HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) – The Harrisonburg City School Board announced the Harrisonburg City Public Schools (HCPS) Educator of the Year award during last night’s meeting. 

Claire Leeper was chosen as Educator of the Year for her work as the Band Director at Rocktown High School. HCPS Administrator JR Snow said that the band room does not make great kids. 

 “My friend, you make incredible humans out of our students who go into our community and make a huge, huge difference,” said Snow.

 One educator from each HCPS school was chosen for the 2025 Educators of the Year lineup:

  • Ashley Anderson: Elon Rhodes Early Learning Center
  • Robin Zombro: Bluestone Elementary
  • Katie Noll: Keister Elementary
  • Lori Lichti: Smithland Elementary
  • Alexandra Szucs: Spotswood Elementary
  • Dawn Gayhart: Stone Spring Elementary
  • Evelin Gonzalez: Waterman Elementary
  • Adrian Zwanzig: Skyline Middle
  • Sherwin Yoder: Thomas Harrison Middle
  • Anu Beheraj: Harrisonburg High
  • Claire Leeper: Rocktown High