Molly Menickelly is the Dominion Teacher of the Year Nominee for Loudoun County Public Schools. There are 99 total teachers in the running for LCPS teacher of the year.
Each school in the county is allowed to nominate one teacher. A committee composed of current LCPS staff and community members will review the nominees and determine the winners. Steve Hicks, History Department Chair, and Jennifer Rodgers, History teacher, were previously LCPS Teacher of the Year winners in 2023 and 2019 respectively. “I was actually shocked when Dr Brewer told me… it is an honor to have been nominated when I’m among such talented people,” Menickelly said.
Menickelly teaches AP Language, AP Literature, Women’s Studies, and is the Writing Center Director here at Dominion. One thing remains true across every single class, however, she is one of the most beloved teachers of her students. Isla Khan, Menickelly’s Writing Center student, said, “Her student teacher dynamic is very different than a majority of the teachers at Dominion. She’s able to joke with you, but also teach in a way that makes sense, [using] terms and concepts that are relevant in a teenager’s day to day life.”
“I feel like I push my students in ways that I don’t know if they always are cognizant that I’m pushing them, or that they’re aware that I’m pushing them, because I really do believe in a credo that my elementary school principal instilled in us, which was high standards with a touch of love,” Menickelly said.
Being nominated is a huge accomplishment and honor for a teacher, English Department Chair, Shelly Glynn said, “She really pushes students to think, not just about within our four walls, but also into the greater scheme of things, as a global citizen, she makes them connect the dots. It’s not just about her class[,] it’s about how her class bridges to other classes.”
“I like to think that I hold a mirror up to [students,] I try to show them their best selves. I try to model their best selves. I try to compliment their best selves, and when they are not at their best selves, I still love them. I don’t need them to be at their best every day. I don’t want them to be at their best every day. I want them to feel comfortable making mistakes, because learning is making mistakes and learning is frustration.” Menickelly said.
