The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Department of Virginia has honored Merissa Bartoli, a kindergarten teacher at Piney Branch Elementary School, with the Smart/Maher Citizenship Education Teacher of the Year Award at the elementary level for the 2025-26 school year. This award recognizes excellence in citizenship education across four key areas: citizenship, resourcefulness, innovation, and passion. “I am extremely proud of all that we have accomplished at Piney Branch over the last few years through the Purple Star Committee and our work with military-connected students. As a Purple Star–designated school, we take great pride in knowing that we are making a meaningful difference in the lives of these children every single day,” shared Bartoli. With more than 24 years of experience as an educator, Bartoli’s dedication to fostering community is evident through innovative activities like “boot camps,” luncheons for veterans and their families, and interactive spirit weeks. She also ensures that new military families are welcomed by student ambassadors who understand the challenges of transitioning to a new school. As the daughter of an Army colonel and granddaughter of two World War II veterans, she brings a deep personal connection to her work with military-connected students. Steven Thorne, Piney Branch Elementary principal, explained, “Ms. Bartoli’s dedication to our military-connected students has helped cultivate an inclusive and empathetic culture across Piney Branch Elementary. Through her leadership of our Purple Star team, she has united staff, students, and families around a shared commitment to belonging, advocacy, and civic responsibility. Her daily work—especially with our youngest learners—ensures that empathy and pride in service are not just taught, but lived, schoolwide.” Selected as the top nominee among 12 VFW districts across the state, Bartoli attended both the regional and state award ceremonies. Reflecting on this achievement, Bartoli stated, “Being recognized by the VFW for my leadership with our military-connected students feels like a true full-circle moment. My father retired from the Army when I was in sixth grade. I was born in Germany on a military base and moved several times before even entering first grade. While being part of a military family came with its challenges, it also brought incredible opportunities. From a young age, I learned the importance of service, sacrifice, and support.” Bartoli will represent Virginia at the national level, after having received recognition at the post and district levels. She was initially nominated by the Piney Branch administrative team through VFW’s Haymarket post for her demonstrated leadership in supporting military-connected students.The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Department of Virginia has honored Merissa Bartoli, a kindergarten teacher at Piney Branch Elementary School, with the Smart/Maher Citizenship Education Teacher of the Year Award at the elementary level for the 2025-26 school year.

This award recognizes excellence in citizenship education across four key areas: citizenship, resourcefulness, innovation, and passion.

“I am extremely proud of all that we have accomplished at Piney Branch over the last few years through the Purple Star Committee and our work with military-connected students. As a Purple Star–designated school, we take great pride in knowing that we are making a meaningful difference in the lives of these children every single day,” shared Bartoli.

With more than 24 years of experience as an educator, Bartoli’s dedication to fostering community is evident through innovative activities like “boot camps,” luncheons for veterans and their families, and interactive spirit weeks.  She also ensures that new military families are welcomed by student ambassadors who understand the challenges of transitioning to a new school. As the daughter of an Army colonel and granddaughter of two World War II veterans, she brings a deep personal connection to her work with military-connected students.

Steven Thorne, Piney Branch Elementary principal, explained, “Ms. Bartoli’s dedication to our military-connected students has helped cultivate an inclusive and empathetic culture across Piney Branch Elementary. Through her leadership of our Purple Star team, she has united staff, students, and families around a shared commitment to belonging, advocacy, and civic responsibility. Her daily work—especially with our youngest learners—ensures that empathy and pride in service are not just taught, but lived, schoolwide.”

Selected as the top nominee among 12 VFW districts across the state, Bartoli attended both the regional and state award ceremonies.

Reflecting on this achievement, Bartoli stated, “Being recognized by the VFW for my leadership with our military-connected students feels like a true full-circle moment. My father retired from the Army when I was in sixth grade. I was born in Germany on a military base and moved several times before even entering first grade. While being part of a military family came with its challenges, it also brought incredible opportunities. From a young age, I learned the importance of service, sacrifice, and support.”

Bartoli will represent Virginia at the national level, after having received recognition at the post and district levels. She was initially nominated by the Piney Branch administrative team through VFW’s Haymarket post for her demonstrated leadership in supporting military-connected students.