Eastern View High School agricultural educator Melessa Suder has been named the 2026 Virginia Association of Agricultural Educators (VAAE) Teacher Mentor of the Year. The award recognizes Suder’s outstanding leadership, dedication, and commitment to supporting and mentoring fellow agricultural educators across Virginia.
The recognition was announced by LaVeta Nutter of the Virginia Department of Education as part of the VAAE’s 2026 award honorees. In her announcement, Nutter praised recipients for their “dedication, creativity, and service” and for the lasting impact they make on students, schools, and the future of the agricultural industry. Suder will receive the award at the teacher conference this summer.
This recognition adds to an already distinguished list of honors for Suder. In 2023, she was named Virginia’s Outstanding Secondary Agriculture Teacher by the Virginia Association of Agricultural Educators and was also selected as the Region VI winner at the national level.
“Receiving both Virginia’s Outstanding Secondary Agriculture Teacher recognition and now the VAAE Mentor Teacher Award speaks volumes about the impact Melessa has on students, colleagues, and agricultural education across the Commonwealth,” said Randi Richards-Lutz, Director of Career and Technical Education for Culpeper County Public Schools. “She represents the highest standard of teaching, leadership, and mentorship, and we are incredibly fortunate to have her serving our students and supporting fellow educators.”
Culpeper County Public Schools congratulates Suder on this well-deserved honor and thanks her for the positive impact she continues to make at Eastern View High School and within agricultural education throughout the Commonwealth.