History teacher Chad Wright is Kettle Run’s nominee for The Washington Post Agnes Meyer award.

Joe Rowell, Model UN head delegate, nominated Wright. “He is so dedicated to the success of Kettle Run and its students,” Rowell said. “He is responsible for bringing Model UN to Kettle Run, and the time he puts into the program is astounding, as well as incredibly admirable.”

Wright brought Model UN to Kettle Run in 2009 and under his guidance, it has grown into an award-winning program. Kettle Run is the only school in the county with a Model UN Program that travels to conferences. Conference locations range from Northern Virginia to Pennsylvania. The club recently travelled to American University, and will shortly be attending George Mason’s Model UN conference.

Wright has traveled with the club to every conference, and has sacrificed a honorable amount of time to this program.

Freshman Hazen Griffin, a first year Model UN member, believes Wright has earned this recognition.

“Chad Wright is a great sponsor and a good friend to both myself and the rest of the club,” Griffin said. “He has positively benefited the beginning of my high school career.”

Sydney Sherman, club treasurer, agreed. “Chad Wright is a very influential man who I highly look up to and hold a great amount of respect for,” Sherman said. “He is very deserving of this recognition.”

Junior Emma Gray, vice president, has worked closely with Wright over the years.

“Mr. Wright has done a lot for me in my time in Model UN,” Gray said. “He is a great mentor for this program, and I’m sure this program would not have been as successful without his leadership. I have so much respect for him as a person and an educator. He dedicates his personal time just to go with us to these conferences. I’m glad he was nominated for an award such as the Agnes Meyer Award.”

On weekends, Wright is typically traveling to conferences with students. During the day, he teaches government and World History II. His students believe he is a great teacher worthy of this recognition.

“Mr. Wright is a good teacher because he allows us to relate to the topic through current events,” sophomore Alaska Evans said. “He’s open to different types of teaching so he can help every student and their preferred learning techniques.”

Sophomore Aidan Brindley also appreciates Wright’s effort at reaching every student through his teaching. “[Wright] keeps me engaged in class with individualized teaching styles,” Brindley said.

In additon to Rowell’s nomination, three others had to provide letters of support for Wright to become the nominee. A lengthy application also had to be completed.

Wright will continue on to the countywide level where a board will review all nominees and select one to represent Fauquier County.

The Washington Post has honored teaching excellence in the Washington region for three decades, with more than 500 men and women winning the Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award. The county will recognize the recipients of the award at a school board meeting. This spring one will be chosen to represent the county.

Since Kettle Run opened in 2009, other nominees have been history teacher David Kuzma, psychology teacher Jessica Murphy, publications adviser Shelly Norden, science teacher Cathy Sylcox, CTE teacher Bill Davidson, and band director Matt Yonkey, While all of these teachers were recognized at the county level, Kettle Run has never had a teacher chosen to represent the county.