Stafford County 5th grade instructor is Virginia Teacher of the Year

NORTH STAFFORD — Gov. Ralph Northam stood in front of hundreds of elementary school children and dropped a few hints.

“He’s a fifth-grade teacher,” he said.

The small children sitting cross-legged before him on the cafeteria floor at Kate Waller Barrett Elementary School in North Stafford raised their hands.

“Here’s another one: He teaches in classroom 21,” said the governor.

The children became more anxious, as, by now, many of the children and the faculty in the room knew who he was talking about.

“And he calls his students ‘rockstars,” the governor said.

All the while Dan Reichard, 28, sitting on the side of the room with his students, his face became redder and redder. When the governor announced that he — a fifth-grade teacher in his seventh year of teaching — is Virginia’s teacher of the year, he couldn’t fight back tears.

Hundreds of children and his co-workers cheered Wednesday as Reichard walked to the front of the room to greet the governor on stage, to accept his award.

“It doesn’t matter where you come from, or the color of your skin, you can be anything,” said Reichard.

Originally from the Pittsburgh area, Virginia’s top teacher said his success is based on strong relationships he’s forged with students, parents, and co-faculty.

He’s known for visiting children at home with their parents to build stronger relationships for the benefit of his students.

This statewide honor from the Virginia Department of Education comes after Reichard was awarded The Washington Post Teacher of the Year 2018 award in April.

To be eligible for Virginia Teacher of the Year, the candidate must hold a state teaching license and work at a public school or accredited nonpublic school. The program is not only open to teachers, but also librarians, guidance counselors, and reading specialists.

Richard will be expected to keep up with classroom duties over the next year, all while touring the state helping other schools to recognize more quality teachers.