Longwood and education roots run deep for Virginia Region 8 Teacher of the Year

“I read it, and I said, ‘You’re going to win.’ I really meant that,” Rachel Overstreet recalled. “She is incredibly deserving of this recognition.”

She said her daughter-in-law thought that a core subject educator, someone who teaches math, reading or science, might stand a better chance to be selected. Emily Overstreet was happy to be proved wrong.

“I am definitely very honored that they recognized an art teacher,” said Emily Overstreet, who has been at Cumberland County Elementary School (CCES) for 15 years. “There’s so much emphasis put on math and reading sometimes you feel like the arts get left out a little bit. So this was the surprise of a lifetime.”

Overstreet is one of eight regional Teachers of the Year who are nominees for the 2025 Mary V. Bicouvaris Virginia Teacher of the Year Award. The winner will be announced Monday, May 6.

In lauding the Region 8 winner, Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons described Overstreet as a strong advocate for educators and for arts education. Region 8 includes 12 school divisions in central and Southside Virginia, including Cumberland and Prince Edward.

“As an arts educator, Mrs. Overstreet taps into her students’ creativity and builds their confidence through her highly engaged, highly collaborative approach,” Coons said. “She is an inspiration to her students and colleagues at Cumberland Elementary School, and it is an honor to recognize her with this award and thank her for her invaluable contributions.”

Coons visited CCES in April to make the announcement—surprising Overstreet, who thought the state superintendent was there for a different event. Overstreet’s family, including her mother-in-law, also were present.

Emily Overstreet received bachelor’s degrees in graphic design and art education from Longwood. Her husband, David Overstreet ’06, MBA ’15, is Longwood’s director of internal audit. Rachel Overstreet took a job teaching at PECHS in February 1974, in the middle of her final semester at Longwood. She retired in 2021.

“I’m kind of the other Mrs. Overstreet; she’s the original Mrs. Overstreet,” Emily Overstreet said. “Everyone knows her in Farmville because she’s taught just about everyone. She is an amazing educator, and I have big shoes to fill for sure.”

Overstreet does a mix of different types of art with her students: painting, photography, sculpting, papier-mâché and the list goes on. While art is not a core subject, she said encouraging creativity and giving students a way of expressing themselves is just as important as reading or math—and the benefits can be lifelong.

“My goal is to teach children how to think differently about a problem and how to solve that problem,” she said. “I believe that art is essential in every school. It builds confidence, passion and empathy in students. Every elementary, middle and high school needs that strong art foundation because it really can help improve the school’s overall culture.”

Overstreet was previously recognized as Cumberland County Public School’s 2020 Teacher of the Year. In 2022, she was the recipient of Longwood’s Rotunda Outstanding Young Alumni Award. Both awards recognized her use of social media platforms to keep students engaged and connected during the Covid 19 pandemic. She developed Mrs. O’s Art Studio, which provided tutorials and step-by-step art lessons through recorded videos.

“Emily went above and beyond during Covid and made sure that her students were doing well physically and mentally, and also building up their spirits,” Rachel Overstreet said.

Both Mrs. Overstreets said they have swapped teaching advice, supported each other and shared the joys and frustrations of their classrooms in recent years.

“It’s always great getting another educator’s perspective, especially when it’s your mother-in-law,” Emily Overstreet said. “I feel like we can talk freely and share ideas.”

Outside the classroom, Overstreet is also visible in the Farmville community. She has been very involved with the Longwood Center for the Visual Arts and has assisted with art workshops as well as facilitated the LCVA photography program for at-risk students.

Rachel Overstreet beams with pride when she discusses all of her daughter-in-law’s accomplishments.

“This is Emily’s moment,” she said. “I am so very proud of her as an individual and as a teacher and as a daughter-in-law. She’s an amazing person, and she’s going to continue to do great things.”