Shelley Winterer

        Shelley Winterer is a Geography and Government teacher here at Hidden Valley High School. Mrs. Winterer is also one of the cheer coaches for Hidden Valley. She coaches both sideline and competition cheerleading. Mrs. Winterer’s close friend, Keisha Christley, inspired her to become one of the cheerleading coaches. Mrs. Winterer started coaching six years ago.

Mrs. Winterer is very helpful to all of her students. Her love of social studies gives her a way to share her educational passion with her students. She said, “I love spreading my love of social studies.”    Mrs. Winterer is a very active and hard working person. She said, “I love the competitive aspect of cheerleading. It gives me a way to continue to experience sports in my adult life. I was involved in a lot of sports in high school.”  All of us are all very fortunate to have a coach who cares for us as much as she does. She said, “I love coaching because I get a deeper relationship with the girls in cheerleading than I do in class.”

            Mrs. Winterer has helped me not only in academics but also being a better cheerleader. She really makes a difference in many of her students and cheerleaders lives. Mrs. Winterer’s outgoing and kind personality make her a Hidden Hero!

Nathan Hunt

Nathan Hunt is a marketing teacher at Hidden Valley High School. He has started a school store with in the high school, selling many foods and drinks. Mr. Hunt wanted to be a teacher ever since he was a kid, so when the opportunity came up he took the job. He has worked many jobs. For example, he has worked in the food industry and hotels. He went to Utah Valley University and earned his master’s degree at Utah State.

What Mr. Hunt likes about teaching is that he gets to have interaction with kids, see the learning cycle, and participate in many projects. He feels that he loves his job and every little thing about it. He said “I absolutely love my job. I hate it when we have breaks.” Nathan has an interest in letting students learn about marketing and he made a school store so that they could work and sell food to make other students happy. He works at the store sometimes himself. It’s obvious he likes to put a smile on someone’s face.

Nathan Hunt is a hero because he never looks down on anything. He always tries to keep his chin up. I love spending money at the school store, and just think that if he wasn’t there the store wouldn’t be either. I like how Mr. Hunt always makes people a lot happier than they were before he showed up. He has always made people smile, every time. That is why Nathan Hunt is a hero.

Skip Larrington

            Skip Larrington is a teacher at Hidden Valley High School. He teaches Computer Science and Chemistry. He went to a small university, and then he transferred to Washington University, so he can get to know the professors for help. He stays after school late and comes in early in the morning, the first teacher to arrive in the morning. He gets to know all the students in his class and make them stand out, while helping other students who aren’t even in his class or the subjects of his classes.

            Mr. Larrington likes to help other students no matter what class they need help with. He got his inspiration about being a teacher when he was 10, and his math teacher stuck out to him, because his teacher treated him like an individual. His teacher, let him go ahead in class and in his work, so he finished 6^th grade math in 5^th, “I turned in the whole math book a week later, for our homework for the year”, Mr. Larrington likes to give opinions on topics and looks at a bigger picture, especially when it comes to teaching, He thinks that the teaching system in the US is flawed “It is not a problem in Virginia, or even the school board, it is the country as a whole”, he said. He is a very intelligent person when it comes to information. He studies and tries his hardest to help his other students, “I work an 11 hour day”, he said.

            Mr. Larrington is a great, helpful, and intelligent teacher. His passion for teaching and helping other students has helped many other students in the school. He loves to teach, and help others, that makes Mr. Larrington a hero.

Don Oakes

     Don Oakes was a college football player, a NFL football player, and a teacher.  For college he went to Virginia Tech and played football for four years.  He played for the Boston Patriots for six years in the NFL and then played for the Philadelphia Eagles for two years.  He is married and has two children and in fact Mrs. Oakes the science teacher is married to his son.  He is a retired teacher from Roanoke county schools and occasionally substitutes for the school. He currently lives in Vinton. 

     Mr. Oakes was hard working when he played football. He said, “It’s hard work and you have to be dedicated and be in the weight room.”  He took his role as a NFL player very seriously. He said, “Hard work, sacrifice and physical fitness is key in being a successful player.”  The qualities he had as a player made him all pro in 1967. 

     Mr. Oakes is a substitute teacher and a former football player.  His dedication of stopping football and start to teach is what makes him a Hidden Hero. 

Marty Frazier

            Marty Frazier has been a special education teacher for 28 years. Mr. Frazier went to Radford University and Averett University for training to be a special education teacher for all subjects. Mr. Frazier has taught in many different schools including Stanton River High School before he moved to Hidden Valley High School. He has taught here for over 20 years.

            Mr. Frazier is very thoughtful when it comes to his students. He said “When I was in school I had a disability and I didn’t get any help, really. So I sort of just believed I was dumb and I don’t want anyone I work with to feel that way.” There are a lot of challenging things when it comes to teaching but Mr. Frazier sticks with it because he is very supportive. He said, “As a teacher I try to bring that to my students with learning disabilities it’s just a matter of finding your way of doing things.” Mr. Frazier is very caring and loving for the students he teaches. He said “One on one relationships with students over the four years is like an extended family to me.”

            Mr. Frazier is a special education teacher and a loving person. He enjoys working with students to help them become better people and he helps them understand different ways to learn.

Josh Butterworth

            Josh Butterworth is a senior at Hidden Valley High School He is a positive role model and a kind person.  Josh has three siblings, a brother and two younger sisters. Josh has lived in Maine he has lived there for Ten years before he moved to Roanoke Va. Josh does not know what college he wants to attend but he sure wants to play hockey. Josh wants to play hockey for the Pittsburg Penguins.

 Josh is a leader at Young Life, He helps people get over there struggles and helps them get back up on their feet. Josh is a positive role model to his siblings Josh said, “My sisters call me Daddy Joshua because I help them out and take care of them.” Josh has been a positive role model to me and a lot of his friends. Josh has a positive role model that lives in charlotte Josh said “My positive role model is Sean Gould he was my young life leader when I was a freshman.” Josh also plays Lacrosse for the varsity team at Hidden Valley High School. Josh Said “I was born and raised in Maine that’s where I decided I wanted to play hockey.

            Josh Butterworth is an amazing role model and an awesome friend. He helps everyone he can, and cares about people. Butterworth should be a Hidden Hero because he is a positive role model and a great person. Josh`s personality and his positive ethnics make him my Hidden Hero.

Terri Preston

  Terri Preston has been a teacher for 10 years and has been at Hidden Valley High School for 9 years. She subbed at William Byrd High School for 1 year before getting the job here. She is married and has one son Amer who is 4 years old. Mrs. Preston grew up on Wytheville and was born in Pulaski. She went to Wytheville Community College, and then transferred to Virginia Tech where she graduated in 2005.

 Mrs. Preston puts her student’s needs before herself. If they need help with something she will take time out of her day to help them. “Teaching has changed my life, by changing others,” she said. She always knows how to make someone’s day better by telling or joke or just being her. She works hard to help her students understand what they need to know. “I love it when kids come back and visit me” she said. Everyone comes to visit her because she changes kids’ lives. “The things I’ve had to go through have helped her see us growing into better kids.”

 Mrs. Preston will do anything for her students. She works hard at what she does, to make sure every student knows what to do. She is funny, selfless and hardworking. I always love going to her class. She is a hero because she helps kids with not only math but just anything you need someone for. 

Isaac Wolf

         Isaac David Wolf has been playing soccer since he was 3 years old. Wolf started out on a three year old recreational team. Wolf was born in Salisbury Maryland, and moved to Roanoke at the age of eight. Wolf spends a lot of his time now practicing with the varsity soccer team at Hidden Valley as a freshmen. One of Wolf’s biggest focuses is trying to play professional soccer after he finishes high school. Wolf currently still lives in Roanoke and has one older brother.

            Isaac is very determined and focused on the game of soccer and will be going to Sweden this summer where he will get to learn to play at a higher level of competition. Isaac said “After high school I want to play professional soccer.” Wolf is also very helpful in many aspects. It started out when he helped a girl get up who had fallen off the swing set in preschool Isaac says, “it makes me happy also.” Wolf is also very intelligent and maintains at least a B average in all his classes. Isaac sais “I was inspired by my grandfather Dale Wolf”, who has taught him to be a great leader.

            Isaac Wolf is a determined soccer player and a helpful person. His attitude toward soccer and life is what makes him a hidden hero!

Thomas Galyen

            Thomas Galyen has been a music education teacher for eleven years. He graduated from Virginia Tech and worked at Stanton River High School before coming to Hidden Valley High School three years ago. As band director, he teaches students how to use instruments and work together to form a band. Because of this, he inspires students to become successful in life. Mr. Galyen lives in Roanoke with his wife and has a little one on the way.

            Mr. Galyen said that “I have started writing notes to the seniors that are about to go to college and tell a funny story or something. I enjoyed when they were here.” He talked to us that he had a “crazy idea of having a 300 person marching band.” He also wants the band to be as good as it can possibly be. What keeps him doing this is the creative part of the band.

            Mr. Galyen has thought a lot of students. In turn, he has helped them change their lives for the better. This is why we think Mr. Galyen deserves the Hidden Hero Award.

Jack Ballou

            Jack Ballou is a visionary of the Hidden Hero. Ballou is active in his church with volunteering. He also volunteered at Carillion Clinic last summer. Ballou is a supportive listening friend, and claims to have even saved some of his friends’ lives through knowing them. Ballou plans on attending college at the Navy Academy or Virginia Military Institute. Daily Ballou will go to school to improve his education, go to lacrosse after school, “chill” with friends on the weekends, then go to sleep at the end of the day.

            How would one describe this young man? Words that come to mind are “trustworthy, caring, brave, wise, and friendly.” Ballou supports each of the statements, yet alone embraces them! He is considered trustworthy, caring and wise by his friends. When one of his friends is challenged with a problem Ballou is there and listens. Ballou even mentions knowing these people “his whole life.” He claims to have met his friends at “church and school.” Not only does he listen, he also responds on how to fix his friends’ problems. Ballou seems to really care because of his advice and listening abilities. Ballou’s own words were that “he listens to them and gives them good advice, being very friendly and giving them candy.” His answers to their problems must be pretty intelligent in order for them to call him wise. Towards the end of our interview Ballou mentioned wanting to join the Armed Forces, specifically the Navy. This shows a great deal of bravery at such a young age. Ballou said that his role model is “LeBron James,” due to his dedication. Ballou wishes he could be as dedicated to a sport or just something in general like LeBron. Ballou has yet to go on a mission trip but plans on going to the Dominican Republic within the next year.

            Ballou is simply a friendly and respectful young man. His dedication to his community has prevailed how much of an impact he is on his peers. Ballou’s hard work, friendliness, and intelligence show that truly he is a Hidden Hero.

Ericka Lanier

      Ericka Lanier is a studious mother of three, who loves coffee, blogs, and cooking. She is a huge supporter of her eldest daughter Rachel, who has dealt with a chronic disease since birth. When (Rachel) was diagnosed at only 8 hours old with Cystic Fibrosis, the irony came into play when Ericka realized she had written a school research paper on it. The chronic illness is also known as “the white man disease”.

    Remembering everything she had learned about Cystic Fibrosis in high school, “I became numb.” She remembers when the doctors told her what had happened, “Typically those with the illness didn’t make it through their teenage years, at the time treatments weren’t as advanced as they tend to be now.” Lanier knew she had to become an advocate in her daughter’s life, so she put on a brave face, did her research and is the most amazing mother a daughter could ever hope to find. Her courage, strength, and wisdom are what make the hard days, easy.

Brian Harris

        Brian Harris has been a math teacher at Hidden Valley High for 8 years. He attended James Madison University where he majored in mathematics. When he graduated college, he had many job offers from different schools in the Roanoke Valley. However, he chose Hidden Valley and does not regret that decision whatsoever. He spends his time in school teaching many different types of math, including but not limited to, Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Calculus, and AP statistics. Mr. Harris Has a wife named Olivia and currently has no children.

Mr. Harris tries his hardest to be interesting while teaching. He said, “I try to keep class interesting by having a sense of humor. I think teenagers need to have fun.” He also takes an intellectual approach to explain things and help his students learn why something is the way it is. “I have a firm believe that kids want to know why things are more than just how to do it, and sometimes we do a lot of how to do it and just move on. But, if I can try every now and then to really explain why things are I think that makes kids more interested in what they’re learning,” he said. He not only takes intellectual approaches to subjects and tries to be incredibly interesting, he also tries to be friendly with his students whenever he can. He said, “We want to prepare you for your SOL tests, and we get so bogged down that as a teacher we forget to try to be human with you and be a good friend when we need to be. We forget to do that as teachers sometimes, and that’s just as important as anything else.”

            Mr. Harris is a very valuable teacher and a wonderfully compassionate person overall. When looking at the things he does to help his students achieve and the ways he helps connect with them, we can see that he is a very special person in our community. With that, I can say that Mr. Harris truly is a Hidden Hero among all of us.

Keisha Christley

Keisha Christley has been a cheer coach at Hidden Valley for seven years. She has cheered all her life from 1^st grade rec team, all the way through high school. She cheered for Salem High School for four years and the team was very successful. Coach Christley has been married for 6 years. Her husband is also a coach here at Hidden Valley for the football team. They have one son together Colter who is 3 years old, and another baby on the way. Coach Christley has only coached at Hidden Valley High School and that is the only place she plans on coaching for the rest of her career in cheerleading.

Coach Christley cares about every one of her athletes, and loves them unconditionally. Christleys love for cheerleading is strong. She said, “Cheerleading isn’t like any other sport. Its not about points, or scores. It’s more than all of that and it isn’t something you can do alone. Cheerleading is something you do as a team.” Christley never gives up on her athletes and has every bit of faith in every single one of them. She said, “I am inspired by every single one of my cheerleaders. They have so many strong suits and I love the strengths that they each have individually.” Christley has more than a goal to win states, or to always get 1^st place in competitions. She wants to make everyone happy. She said “I think making 18 to 20 teenage girls ALL happy is one of the biggest, most amazing goal anyone could ever achieve.”

Coach Christley is a kind, loving and caring person and a great coach. She is the most selfless person ever. She does whatever she can to make everyone happy and always puts others before herself. Coach Christleys motivation to help people and her love for her athletes make her the best coach ever, and a hidden hero!

Tyriq Harris

Tyriq Harris (18) has been a role model to many throughout his four years at Hidden Valley High School, not only through his interactions between others but also through his play on the football field. He tries to be kind to everyone he meets. Tyriq said he knows what it’s like to be on the other side of bullying. It’s his great mindset that helps him be the leader and role model that he is today. He has a younger sister named Lyric. Tyriq has played football at Hidden Valley for four years. Tyriq was one of the team captains, and one of the standout students at Hidden Valley. Tyriq was named to the 2015 Titan Twelve, just one of the many achievements Harris has accomplished in his four years at Hidden Valley high school.

Tyriq’s role model was definitely his father “He taught me everything I know about life,” Tyriq said. He said the one main reason he strives to be such a great guy is because he remembers being bullied and how he felt.  Now he tries to treat everyone with kindness and respect. It is quite clear to see after speaking to Tyriq for a short period of time that he obviously takes everything he does seriously and strives for greatness. Tyriq has done many impressive things in his life, academically and physically. Tyriq has a full ride offer to UNC Charlotte and is planning on getting his doctorate in dentistry. “We did a job search in the sixth grade, and I liked how much money it made,” Harris said. “I used to be a scrub,” Harris said. He said what helped him become the football player he is today is how coach Weaver never gave up on him, and how Jeremy always pushed him the most to get better in the off season. Over the summer Tyriq plans on hitting up the gym and training for the transition from high school football to college football. He will be playing outside linebacker for UNC Charlotte.  “I’m a little nervous,” Harris said. “UNC Charlotte gave me a certain amount of time to commit to their school, when I went there it just felt like home,” Harris said. I could tell Tyriq was overwhelmed with excitement over playing college football.

Tyriq Harris is an athlete for the ages as well as a scholar. He treats everyone with the ut most respect and always helps people in any way he can. It is his character, mindset, and classy actions that truly make Tyriq Harris a hidden hero.

Richard Paris

           Richard Paris served fours “active” in the Navy and two years “inactive”. This means that when he was active he was hands on combat and inactive is where he is in the navy but he is not in any active duty. He was on an aircraft carrier for 6 months. Before he went into the Navy, he had to go to boot camp for 12 weeks of training. Every day he had to wake up at 6 in the morning and trained at boot camp. He trained all day until 10 P.M! Mr. Paris was with the flight team, he repaired the jets and helicopters that needed fixing.  The boat Mr. Paris was on chased down a submarine. At the time the US was in the middle of the Cuban Missile Crisis. His life before the Navy was high school, where he play football, ran cross country and played basketball. Right after high school, he was 17 years old. His cousin convinced him to join the Navy with him.

            Mr. Paris said that, “If I could go back and join the Navy I would join tomorrow.” Also, many times Mr. Paris said that “the Navy made a man out of me.” Mr. Paris’s life was silly and all fun and games. He said that “I thought I knew it all back when I was in high school.” But in the Navy Mr. Paris was very respectful to the captain and his companions around him. Mr. Paris was very wise while on board of their ship they had to sleep on the back landing spot on the boat. Mr. Paris would bring flip flops with him because the landing jets would sometimes blow out the light bulbs on the deck and there would be tons of broken glass on the ground. Mr. Paris was not just wise but he was also very tough! The waves they had been encountered with were very severe! Water would get onto the ship and move around on the ship.

            Mr. Paris did not join the navy for the free collage or any benefits. He joined because he wanted to change and become the man he is. He had a big part in the Navy and he did his job well done! Mr. Paris may not have had and battle wounds but he is a hero!

William Engel

William Engel has been a member of law enforcement for over twenty years. He has also been in the military and worked for the government for about fifteen years. He was trained in Roanoke for his law enforcement. For his military service he was trained in San Diego, California. Then he was sent to Japan for more training. After serving his time in the military, Mr. Engel felt like it was his time to start a family of his own. Mr. Engel spends most of his time now being a Law Enforcement Officer for Roanoke City. A big job Mr. Engel has is to make sure the streets and stores in this area are kept safe and drug free. Mr. Engel now lives in Roanoke. He has one sister, one son and one daughter. 

Mr. Engel is a caring man. He cares about his work and also his family. He said, “The best thing about being in the military was the commodity of the people you worked with and have trained with. I look at the guy to my right trusting him one hundred percent.” There has been times when this has impacted his family, especially when he was gone for so many months and only saw his family for two weeks every six months. Another thing Mr. Engel said about being overseas was, “You’re always being trained to be ready to go to an armed conflict.” This is what impacted his family the most while he was gone overseas. Mr. Engel is a very contrast person mentally and physically.” Being trained and seeing things people would never have thought to see has given an emotional toll and physical one also.”

Mr. Engel is a very caring man to his country his work and also his family. His job in the military has given him special opportunities to share his view of how he looks at the world. This is what makes Mr. Engel a very defined and trustworthy man.

Jane Lucas

 

            Jane Lucas has been volunteering at two nursing homes in Roanoke for 7 years.  Before she started volunteering she worked as a dental assistant and owned a craft store that was open for about 5 or 6 years. Since she isn’t working and has a lot of free time she plays piano once a week and she plays about 50 songs an hour memorized. When she plays she always makes sure to choose songs that she knows the people there will enjoy. Mrs. Lucas lives in Roanoke, Virginia and has 8 grandchildren.

            Mrs. Lucas is very determined to play the music that she knows and also the ones that people request. She loves when people come up to her and tell her they knew the song she played or when someone asks her to play a certain song. “Its surprising to me when people come to the piano and say they remember that particular piece or they come and ask me to play something.” She is also a very compassionate person when it comes to her playing because it’s something she loves to do and it’s her gift that she wants to share with the world. “I was given this talent, I play by ear mostly.” Not only is Mrs. Lucas a determined and compassionate person, but she is also very caring about what she does. She has been doing this for a really long time and she has talked to and played for many different people.  When she plays she doesn’t do it just to do something good, she does it because she really cares about helping these people. “I don’t play for myself, I play for them.”

            Mrs. Lucas is a very caring and determined person. She goes to these nursing homes to play for people and they all really enjoy her coming. Mrs. Lucas is a Hidden Hero because of her determination and the love she puts in for what she does.

Jocelyn Simpson

Jocelyn Simpson, 25, is currently working at Wells Fargo and as a volunteer firefighter.  Ms. Simpson started helping out her community with Hidden Valley High School’s Key club and worked with Appalachian Service Project. While working for ASP, a staff member Ms. Simpson worked with told her about AmeriCorps.  Then July 2009, Ms. Simpson joined AmeriCorps.

                  AmeriCorps is a Federal funded Organization that 18-24 year olds can join. It is a nonprofit organization that organizes young people into groups of eight to twelve people.  “You don’t know who is in your group until you get there and you learn to be very patient with people,” she said.  Ms. Simpson worked with the National Civilian Community Core section of AmeriCorps. “It’s like Peace Corps for the states,” she said. Ms. Simpson’s service area went from West Virginia down to Florida and all the way over to Alabama.  “Each place had a different vibe and no place was the same,” she said. The longest she would work for a sponsor is about 2 months. Ms. Simpson did two terms with AmeriCorps. Her first term was about 10 months and she was a team member. The second term she was there for a year as a team leader. 

Jocelyn Simpson is a very hard-working person. Her dedication and leadership to AmeriCorps helped people and organizations who needed it the most.

Cesar Cubas

Cesar Cubas has been a volunteer and the “captain” for Rebuilding Together Roanoke, which is a nonprofit organization where businesses take volunteers around the Roanoke area to repair houses. “We don’t build houses, we renovate them,” he said. Mr. Cubas has been the captain of this team for 3 years. Even with 4 children and a full time job, he still manages to find time to help out in the community. He explains he “got started though his work, Cox Communications,” where he is a field technician. Mr. Cubas enjoys playing with his kids, Lexi, Michael, Isabella “Bella”, and Cesar Jr. “C.J.” He also enjoys fishing and watching football.

Mr. Cubas is a very selfless person and cares very much about others. “I’ve always been blessed being able to help others,” he said. In the very little free time he has, he’s either with family or working. Whether it’s volunteering or through Cox, he always finds a way to help others out. He said “It’s important to help people out in the community.” His volunteer work makes him very thoughtful. Also, he’s super hardworking. “It takes about 4-8 hours of non-stop work for each house,” he said. He works a full time manual job, and still never gives up on his extra work.

Mr. Cubas is a hardworking man and deserves more recognition than he gets. His contributions to rebuilding homes in Roanoke make him a great Hidden Hero!

Doug Murray

Doug Murray likes to volunteer as much as he can outside of school. He has to make time to go and volunteer. He mentioned he doesn’t do it frequently but when he gets the chance he jumps right to it. He said, “It’s hard finding time to go after school and help but I always find a way.” Murray has spent a lot of time at Veterans centers and enjoys helping kids learn how to swim.           

Murray cares about other people. It does have an emotional impact on him. Although it gets to him a lot, the outcome he gets is worth it. He said, “I’m lucky to be surrounded by my loved ones and have a home.” Most of the people he meets at the Veteran’s center happen to not be as lucky as him, so it opens his eyes to be grateful. Since he has been volunteering for a while, he plans to go to Virginia Tech and be doctor. “Being a doctor is about helping people,” he said.

Murray is a very thoughtful person and a great role model. His volunteering makes a huge difference on others’ lives. Murray’s kind heart and dedication to others makes him a great person to be a hidden hero.