Emerald Hill Elementary School educators Aimee Morehead, Special Education Teacher, and Kimberly Moon, General Education Teacher, have been accepted into the Virginia Department of Education’s 2025–2026 Excellence in Co-Teaching Initiative. Their selection recognizes their commitment to inclusive education and positions them as a model co-teaching team for schools across the Commonwealth.
As an official Excellence in Co-Teaching demonstration site, Morehead and Moon will open their classroom to visiting educators and administrators to showcase best practices in co-planning, co-instruction, and co-assessment. In addition to serving as a live demonstration site, the team will contribute to the professional development of other educators through in-person or virtual training sessions, mentorship opportunities, and the development of instructional resources to be shared statewide.
Participation in the program included a professional development orientation at James Madison University in July 2025, and support from a regional Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTAC) facilitator throughout the year. To support their efforts, the team will receive a $5,000 sub-grant to enhance their classroom and a stipend for their professional contributions.
The Excellence in Co-Teaching Initiative, led by the Virginia Department of Education Office of Instructional Services, aims to improve outcomes for students with disabilities by promoting effective co-teaching strategies and inclusive practices throughout Virginia’s public schools.