FEBRUARY ROOKIE TEACHER OF THE BLOCK AWARD GOES TO VICTOR COLLINS AT SPRING VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

2/18/2022

First-year teacher Victor Collins is cooking his way into the hearts of many at Spring Valley High School.  Since coming on board last summer, Collins has already received two award recognitions. Faculty, staff, students and parents at Spring Valley named him the Teacher of the Month for September 2021. Now he has been named the Rookie Teacher of the Block (RTOB) for February 2022. The RTOB award is sponsored by H&R Block, a dedicated partner of Richland School District Two.

Spring Valley principal Jeff Temoney nominated Collins, who is a culinary arts instructor. “He is consistently providing innovative instruction that engages students. He does this by effectively balancing theory and practice.  Students are learning concepts of the culinary industry such as food safety, standard sanitation and preparation procedures, teamwork and professional ethics. These students will also receive industry certifications upon completion of the Culinary Arts program,” stated Temoney. 

Collins says from day one, Spring Valley and Richland Two have felt like home. “I am extremely humbled to win the Rookie on the Block award for February. I credit my early success to the wonderful staff and students here at Spring Valley. I have been welcomed and supported from the start and all of my students have been very respectful.”

Collins, a Black male teacher, is a part of the district’s Premier 100 initiative which was created to broaden the diversity of male teachers of color in the classroom. RTOB winners receive a plaque to hang outside their door, a nameplate for the door, discounted tax preparation from H&R Block, a unique trophy designed by the 3D printing class at the Richland Two Institute of Innovation (R2i2) Student Center, and a bag of Richland Two goodies from Human Resources. Each month a RTOB is chosen and then an overall winner, Rookie Teacher of the Year, is selected.