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Grybb, Weiskopf selected as teacher, school-related employees of the year

By Wesley LeBlanc wesley@opcfla.com
Posted 2/3/21

CLAY COUNTY – Lakeside Elementary’s Meghan Grybb was selected as the 2022 Teacher of the Year, while Middleburg High’s Rhiannon Weiskopf earned the 2021 School-Related Employee of the Year …

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Grybb, Weiskopf selected as teacher, school-related employees of the year


Posted

CLAY COUNTY – Lakeside Elementary’s Meghan Grybb was selected as the 2022 Teacher of the Year, while Middleburg High’s Rhiannon Weiskopf earned the 2021 School-Related Employee of the Year award.

COVID-19 made for an interesting year in education with virtual and in-person school running simultaneously, and it forced teachers to adapt to the changing times and new landscape of learning. Every school employee rose to the occasion to lead the district to become sixth in the state, and none more so than Grybb and Weiskopf, who will go on to represent the district at the of-the-year competition at the state level.

“That to me is crazy,” Grybb. “I’m not sure if that’s all the way hit me yet if I’m being honest. I’ve been at Lakeside since I started and knowing the people that work here and all the amazing educators, to represent them is really an amazing feeling.”

This year’s Apple Awards, as the school district has named them, was all-digital due to the ongoing pandemic. That made for an interesting night for Grybb, Weiskopf and the other finalists. It was akin to watching the Oscars at home. Teachers and school-related employees were celebrated for being authentically themselves: people that care about the students of Clay County.

Grybb said the showcase being digital was even better because her immediate family and her family from Michigan could watch together and bask in the excitement.

“That was really special to me,” Grybb said. “I got to scream for joy with my children right beside me, and my husband, and my family from Michigan. I was so overwhelmed and shocked and surprised to hear my name.”

Weiskopf said the awards being digital made for a special night for her, too. She and her family and friends gathered in the Middleburg High library to watch the event live. When she found out she won, she was able to celebrate with those she loves most in the most important area of the school to her.

Grybb teaches gifted, or extended studies, to students from kindergarten to sixth grade. Weiskopf is a media tech assistant at Middleburg and she’s essentially in charge of the library with the media specialist.

“I take even more pride in being the [school-related employee of the year] of this school versus that for the district because of how much this school means to me,” Weiskopf said. “I went to school here [graduated in 2009] and to be able to come back to it and have such an impact on it and be recognized for that...it’s really special to me.”

“There’s so many incredible support staff here that I see daily making this school what it is, selflessly too, and being up against them...it could have been anyone here,” Weiskopf said of being selected as the school-related employee of the year for Middleburg High. “And then to go on and win it for the district, it’s just a crazy ride.”

Much like Weiskopf, the school Grybb is employed at has a special place in her heart. Grybb moved to Florida to teach at Lakeside after being recruited for the job following her graduation in Michigan. She and her husband figured a few years teaching in Florida would be great for their resumes and they planned to use that experience to return to Michigan to teach in schools there.

That was 16 years ago.

“The family culture here is just unlike anywhere else,” Grybb said. “We have such amazing students and amazing parents, and an amazing staff here too. It’s the best school and this award is their award as much as it is mine. It’s never crossed my mind to teach somewhere else.”

Both Grybb and Weiskopf had especially excellent Fridays following their big wins. Grybb’s desk was covered in flowers, congratulations cards, McDonald’s breakfast and more. Weiskopf said a different person popped into the library every minute to congratulate her. Both of their principals announced their achievement over the school-wide intercom and Superintendent Broskie made congratulatory visits as well.

“As a 30-year veteran of Clay County schools, having served as a teacher, coach, building administrator, district administrator and now superintendent of schools, I know first-hand the impact all of our employees have on the students of Clay County and our community and we salute all of you,” Broskie said during the Apple Awards.

Both Grybb and Weiskopf now will start preparing for the statewide Teacher of the Year and School-Related Employee of the Year competition where they’ll both represent the sixth-best school district in the state. Both are nervous of what’s to come, but both feel immensely proud to represent what’s No. 1 in their hearts: the Clay County School District.