Vannorsdall’s commentary is a letter addressed to the “excellent” teachers she’s leaving behind …

“The ones who remain in the classroom, despite increasing public criticism and decreasing net paychecks, close administrative scrutiny and ongoing parent demands, burgeoning student apathy and diminishing test scores. … This isn’t about me, though, or why I am leaving a job I had planned to continue for another few years. It is about what I hope for you in the coming years — and for the students who will come into your classrooms.”

Find the full letter here.

We’ve posted this popular letter twice on The Roanoke Times Facebook wall in the past two days (here and here), where it continues to earn likes, shares and comments.

Any comments below also appear at the bottom of the letter.

Photo by Phil Wall

For those who may have missed it, we ran a great story on Sunday about former Radford coach Brad Greenberg and former Roanoke Catholic and University of Virginia standout J.R. Reynolds’ journey to the Israeli basketball league.

Roanoke native, and Reynolds former high school teammate, Phil Wall shot and directed a short documentary about their experience in Israel.

I sat down with Wall to discuss the making of the film, his experience in Israel, how sports reporters can ask better questions of athletes and the difference between professional basketball in America and abroad.

As a former college basketball player himself, Wall had some very interesting insights on the Israeli league. We also discussed his evolution from college basketball player to documentary filmmaker.

Don’t miss our future special events and ongoing giveaways. Subscribers, be sure to register for the eTimes in order to join our weekly subscriber email.

(P.S. Don’t forget about our Ultimate Red Sox Fan Contest going on all season long. Round 3 voting begins today!).

A Salem man has been charged with involuntary vehicular manslaughter after police say he triggered a June 12 crash on Interstate 581 that killed two tractor-trailer drivers. Photo courtesy Zane Reed

Top 5 stories on roanoke.com (June 8-14)

1. Additional charges likely against Salem man in I-581 crash that killed 2

2. Storm damage: Trees fell on homes, wind toppled power lines (with Storify)

3. Fiery I-581 wreck involving five vehicles kills 2 people, sends 2 to hospital

4. Piggly Wiggly store returns to Roanoke

5. Trademark lawyer tries to put squeeze on Deb’s Frozen Lemonade

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BLOGS
This week’s top 5 blogs (June 8-14)

1. Kevin Myatt’s Weather Journal

2. Andy Bitter’s VT football

3. Columnist Dan Casey

4. Amanda Codispoti’s Storefront

5. Lindsey Nair’s Fridge Magnet

Find all of our blogs here.

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Salem storm damage shot on June 13. Photo by Chad Parries | SoSalem.com

COMMUNITY BLOGS
This week’s (June 8-14) top community blog stories.

SoSalem.com: Storm reports, photos and video from around Salem

TheBurgs.com: Pair arrested for meth manufacturing in Montgomery County

BotetourtView.com: Photos: Lord Botetourt graduates 263 in the Class of 2013

SWoCo.com: Storm damage in Southwest County

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Editorial cartoon by Chris OBrion

FACEBOOK
This week’s (June 8-14) most talked-about posts on the Roanoke Times Facebook wall.

1. Salem man charged in deadly crash on I-581

2. Editorial cartoon: Roanoke (as Homer Simpson) mourns Krispy Kreme closure

3. Piggly Wiggly store returns to Roanoke