The first future educators have declared their four-year college decisions.
Earlier this month, the inaugural cohort of the Future Educators Academy (FEA) was celebrated at Germanna Community College. The students have completed the high school and associate’s degree phase of the program and will continue their education at a four-year college before returning to their home counties to work as licensed teachers.
The academy began in 2024 as one of several lab schools approved by the Virginia Board of Education. It marked the start of a partnership between Germanna and Laurel Ridge community colleges with Culpeper, Orange, Madison, Clarke, Fauquier, Frederick, Page, Rappahannock, Shenandoah and Warren counties, plus the city of Winchester to produce well-prepared future educators by allowing 11th and 12th grade students to simultaneously complete a high school advanced studies diploma and an associate’s degree before transferring to a four-year school to complete an elementary or special education teaching degree. Upon graduation, students then return to their native counties to fulfill a two-year teaching commitment.
Two Madison County students have completed the program. Fiona Poteet and Megan Cross will continue their education in college before returning to work at one of the county’s four schools.
In Orange County, four students completed the program. They are Anastasia Eclipse, Naomi Tovar-Torres, Nicole Strong and Abigail Hendrie. School officials said they look forward to welcoming the students back to their community to teach.
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