Thousands of Virginia educators received a thank-you note in the Virginia Lottery’s Thank a Teacher campaign earlier this spring, but only one lucky educator received that and much more!
Terri Vangelos, the librarian at G.W. Carver Elementary School, won a Virginia-themed vacation valued at $2,500 and a gift card courtesy of the Virginia Lottery and its partners, IGT and NeoPollard Interactive. In addition, Carver will receive $2,500 in supplies from The Supply Room!
Vangelos’ name was drawn in the prize drawing from nearly 6,000 entries submitted by teachers who entered a special code from their thank-you notes. This morning in a surprise announcement, Virginia Lottery representatives, Superintendent Curtis Hicks, Senator David Suetterlein and Delegate Joe McNamara gathered to surprise Vangelos at her school with the amazing news.
Also, a special thanks to all of the Carver students who gathered for the announcement, especially the preschoolers, who preformed!
The seventh annual award-winning "Thank a Teacher" campaign was held in conjunction with National Teacher Appreciation Week in May. This year nearly 50,000 thank-you notes were sent to Virginia K-12 public school teachers by their students, parents or other Virginians.
Virginia Lottery proceeds, which represent about 10% of the state’s entire budget for education, support programs, such as Early Reading Intervention, Mentor Teacher, K-3 Primary Class Size Reduction, School Breakfast, Algebra Readiness, Regional Alternative Education and Career and Technical Education, statewide based on priorities set by the governor and General Assembly each year.