He helps Anthony teach and coax smiles from his students. Smokey talks only to Anthony, who then relays Smokey's thoughts. Anthony told Melissa that Smokey wanted to give her a present. The gift was an engagement ring that Smokey held out for Melissa as Anthony spoke for himself and asked her to marry him. It provides support groups that allow new teachers to learn from each other.
Coaches come to the new teachers' classrooms to observe and to give feedback.
Outside their classrooms, Anthony and Melissa enjoy going to the movies, visiting their families, and just spending time together. The 1999-2000 school year was the first year that national certification was offered in the area of exceptional needs. Bradley is in his 11th year teaching preschoolers in Fairfax County after teaching severely handicapped students for three years at a private Northern Virginia school. Dolores Wimberly , art teacher at Longfellow, has been named Regional Middle School Art Teacher of the Year by the Virginia Art Education Assn. The FCPS Support Employee of the Year award program recognizes support employees who make an exceptional contribution to FCPS through their work.