May 15, 2025
As the final chapter of the 2024–25 school year drew to a close, Prince George County Public Schools gathered once again to celebrate the dedication and excellence of its staff at the fourth annual Royal Recognitions Reception, held on May 15, 2025, at Prince George High School.
SEE MORE PHOTOS: PGCPS on Flickr
During the hour-long event, emceed by Division Superintendent Dr. Wayne Lyle and joined by members of the Prince George County School Board, Chairman Robert E.L. Eley, III, Vice Chair Michelle Crist, and District 2 Member Jill A. Andrews, the district honored its Teachers and Support Employees of the Year, presented its two year-end awards—the Pathfinder Award and the Spirit of Prince George Award—and paid tribute to retiring faculty and staff for their many years of dedicated service.
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As is tradition, the reception served as another opportunity to celebrate the division's annual teachers and support employees of the year, with Prince George High School marketing and entrepreneurship teacher Mrs. Kimberly Beales (Division-wide Teacher of the Year) and Middle Road Elementary School paraprofessional Ms. Kristina Jones each delivering remarks.
The event was highlighted by the presentation of two division-level recognitions to a pair of district staffers, the Pathfinder Award and the Spirit of Prince George Award.
About The Pathfinder Award: Recognizes one division teacher or administrator who has made significant contributions in the areas of innovation or leadership, providing innovative solutions that enable success among the division's students.
Recipient: Mr. Christian 'Storm' Burks, Prince George High School Choral Director
A force of positivity with a zeal for the performing arts, Mr. Christian 'Storm' Burks is an exceptionally talented and driven educator whose passion for music and dedication to student success are evident in every rehearsal and performance. A graduate of James Madison University with a Bachelor of Music, he joined the PGCPS family in 2014 as a music teacher at South Elementary School. Mr. Burks would transition to Prince George High School in 2016, bringing his love of music to the Royals and fostering meaningful relationships with his students while encouraging them to hone their artistic gifts. His natural talents would earn him the honor of being named the high school’s Teacher of the Year in 2018.
Over the years, Mr. Burks and the school's chorus have been honored with all-district selections and superior ratings at state assessments, earning them the Virginia Music Educators Association's Blue Ribbon award in recent years. The chorus has also had the honor of performing before countless dignitaries, such as at the Fort Gregg-Adams redesignation ceremony, an event seen by thousands across the country, and within renowned venues, such as the famed Riverside Church in New York City in 2024, where the likes of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nelson Mandela have been hosted.
Using his deep understanding of vocal technique, musical interpretation, and ensemble collaboration, he creates a classroom environment where students are both challenged and inspired. His approach is highly student-centered, nurturing individual growth while fostering a strong sense of community and excellence within the choir.
Spirit of Prince George Award: The Spirit of Prince George Award recognizes one division employee or retiree whose significant contributions of kindness or service to others help build the type of community that makes students, families, faculty, and staff want to come, stay, and be part of our Prince George community.
Spirit of Prince George Award Recipient: Matthew McAllister, Prince George High School Principal
A product of Prince George County, Mr. Matthew McAllister embodies the ideals of a homegrown Royal. A graduate of Prince George High School in 1999, he would attend Richard Bland College and Virginia Commonwealth University, eventually earning his Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 2006, all while substitute teaching in Prince George County since 2001.
During his time in Prince George County Public Schools, he has taught at the elementary and secondary level at David A. Harrison Elementary School and N.B. Clements Junior High School, respectively, before receiving the opportunity to become Prince George High School's assistant principal in 2019. Throughout his time at the Laurel Spring Road campus, he continued to demonstrate professionalism, leadership, and a commitment to professional growth, exemplified by his successful completion of his Master of Educational Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2019 and his earlier nomination for the Singh-Bhuller Outstanding Educator of the Year Award in 2010. He was later named Prince George High School's principal in 2023.
Mr. McAllister stands as a role model for our recent Future Teacher program cohorts as someone who is a product of our community who came home to inspire the next generation.
Finally, Mr. McAllister doesn't just work in Prince George; he has planted roots here in our community with his family. He finds ways to be involved in Prince George County events and always goes above and beyond for his students. Be it donning face paint for spirit nights or emceeing student and community events, Mr. McAllister continues to inspire thousands of students with his enthusiasm, compassion, and dedication.
Congratulations to our two award winners!