April 15, 2025
Ms. Kristina Jones, Middle Road Elementary School paraprofessional, has been selected as Prince George County Public Schools’ 2025 Division Support Employee of the Year during a special ceremony at the Prince George County School Board regular business meeting on Monday, April 14, 2025.
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Ms. Jones has been part of the PGCPS family since October 2022, serving the Middle Road Elementary School community throughout her time in Prince George County. As a paraprofessional, Ms. Jones teaches in the K-2 self-contained classroom at the school, where she supports students with diverse needs and challenges. She plays an essential role in the lives of her students, helping foster positive relationships and providing personalized support to students each day. Throughout her time with Middle Road Elementary School, Ms. Jones has been praised for her unwavering commitment to kindness, compassion, and empathy with her students and colleagues alike. She is always willing to offer her time, talents, and knowledge to support events, provide advice to her fellow educators, and lend a caring ear to those who may need it.
PGCPS 2025 Division Support Employee of the Year Ms. Kristina Jones is joined by Prince George County School Board Chair Robert E.L. Eley, III (right), and Division Superintendent Dr. Wayne Lyle (left) following the district’s annual recognition event and celebration on Monday, April 14, 2025. (PGCPS Photo)
For many at Middle Road Elementary School, Ms. Jones is seen as an example of strength and resilience following her return to her classroom and school after the sudden death of her son. As she stepped away from the classroom to grieve the unimaginable loss, Ms. Jones continued to offer support and strategies for her students from afar, demonstrating her dedication to meeting the needs of the students as she processed her own personal loss. When she returned to her classroom, it was as if she never left, emanating the same radiant kindness and support for her students that she always had since her arrival in Prince George in the fall of 2022.
“Ms. Kristina Jones is a dedicated, compassionate, and resilient member of our school community who consistently goes above and beyond to support students and colleagues,” Mrs. Melissa Horton, Middle Road Elementary School Assistant Principal, said. “She fosters a nurturing environment by approaching students with patience, kindness, and understanding, ensuring they feel valued and encouraged to make positive choices. Whether she is calmly guiding a student through a difficult moment, staying late to prepare for the next day or assisting with behavioral challenges, her commitment is unwavering.”
“Her tireless efforts, selflessness, and passion for student well-being and achievement make her truly deserving of the Support Employee of the Year award. Our school is a better, more positive place because of her dedication to our community, and we are incredibly fortunate to have her as part of our team,” Mrs. Horton closed.
Ms. Jones and her impact on the Middle Road Elementary School community has spanned beyond Prince George County’s borders as she was selected as a Kindness Ambassador by the Virginia Department of Education’s annual Virginia Kindness Week celebration in February. Started in 2021, Virginia Kindness Week aims to shine a light on the day-to-day acts of kindness that make our schools, community and the state to be a kinder, safer, healthier, and more inclusive place to live, work, learn, and play.
"It is a privilege to honor Ms. Kristina Jones as our district-wide support employee of the year," Dr. Wayne Lyle, PGCPS Division Superintendent, said. "During my time here, I have met some incredible people who serve our students every day through their work, including Ms. Jones. I was personally moved by her strength in the face of loss and her selflessness as she returned to school to a classroom of students who looked up to Ms. Jones as a source of positivity and kindness. Our schools are better every day because of support employees like Ms. Jones and each of our support employees of the year at our buildings. These individuals, through their dedication to their craft, be it supporting students, serving as welcoming presences at our schools, ensuring our campuses and buses are clean and operating at their best, and many more, play an essential role in ensuring our schools are places of learning and collaboration for our students every day."
"The Prince George County School Board celebrates our division support employee of the year, Ms. Kristina Jones, as she is honored for being a pillar of the Middle Road Elementary community," Mr. Robert E.L. Eley, III, Prince George County School Board Chair, said. "Just like our community, we were moved and inspired by Ms. Jones' strength as she grieved the sudden passing of her son, and her eventual return to the classroom when she was ready. He was a great football player for us, and there will always be a special place within the Prince George County Parks and Recreation Department for Michael. Having Ms. Jones be selected as our district's support employee of the year, highlighting her selflessness, compassion, and love for her students, truly embodies the qualities of this recognition, and for that, we are proud to celebrate Ms. Jones. We thank and congratulate each of our support employees of the year for being incredible parts of the teams that help our district continue to be at its best every day for our children and community."
PGCPS 2025 Division Support Employee of the Year Ms. Kristina Jones is joined by Prince George County School Board Chair Robert E.L. Eley, III (right), and Division Superintendent Dr. Wayne Lyle (left) following the district’s annual recognition event and celebration on Monday, April 14, 2025. (PGCPS Photo)
Annually, PGCPS' schools and support facilities select their Teacher and Support Employee of the Year following a nomination and selection process in late winter. These individuals are then entered for potential selection as the division's Teacher and Support Employee of the Year later in the spring. During the Monday, April 14, 2025, Prince George School Board meeting, the following employees were recognized as Support Employees of the Year at their respective locations:
- Julie McPeak, Library Assistant, L.L. Beazley Elementary School
- Cameron Stanley, Office Associate, D.A. Harrison Elementary School
- Kristina Jones, Paraprofessional, Middle Road Elementary School
- Torell Flowers, School Security Officer, North Elementary School
- Taylor Miner, Paraprofessional, South Elementary School
- Faye Linkous, Counseling Office Secretary, J.E.J. Moore Middle School
- Herman Brown, Custodian, N.B. Clements Junior High School
- Bryan Griffin, Head A.M. Custodian, Prince George High School
- Steve Hohensee, Fleet Assistant Supervisor, Transportation
- Kelly Feltner, Administrative Associate, School Board Office
These individuals will also be recognized during the division’s annual Royal Recognition Reception at Prince George High School on Thursday, May 15, 2025, a special event that celebrates the talented individuals who support the children of Prince George County and our community.