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March 7 was Employee Appreciation Day, but we’re celebrating our team members all month long by sharing their stories. Read more about Donna Gordon, a Special Education Teacher at our Rivermont Fredericksburg campus. 

What is your favorite thing about working here?   

My favorite thing about working at Rivermont is the family atmosphere that we have at the Fredericksburg campus. We are one for all and all for one. I think of my students as part of my family, and I believe they think of themselves as part of my family as well. 

What keeps you coming to work each day? 

The students are the reason I come back to work each day, their growth and potential inspire me. I see promise in them even if they do not see it in themselves. Even when things are challenging, I don’t give up on them. 

How do you make an impact on students’ lives? 

I impact my students by making them understand that mistakes are a natural part of learning and an opportunity to grow. When mistakes are made, I encourage them to reflect, learn and keep moving forward. I will aways support them and remind them that their potential is greater than any mistake. 

Which one of our BetterTogether values resonates with you most personally and why? (Integrity, Accountable, Collaborative, Inclusive, Supportive) 

All of the BetterTogether values resonate with me. However, being supportive aligns with my values the most. I create an atmosphere of understanding and reassurance with my co-workers and students. Reminding them that we are all in this together. I share personal experience, so they realize they’re not the only one who has been through challenging situations. My goal is to let them know I’m here for them and while I may not understand everything, I can relate. 

What does a “day in the life” look like for your role? 

As a teacher, preparation is key and so is a back-up plan when unexpected situations arise, such as things like internet outage. I begin each day with a morning message, which stays consistent. The morning message includes class expectations, a check-in on students’ goals for the day, recognition of the Student of the Month and an overview of our activities for the day and week. From 8:30 AM to around 3:15 PM, we’re together, working through the day’s lessons and activities. When the day ends, it’s time to prepare and do it all over again tomorrow. 

Can you talk a little bit about your career trajectory and what led you to where you are now? 

My first experience working in a school setting was as a substitute teacher in Richmond around 1991 or 1992. Though it was only for a few months, it had a big impact on my future. Later, in 1998, I began working as a Paraprofessional in Prince William County, a role I held until 2003 across two different schools. 

One of the teachers I worked with told me, “You might as well get your license, you’re already doing everything we do, just without the pay.” That advice stuck with me, so in 2002, I started the process of becoming a licensed teacher. By 2004, I was officially licensed and went on to work in Spotsylvania and Caroline counties, mostly full-time, until 2019. 

In 2019, I joined Rivermont, and I’ve said ever since, “As long as I’m teaching, I’ll never go back to public schools. I’m staying at Rivermont.” 

What has been your proudest moment or accomplishment in your role? 

As a teacher at Rivermont, my goal is to transition my students back to the public-school environment. I have successfully transitioned eight of my students back to public school in the 5 years that I have been at Rivermont. None of them returned, which shows me that they were well-prepared to handle new environments. 

What is something about you that not many people know? 

My brother, my sister, and I each experienced school integration in different ways. My brother and sister both attended segregated schools. My brother spent most of his school years being bussed across the county. Albemarle County Schools integrated in 1967 when he began high school, and my sister was in third grade. I was born in 1966 and as for me, I grew up in a fully integrated school system. 

Even though we lived in the same house and attended the same school district, the changes in society over time meant that each of us had a different educational experience.