In Chris Grim鈥檚 first-grade classroom when a student does something kind, or accomplishes something important, they get to ring the celebration bell.
The celebration bell may just look like a horseshoe attached to a string, but when it is struck with a metal rod, it rings out and elicits many cheers.
On Thursday, it wasn鈥檛 one of Grim鈥檚 students who got to ring the bell 鈥� it was Grim herself.
Grim has been teaching first-grade math and language arts at Fulks Run Elementary School for 28 years, this being her 29th year at the small, community school. Grim, who did her student teaching at Fulks Run, knew she had found someplace special.
鈥淭his is a community school where everyone knows everyone,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here is a lot of caring for each other when there is need in the community.鈥�
Four days before the start of school 29 years ago, Grim was hired to teach first grade at Fulks Run and she鈥檚 never looked back.
鈥淚 feel like God called me to teach here,鈥� she said.
Although Grim was named Rockingham County Public Schools鈥� Lucy F. Simms Educator of the Year in May, the Region 5 teacher of the year award came as a surprise. Principal Alisa Sims told as few people as possible to keep the secret under wraps, while also making sure the people closest to Grim were able to be there.
RCPS Superintendent Oskar Scheikl received a call from James Lane, Virginia鈥檚 superintendent for public instruction, a few weeks ago. At Thursday鈥檚 assembly, Scheikl told the audience that Lane advised him to 鈥渒eep Sept. 6 open鈥� and to 鈥渋nvite some people.鈥� To keep the students and faculty, and especially Grim, in suspense, her family and friends were sequestered in the cafeteria while the rest of the school filed into the auditorium Thursday afternoon.
In fact, after Grim鈥檚 loved ones were seated in the back at the start of the assembly, she said she didn鈥檛 even think to look back and didn鈥檛 see they were there until she took the stage.
Present to give the award was Cynthia Cave, the assistant superintendent of policy and communications for the Virginia Department of Education.
鈥淭his program is an opportunity to go out and find the most caring people that deal with students,鈥� Cave said.
It wasn鈥檛 until Cave mentioned Region 5 that Grim started to think that maybe they were all there for her. Until that point, her best guess for the hoopla was due to schoolwide recognition for Standards of Learning test scores.
Three of Grim鈥檚 students then presented her with the celebration bell, which she gleeful rang to the cheers of the crowd.
鈥淢y mom is here and she never comes to my school,鈥� Grim said to the audience. And to her students she said, 鈥淲e鈥檙e family. And I am so lucky to get to work in the best school in all of Rockingham County.鈥�
Grim鈥檚 mother, Shirley Grim, said she found out about the award a week ago and that it was 鈥渞eally hard to keep a secret.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 really excited for her,鈥� Shirley Grim said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 not only a great teacher but a wonderful person.鈥�
The assembly ended the way many things come to an end in Grim鈥檚 class 鈥� with a group dance.
Students and adults alike flooded the stage as the auditorium was filled with the sounds of 鈥淐elebration鈥� by Kool and The Gang.
鈥淚鈥檓 overwhelmed. It鈥檚 really just such an honor,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 work with an incredible bunch of people.鈥�
Next week, the panel that chose the region winners will interview each of the eight teachers to select the 2019 Virginia Teacher of the Year. The decision will be announced on September 14 during a ceremony at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond.