Date:  April 23, 2001
Contact: Irene Cromer
(703) 791-8720

The Curry School of Education Foundation has selected Suzanne Johnson, language arts teacher and department chair at Beville Middle School, as the 2001 Outstanding Middle School Teacher of the Year.  She will be honored at an awards ceremony and reception on April 27, 2001, at the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia.  Johnson is a graduate of the Curry School of Education.

For over ten years, Johnson has been a seventh grade reading and language arts teacher at Beville Middle School, previously working in the same capacity at Fred Lynn Middle School.  She has co-authored the Program of Studies for Extended Language Arts and served as a coach for Enhanced Instruction Process for the school division.  Johnson is on the clinical faculty at George Mason University and participated in the Multicultural Summer Institute and on the School Review Team.  She has been a team coordinator and a presenter at the Virginia Middle School Association Conference.  Johnson received a Commendation from the Virginia House of Delegates, an Outstanding Performance Award from Prince William County Public Schools and was named Dale City Teacher of the Year.

Each year the Curry School Foundation recognizes outstanding Curry alumni for excellence in teaching, service, professional stature, and concern for student welfare.   Johnson was chosen from among a large pool of nominees to receive this distinguished award because she exemplifies the characteristics of an educator that Curry seeks to instill in all its graduates.