NNEF awards three scholarships to graduating seniors
The Newport News Education Foundation awarded three scholarships to Newport News Public Schools graduating seniors at its May Salute to Success Student Recognition Ceremony.
Kody Brindle, a graduating senior at Warwick High School, was recognized as the 2026 Wayne D. Lett Scholar. He received a $10,000 scholarship funded by donor support toward his tuition. The Foundation awarded the Virginia Educators Credit Union/Glasofer Scholarship $5,000 award to Denbigh High School senior Nicholas Brown.
As recipients, Brindle and Brown have committed to teach in NNPS for three consecutive years after college graduation.
This year, a one-time $5,000 Every Day Counts Attendance Innovation Scholarship was also awarded to Menchville High School senior Jesel Gomez-Suate.
NNPS honors 2026–2027 Teachers of the Year
Newport News Public Schools celebrated all 42 of its 2026–2027 Teachers of the Year and three divisionwide honorees were announced in May.
Warwick High School math teacher John Lovett was chosen as High School Teacher of the Year and Divisionwide Teacher of the Year, with Richneck Elementary School fourth grade teacher Loni Kite recognized as Elementary School Teacher of the Year and Crittenden Middle School English teacher Tracey Sykes awarded Middle School Teacher of the Year.
Lovett has been teaching for 31 years, including teaching at Warwick since 2021 and at Heritage High School from 2003 through 2016. He also serves as an assistant coach for Warwick’s track and field team.
Woodside teacher awarded James Madison Graduate Fellowship
Janet Costello, a social studies teacher at Woodside High School, was awarded the James Madison Graduate Fellowship for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation offers the $24,000 fellowships to individuals desiring to become outstanding teachers of the American Constitution at the secondary school level. The fellowship is awarded to one applicant per state annually.
“I am truly honored and so excited to be awarded this opportunity,” Costello said.
The foundation was founded in and has been funded by the U.S. Congress since 1986. It is a fellowship of educators who are passionate about teaching the Constitution and civic engagement, according to Costello.
