Herman L. Horn Elementary School has welcomed several new staff members for the 2017-2018 school year.

Rebekah Washington is teaching third grade. She is from Roanoke and a graduate of Northside High School. She completed her undergraduate degree at Liberty University with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education–Mathematics.

Last spring, she applied to teach in Roanoke County and was offered a position by HLH Principal Peggy Stovall.

“This will be my first full year on my own in a classroom, and I am very excited,” said Washington. “I look forward to this school year because the team at HLH seems very friendly, kind, and helpful. I am looking forward to making new friends and challenging my students to excel in every aspect of life.”

As for her interests outside of teaching, “I am a huge football fan and my favorite college team is the South Carolina Clemson Tigers,” added Washington. “I am so excited that we won the 2016 National Championship.

“My favorite subject is math, and I am so excited that I get to teach math again this year,” Washington said. “I have a passion for children and I want them to be the best they can be and to go as far in life as they want to.”

Holly Martin is teaching Special Education. She is from Roanoke and graduated from Cave Spring High School. She majored in Child Development and Early Childhood Special Education at West Virginia University. This is her first year as a lead teacher. She worked last year as an instructional assistant in RCPS.

“I love HLH’s small school/family feel,” said Martin. “I am excited to be a part of the school and of the community as a whole.”

Martin says that she loves art and music. She plays bluegrass fiddle and also plays in a local steel drum band.

“I like to incorporate creative elements into my lessons and activities whenever I can,” adds Martin.

Linda McCallum will be working as an instructional assistant in the Pre-K program. She is originally from Bedford and a graduate of Liberty High School. She majored in Elementary Education at Radford University.

McCallum transferred from W.E. Cundiff this year, where her daughter Ashley McCallum has become principal. She had been an instructional assistant there for 18 years.

McCallum taught in Bedford County Schools. She left teaching for 24 years “to be a full- time mom.” She says she is excited to be working with new people at Herman L. Horn. She spends her spare time “spoiling my two grandchildren and card stamping.”

Moira Miller is the speech-language pathologist at Herman L. Horn. She was born and raised in Garden City, New York. She attended SUNY Geneseo as a speech-pathology major and then obtained her graduate degree from the University of South Carolina.

Miller has worked as a SLP for over 20 years, with 16 and a half of those years at a different school system in Virginia.

“I am thrilled to be working with the best age group there is– elementary!” said Miller.

Megan Lynn will be coordinating special education programming, working with special education/regular education teachers in serving the children in their educational environment by addressing individual needs. In addition, she will be a member of the Child Study and Eligibility Teams which meet with the parents/guardians of students about their child’s strengths/weaknesses, and developing plans to promote progress.

She is from Roanoke and a graduate of William Fleming High School. She graduated from Longwood College (now University) where she majored in Special Education. She has spent her entire career in education with Roanoke County and in the Vinton community. This will be her 26th year.

HLH’s former Special Education Coordinator, Vicky Halferty, retired at the end of the 2016-2017 school year and Lynn was asked to coordinate at both W.E. Cundiff (where she had been teaching) and HLH.

“I’ll be a part of various committees that will meet during the school year, but my main job description is to support the children receiving special education services while also ensuring that the teachers serving them have tools and support to carry out their individual plans,” notes Lynn.

“I have had the opportunity of working with staff members from HLH throughout my career in Roanoke County and they’ve always been so proud of their school, students, and community,” said Lynn.  “I’ve observed the bonds that they’ve developed and the sense of family that they’ve shown.  In addition, I’ve been a parent of a child who attends HLH and I have been warmly welcomed by the administration, teachers, therapists, and staff members. It will be a privilege to be a part of it all in this new role.”

As for her outside interests, Lynn says, “I have to admit that I spend quite a bit of time at school and I’m blessed that my family understands the commitment.  In saying that, spending time with my family, going to church, and photography are my priorities when the school day is done.”

Leanne Underwood is teaching Special Education in kindergarten and first grade. She is from Salem, graduated from Salem High School and Radford University.

Sandy Hunt is teaching reading to students primarily in grades K-2. She was born and raised in the Roanoke area and attended Cave Spring High School. She earned her Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an endorsement as a Reading Specialist from Virginia Tech.

She initially came to HLH as a first-grade teacher in 1997 and is returning this year as a Title I teacher, with 28 years of experience in education.

“I am thrilled to be back at Herman L. Horn because of the dedicated, caring staff,” said Hunt.

Her special interests include doing Bible studies, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

Herman L. Horn Elementary welcomed students and their families back for the new school year at their annual open house on August 21 and hosted their traditional hot dog cook-out. The Vinton Breakfast Lions Club provided the hot dogs; Food Lion donated the buns; other groups and individuals, including the Vinton Host Lions Club, contributed money for other picnic items.