Local News
STEM coordinator for WCPS to receive state math award
Justin Maffei, coordinator of science, technology, engineering and math — the so-called STEM courses — for Warren County Public Schools (WCPS), next month will officially receive the William C. Lowry Mathematics Educator of the Year Award for the Math Specialist Level from the Virginia Council of Teachers of Mathematics (VCTM).
Each year, the VCTM recognizes a classroom teacher on the elementary, middle, secondary, university, and math specialist/coach level for his or her outstanding work in the field of mathematics. One teacher selected from each of five categories receives an award that gets announced at the VCTM annual conference. The 2019 conference is slated for March 8 and 9 at Longwood University in Farmville, Va.
“I was thrilled and honored when I received the news,” Maffei, 34, told the Royal Examiner last week. “I work with a number of great math supervisors and math specialists throughout Virginia, so I know that there are a tremendous number of them who would be worthy of this award.”
Nominated for the VCTM award by WCPS Director of Elementary Instruction Lisa Rudacille, and then judged generally based upon the impact he’s had on mathematics education at the division, regional, state, and national levels, Maffei humbly said the award wouldn’t have been possible without the help of his local WCPS colleagues on the Instructional Resource Team.
In addition to Maffei, the team is comprised of Rudacille, who is also the current principal at E. Wilson Morrison Elementary School in Front Royal, Va.; Alan Fox, director of WCPS secondary instruction; Heather Bragg, instructional specialist for language arts, social studies, and foreign languages; Janet Myers, WCPS gifted coordinator; Carla Scott, instructional specialist for special education; Denise Walton, instructional specialist for testing; Donna Boies, the WCPS Title I and Title III coordinator; and Donna Strickler, an administrative assistant for WCPS.
“It is a great team to work with and I would do a disservice if I did not mention how much the team supports one another with providing the students of Warren County with the best education possible,” said Maffei, who resides in Strasburg, Va.
Born in Rural Valley, Pa., a small town outside of Pittsburgh, Maffei said he knew from a very young age that he wanted to become a teacher.
“Sometime in elementary school, I believe it was third grade, we were given an assignment to create a coat of arms which would describe ourselves. It was broken into four sections,” he explained. “In one of the sections, we were to draw a picture which would describe what we wanted to be when we grew up. I drew a chalkboard with ‘Mr. Maffei’ written on it.”
Maffei said he also had excellent teachers throughout his life who inspired him.
“I saw the impact that they had on my life and my friends’ lives. I wanted to be a part of that,” he said.
Eventually, Maffei earned both his bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in education from Pittsburgh’s Duquesne University and later an education specialist degree in curriculum and instruction from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.
From there, he started teaching high school math — everything from Math 8 through pre-calculus — at Rappahannock County High School in Washington, Va. Maffei taught there for five years before taking the STEM coordinator position with WCPS four years ago.
“I absolutely loved my time in the classroom, having a group of students who became ‘my kids,’ helping them through their difficulties in life and in school,” Maffei said. “It was a difficult decision to move out of the classroom, but I wanted to have a greater impact on education in general.”
As the county’s STEM coordinator for public schools, Maffei added that because he works with teachers and administrators, he’s now able to have an impact on more students than he would have had if he remained a classroom teacher.
Greg Drescher, Superintendent of Warren County Public Schools, said that Maffei came to the county out of the classroom where he was an exceptional teacher.
“He is highly skilled and knowledgeable about what it takes to be an effective teacher with the ability to pass that knowledge on to others,” Drescher recently told the Royal Examiner, explaining that instructional specialists like Maffei hold division-level positions and their primary role is to support K-12 teachers.
“We are in the process changing their titles over to Coordinators since that is a better description of what they do,” said Drescher. “Mr. Maffei is responsible for coordinating the math and science curriculum, as well as helping teachers develop and use best practices in their classrooms.”
The superintendent said that Maffei’s VCTM award signifies that Warren County has many quality educators.
“It is wonderful to have one of our best recognized,” Drescher said.
Maffei continuously works to improve his craft.
He’s currently finishing work at Liberty University on a doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction and does consulting with JASON Learning as the math curriculum content and curriculum lead designing a math-centered STEM curriculum.
Maffei also serves as co-leader of the Region IV Math Supervisors’ Consortium, which meets quarterly and holds an end-of-the-year retreat to discuss related regional needs and the best ways to address them.
A group of Region IV Math Supervisors that Maffei also participates in includes education professionals from across the state, including from Frederick County, Clarke County, Prince William County, and Fauquier County. The members offer an annual professional development series called the Partnering with Principals Institute, which is attended by teams of administrators, math coaches and math teachers, said Maffei.
During the Partnering with Principals Institute, he said teams learn the key components of effective mathematics instruction and how to support the development of effective math instruction in their own buildings.
“Lord Fairfax Community College has graciously allowed us to hold this event at their Middletown and Fauquier campuses,” said Maffei, who also serves as the Region IV representative for the Virginia Council of Mathematics Supervision where he and other regional colleagues jointly provide professional development sessions in math instruction for the Lord Fairfax Community College Educational Consortium.
In the next few months, Maffei said he’ll be a keynote speaker at the Battlefields of Northern Virginia Teachers of Mathematics Conference and a presenter at the VCTM Conference, among other conference appearances.
Such involvement is easy when you enjoy what you’re doing.
“I have always loved math, especially using math in real-world situations,” Maffei said about his passion. “The beauty of STEM education is that it provides its own level of intrigue for the students.”
Many times, he said, students lack interest in a subject when they can’t make connections between their classroom work and using their knowledge and skills in “the real world.”
“STEM education provides students with real-world issues that need solving,” Maffei said. “That alone will hold most students’ interest.”
And when students are able to make these connections between skills, they’ll be better prepared for life after school, he added.
Locally, Maffei said WCPS subject specialists are always keeping their “eyes and ears open for opportunities to work together with community businesses and organizations to improve the education of the students in Warren County Public Schools.”
Local News
Marco Beach Breaks Track Record at Shenandoah Downs with a 1:51 4/5 Mile
Alexandra Goldin’s pacer Marco Beach not only wired the field in Sunday’s $8,000 feature at Shenandoah Downs, but he shattered the previous track record by two-fifths of a second when he crossed three lengths the best in 1:51 4/5. The track’s previous mark of 1:52 1/5 was authored by John’s Dream in 2016 — Shenandoah’s initial season — and was equaled earlier this meet by Aflame Hanover.
Eric Davis drove Goldin’s 8-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding and was one of four wins he had on the ten-race program. Marco Beach left from outside post five and maintained a 1½ length cushion on the front end through the first three-quarter panels, which were cut in:27 3/5, 56.0, and 1:23 4/5. Davis opened up by two at the top of the stretch and held off a rally by Cole Olsen’s Lyons Stealth, who finished second. Olsen’s Volley Ball Beach was third.
The victory was Marco Beach’s 26th lifetime score, pushing his career bankroll to $285,240. The pacer had previously won in 1:51 2 at Rosecroft in January and in 1:50 2/5, a lifetime best, at the Meadowlands last year.
Davis, who surged into third place in the driver standings behind Fern Paquet, Jr. and Corey Braden with a solid afternoon, also connected Sunday with Scott Woogen’s KJ Devil, P T Stables’s Make Some Waves and Spencer Goldin’s Lucky Streak, who won his third straight in Woodstock and fourth of the meet.
Week four competition in the U.S. Harness Drivers Club continued Saturday with a pair of races. Stacey McLenaghan, second in the overall trainer standings, maintained her lead in the Club standings with a win aboard her gelding pacer Etbauer, who prevailed for the second straight week. Reinsman Jack Mcneil took over second place in the Series with a win aboard Ben Mcneil’s I’ve Got Hootspa. Heading into action this Saturday, McLenaghan has 46 points, while McNeil is four back with 42. A series of checks will be presented to local non-profits this weekend because of the Series – where drivers donate their share of monies earned to charity.
Only two weekends remain in the Shenandoah Downs spring season. Action will continue on Saturday, May 11, and Sunday, May 12, with cards on both days at 1:05 PM. The Woodstock Oval will host Foiled Again’s 20th Birthday Party on Saturday. Join the celebration as harness racing’s richest horse turns 20 years old. Retired for six years now, the legendary son of Dragon Again bankrolled $7.6 million from a stellar career in which he won 109 races from 331 starts. Win number 104 came at Shenandoah Downs on September 29, 2018. Foiled Again will be on site, and fans can take their picture with the legend, sing Happy Birthday, and get a slice of birthday cake. Fans can also enjoy live music all afternoon with The Skillbillys. More details are at shenandoahdowns.com.
Local News
Phase II of Greening-Up Skyline High School’s Section of Greenway Complete
The Front Royal community can now enjoy 30 newly planted native trees along the greenway in front of Skyline High School. With spring in full bloom, it’s the perfect time for a walk or run while admiring the hard work of local volunteers.
Front Royal’s Advisory Committee for Environmental Sustainability (ACES) recently completed Phase II of a multi-phase plan to enhance the Royal Shenandoah Greenway. This project focuses on “greening up” unused mowed spaces to create a more enjoyable recreational experience. Recognizing the high recreational use of the Eastham Park to Skyline High School to West Criser Road loop, ACES has worked tirelessly to convert open spaces into native canopies in front of Skyline High School.
Each year, ACES includes a student member who leads a project, and this year, Skyline High senior Christina Keresztesi oversaw the planting of 30 native trees, including Sycamores, Maples, and Redbuds. Christina managed the project from tree selection to volunteer recruitment and secured funding from the Front Royal Tree Stewards and the Beautification of Front Royal Committee. She organized everything precisely, ensuring the trees were planted under perfect weather conditions.
Christina, who will soon attend UVA, acknowledged how her ACES experience helped her get accepted into college: “Participating in community service projects and leading my own really helped me get accepted.”
These new trees offer much-needed shade for walkers and runners during the hotter months while making the greenway more beautiful for everyone. As volunteers planted the trees, passersby admired their work, offering congratulations and snapping photos.
The project wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of the Front Royal Tree Stewards, the Beautification of Front Royal Committee, the Department of Public Works, and dedicated volunteers. ACES is proud to contribute to Front Royal’s commitment to its Tree City USA designation and to create safe outdoor opportunities for the community. To learn more about ACES, visit their website or attend a monthly meeting held on the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at the back of Vibrissa.
Local News
Congratulations to Skyline High School Seniors – Class of 2024
Royal Examiner presents the Skyline High School Class of 2024. Congratulations to these wonderful seniors on their hard work and deserved accomplishments! We wish you the best in your next big endeavors. Photos courtesy of Victor O’Neill Studios and Tolliver Studios, LLC.
If your Skyline senior is not listed, please send in their Name and Senior Picture to news@royalexaminer.com.
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Local News
Eastham Park Loop Enhanced with New Safety Measures for Pedestrians
Local News
POLICE: 7 Day FRPD Arrest Report 4/28/2024
Front Royal Police Department’s arrest report for the past 7 days:
Local News
VDOT: Warren County Traffic Alert for May 6 – 10, 2024
The following is a list of highway work that may affect traffic in Warren County during the coming weeks. Scheduled work is subject to change due to inclement weather and material supplies. Motorists are advised to watch for slow-moving tractors during mowing operations. When traveling through a work zone, be alert to periodic changes in traffic patterns and lane closures.
*NEW* or *UPDATE* indicates a new or revised entry since last week’s report.
INTERSTATE 66
*NEW* Mile marker 0 to 15, eastbound and westbound – Overnight alternating lane closures for pavement marking installations, 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Monday and Tuesday nights.
*NEW* Mile marker 0 to 2, eastbound – Right shoulder closures for utility work, 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. through May 31.
*NEW* Mile marker 8 to 7, westbound – Right shoulder closures for sign work, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Mile marker 9 to 7, westbound – Overnight right lane closures at Shenandoah River bridge for utility work, 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Thursday night.
INTERSTATE 81
*UPDATE* Mile marker 299 to 300, northbound – Overnight alternating lane closures for overhead sign repairs, 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Monday night.
Mile marker 299 to 300, northbound – Right shoulder closures for utility work, 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. through May 31.
Mile marker 299 to 300, northbound and southbound –Overnight lane closures and traffic-lane shifts as needed, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. through December 2024. Shoulder closures 24/7. Work zone speed limit: 55 miles an hour. Work is related to southbound acceleration ramp extension and bridge widening, with estimated completion in late 2024.
PRIMARY ROADS
*NEW* Route 55 (John Marshall Highway) – Flagger traffic control between Front Royal town limits and Route 647 (Dismal Hollow Road) for guardrail upgrades, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday (May 2) and Tuesday (May 7).
*NEW* Route 340 (Stonewall Jackson Highway) – Flagger traffic control between Route 674 (Limeton Church Road) and Route 607 (Rocky Lane) for pipe replacement, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 7 – May 14.
SECONDARY ROADS
Route 658 (Rockland Road) – Closed to through traffic between Route 340/522 (Winchester Road) and Route 705 (Fishnet Boulevard) for the construction of a bridge over Norfolk Southern Railway. Estimated completion December 2025.
Vegetation management may take place district-wide on various routes. Motorists are reminded to use extreme caution when traveling through work zones.
Traffic alerts and traveler information can be obtained by dialing 511 or at www.511Virginia.org.