Spellman happily accepted the award from Kiwanis President Kevin Meade and Jim Bushong club member.

Carlos Spellman, an English teacher and  yearbook sponsor at James River High School, is the 2012 Botetourt Kiwanis Educator of the Year. Spellman received her award, a $500 check and a ceremonial bell, at the regular school board meeting on Oct. 11. Spellman received the award from Botetourt Kiwanis President Kevin Meade and Kiwanian Jim Bushong an organization dedicated to promoting young people. Builder’s Clubs and Key Clubs in the Middle and High School level are associated with Kiwanis.

Spellman has been a teacher for over 30 years and was nominated by her faculty collegue Peggy Ramsey. As yearbook sponsor, Spellman’s students have  won a long list of national awards on their work over a 19 year time span. She typically now teaches  junior  honors and advanced English classes. She was listed as exemplary in her performance and is termed to ” expect high quality, making them (students) responsible for their own learning and accepting nothing less than the best they can do each day.”

She is a member of the  Virginia Teachers of English Association and National Council of Teachers of English and attends many professional conferences. She enrolled in the 2012 Blue ridge Writer’s Project at Virginia Tech which is an intensive course that produces  6 graduate level credit. Spellman served as English Department Head for 12 years. She alos sponsors the school book club and initiated “Word of the Day,” to increase vocabulary school-wide among many other accomplishments.

Meade said, “When her name was announced to the club, there  was a huge response. She is well known and well deserving.” Spellman was humble in her acceptance of the award, “I want to thank the James River High School faculty and administration, the central office and the school board for their assistance in helping me receive such an honor.”