The Springfield Park Elementary Knowledge Master Open team competed against 203 teams from all over the United States to place first in both the county and state, and 23rd in the nation overall.

The Knowledge Master Open is an academic competition in which students work as a team to answer 100 questions on history, geography, literature, math, and science. The team has only 60 seconds to answer each question, and bonus points are awarded for answers generated in under 30 seconds.

Teachers do not seek out publicity or acclaim for what they do, but we believe they deserve to be recognized for their efforts. In our second annual ‘Henrico’s Top Teachers’ issue, we tell the stories of 20 outstanding Henrico County teachers.

This year’s class includes teachers from throughout Henrico County who teach grade levels from preschool through high school and GED. They were nominated – along with more than 200 others – by readers during the month of November.

The volume of nominations received for this section – more than double the number received for last year’s inaugural issue – was overwhelming. Nominations came from parents, grandparents, colleagues, administrators – even students and former students. Paring the number of candidates to just 20 was no easy task.

We’re proud to present profiles of these teachers, who were selected for inclusion in this issue based on their professional successes and their personal touches. Each one has, in his or her own unique way, touched hundreds of lives and helped mold the future of Henrico County.