TOY - TEACHER OF THE YEAR (2008)

Our 2008 VAME Teacher of the Year is Donna Celio, Marketing teacher and DECA Advisor from Stone Bridge High School. This year’s award is sponsored by Johnson & Wales University who provided a cash award to Donna at the annual conference presentation.

Donna first came to Loundon County Public Schools as a marketing teacher at Broad Run High School in 1994 after receiving her Masters degree from Virginia Tech; the same school where she received her Marketing Management undergraduate degree.

Since entering the teaching field, Donna has been a dedicated, energetic and creative member of the school and local community. In the community she has promoted toy drives and blood drives. In the school community she has operated a Gold Certified School-Based Enterprise using the school store as a premiere example of a business operation. She is known for her ability to build good working relations with organizations within the building.

When Stone Bridge opened in 2000 Donna was reluctantly released from Broad Run to become the CTE Department Chair for the new school. As her principal Mr. Person put it, “I had heard much about her from students and parents who were slated to attend our school
(Stone Bridge)….. I was so impressed with her that I made her our CTE Department Chair.”

But it hasn’t just been the administration and students that recognized Donna’s talent and commitment. The parents of a second year student of Donna’s said, “There is nothing more parents could ask of a teacher than to be the person who is the catalyst for their child’s success…. We give Mrs. Celio credit for a large part of our daughter’s success and ambition.”

Donna’s leadership has brought recognition to her program and her students. Her DECA Chapter has won numerous awards for their activities and projects. Individually, members have received scholarships, top winners at DLC, SLC, and ICDC, and she has seen her students elected to Virginia State Office. In 2007 Donna was recognized as an Outstand Chapter Advisor.

VAME is proud to have Donna representing Marketing teachers in Stone Bridge, Loudon County, and Virginia as the VAME Teacher of the Year.