Schools

FCPS Teacher Named Finalist for 2014 National Teacher of the Year Award

The Springfield elementary school teacher is up against three other finalists for the award.

Crestwood Elementary School Teacher Melissa Porfirio (right) with FCPS Superintendent Karen Garza in September 2013. Photo courtesy of FCPS.

Story Credited to Sherell Williams-Patch Editor.

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) teacher Melissa Porfirio has been named a finalist for the 2014 National Teacher of the Year award.

Porfirio, a first-grade teacher at Crestwood Elementary School in Springfield, is one of four finalists up for the honor. The winner will be announced during a ceremony at the White House in Washington, DC in April.

This isn't the first time Porfirio has been nominated for a teaching award or recognized for her work at Crestwood. In addition to winning Virginia’s 2014 Teacher of the Year award, Porfirio was selected as the Region 4 Teacher of the Year in September. She was also named FCPS 2013 Teacher of the Year.

Porfirio is most well-known for building relationships with her students and their parents while incorporating fun ways for her students to learn and grow.

“Her students love coming to school and each one of them always has a smile on his or her face,” said Crestwood Elementary School Principal Timothy Kasik in a news release from FCPS.

Porfirio has taught at Crestwood since 2005. She earned her master's degree and licensure at George Mason University in Fairfax. She received the school’s Human Relations Award in 2008. She also won the Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award for educational excellence.

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