News Summary
The Williamsburg-James City County Schools is welcoming 137 new teachers for the upcoming school year. This addition aims to enhance the academic experience for approximately 11,700 students. New hires include Emma Stephens, a recent graduate excited to return to her former elementary school, and Andrea Wirt, who transitions from an administrative role to teaching special education. With fresh perspectives and diverse backgrounds, these educators are poised to foster supportive learning environments that encourage student success.
Williamsburg – A total of 137 new teachers are set to join the Williamsburg-James City County (WJCC) Schools for the 2025-26 school year, enhancing the educational experience for the district’s approximately 11,700 pre-K-12 students. This influx of new educators highlights the district’s commitment to fostering an environment that supports student growth and academic achievement.
Among the new hires are Emma Stephens and Andrea Wirt, two teachers who bring distinctive backgrounds and aspirations to their roles. Stephens will teach third grade at Clara Byrd Baker Elementary, where she previously completed her student teaching. At just 22 years old, she expresses a sense of fulfillment and excitement about returning to her former school as a first-year teacher, emphasizing the strong sense of family and community within the WJCC Schools.
Stephens comes from an educational family; both of her parents are middle school teachers. Having graduated from the College of William & Mary with a double major in elementary education and psychology, she is eager to implement a student-focused teaching style. Stephens plans to foster connections with her 21 students through personalized greetings and support during extracurricular activities, addressing the unique needs of each learner as a central goal for the school year.
In contrast, Wirt has transitioned into teaching after previously working in the front office of Hornsby Middle School. At 30 years old, she joins Lafayette High School as a special education inclusion teacher. Wirt holds a degree in finance from Virginia Commonwealth University, which she completed in 2021 but soon discovered her passion lay elsewhere. The motivation to pursue a teaching career came during her pregnancy with her third child when she learned about the iteach program, designed to fast track those with a bachelor’s degree into teaching.
Inspired by her sister-in-law and her autistic nephew, Wirt has a strong commitment to promoting self-advocacy and personal growth among her special education students. She demonstrates particular enthusiasm for designing her classroom to provide meaningful support and guidance tailored to her students’ needs, aiming to create a nurturing environment conducive to learning.
Both Stephens and Wirt are emblematic of the new teaching cohort at WJCC Schools, each bringing personal experiences that shape their teaching philosophies. The WJCC Schools division, comprising 1,013 teachers in total, strives to maintain a robust teaching staff dedicated to improving educational outcomes for all students.
The addition of new teachers not only supports WJCC Schools’ educational mission but also responds to the growing student population. As the district continuously adapts to meet the needs of its students, the fresh perspectives and various backgrounds of the new teachers promise to enrich the learning environment across the district this upcoming school year.
The WJCC Schools community eagerly anticipates the contributions of these new educators, whose goals focus on fostering supportive environments and encouraging student success. With their collective commitment to education, the new teachers aim to make a lasting positive impact on their students’ lives in the years to come.
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Additional Resources
- Daily Press: WJCC Schools Welcomes New Teachers Ahead of 2025-26 Year
- Wikipedia: Education in the United States
- WYDaily: Cooks Burger Bar & WJCC Schools Partner to Support Local Teachers
- Google Search: WJCC Schools
- Pilot Online: Collective Bargaining Concerns for WJCC Teachers
- Google Scholar: Teacher Education
- WYDaily: WJCC Schools Recognizes 2025 Teachers of the Year
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Education
Author: STAFF HERE WILLIAMSBURG WRITER
WILLIAMSBURG STAFF WRITER The WILLIAMSBURG STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREWilliamsburg.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Williamsburg, James City County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Williamsburg Farmers Market, Yorktown Market Days, and Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce and Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, plus leading businesses in education and hospitality that power the local economy such as College of William & Mary, The Williamsburg Winery, and Sodexo. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREVirginiaBeach.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Virginia's dynamic landscape.
