Sara Matthews, an instructional assistant at Mechanicsville High School (MHS), has been selected as the 2023-24 Hanover County Public Schools (HCPS) Support Employee of the Year.
Joined by members of the Hanover County School Board, Dr. Michael Gill, Superintendent of Schools, made the surprise announcement on Thursday, May 2 at MHS in front of other members of the school’s faculty and staff. Matthews is in her ninth year with HCPS and fourth with MHS.
“Receiving this recognition is a great honor. It helps me to know that I am doing my job well, and that I am making a difference in the lives of others,” Matthews said. “Service and dedication are very important to me, and I hope that I can continue serving my community in the future. I am so thankful for the support of my MHS colleagues, who I collaborate with on a daily basis to best serve our students.”
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Matthews said her favorite part of her job is being able to develop relationships with all of the students in the building and celebrate their successes both in and out of the classroom.
“I once heard Tony Dungy speak about the difference between success and significance,” Matthews said. “While it’s great to be successful at your job, it is much more important to be significant in the lives of our students. I am hopeful that the connections I make with students will be significant to them throughout their lives.”
MHS Principal Charles Stevens said Matthews’ commitment and dedication to MHS and the school community “goes well beyond the classroom.”
“Her genuine compassion shines through every day through her intentional efforts to add value to the lives of the students, staff, and families she serves,” Stevens said. “She is the best of the best!”
