first swing doesn’t usually break stone, but with consistent effort, a breakthrough eventually comes.

“These 13 individuals are the best of the best, who continue to ‘strike the stone’ every single day,” Straley said. “Even when there are tough days or days where they are not seeing any progress, they continue to strike and move forward and make the magic happen for our 5,311 students who walk through our doors every single day.”

Rowe has been a nurse for 40 years, with 26 of those as a school nurse. She previously worked in Goochland County and Fork Union Military Academy and just finished her 10th year with LCPS.

“For 10 years, this MVP has been more than a nurse at LCHS. She’s been a friend, she’s been a mentor, she’s been a leader to all of the Lions. If you stop by the nurses’ office at LCHS, she offers care with a great big smile,” Straley said of Rowe.

Rowe stated that her being nominated as the MVP of the Year was a “total surprise.”

“It was such an honor to be recognized, that it was something that my peers voted for,” Rowe said. “One of the things that I love about working in the county is the ‘one family’ mentality – it’s something that is livable and you see it everyday. To be honored by my colleagues was absolutely wonderful.”

Barrett started her teaching career with LCPS when she was 22 years old.

“This Eagle has been a part of the team for 18 years,” Straley said of Barrett. “After 18 years, her passion for teaching hasn’t slowed down one bit. In fact, she’s still finding new ways to bring learning to life every single day. Whether it’s a pirate takeover, poetry cafe, or an unforgettable Jamestown experience, she pours everything she has into her students and it shows in the growth, it shows in the excitement, and those ‘light bulb’ moments happening every single day.”

Barrett stated that she has the “best team” at Trevilians who help support all students.

“It didn’t really hit me until the next day – the number of hugs I got, the number of ‘congratulations,’ and ‘you deserve it,’” Barrett said. “I feel so honored to be thought so highly of by my colleagues. It makes me excited for the rest of my career to continue to push myself.”