Exmore, VA. - Thousands of Virginia Educators received a thank-you note in the Virginia Lottery's Thank a Teacher campaign. One lucky Virginia teacher received that and a lot more! Rachel Powell, a third-grade teacher at Occohannock Elementary School in Exmore, won $2,500 courtesy of the Virginia Lottery and its partners, IGT and NeoPollard Interactive. The school where Powell teaches, Occohannock Elementary School, will receive $2,500 in supplies from The Supply Room.
Powell's name was drawn in the prize drawing from nearly 17,000 entries submitted by teachers who entered a special code from their thank-you note. The Virginia Lottery and its partners gathered to surprise Powell at her school with her good news on June 4th.
The ninth annual award-winning Thank a Teacher campaign was held in conjunction with National Teacher Appreciation Week. This year over 130,000 thank-you notes were sent to Virginia K-12 public schools by their students' parents, or other Virginians, The cards, which could be hard-copy or electronic, each had one of three pieces of artwork designed by Virginia elementary, middle, and high school students won the Thank a Teacher art Contest.
When teachers received the thank-you notes, they could use a unique web code on the note to enter for a chance to win the grand prize.
The Thank a Teacher campaign is a unique partnership between the Virginia Lottery, The Supply Room, IGT, and NeoPollard Interactive, It's an initiative to celebrate those teachers whose hard work and inspiration have made a difference in so many lives. Over the last eight years, the program has recognized 18 educators throughout the state.
All Virginia Lottery profits go to K-12 education in Virginia. Occohannock Elementary School is in Northampton County, which received more than $1.8 million in Lottery funds for K-12 education last fiscal year. In Fiscal Year 2023, the Lottery raised more than $867 million for K-12 education, making up approximately 10 percent of Virginia's total K-12 school budget.
Virginia Lottery proceeds support programs such as Early Reading Intervention, Mentor Teacher, K-3 Primary Class Size Reduction, School Breakfast, Algebra Readiness, Regional Alternative Education, and Career and Technical Education, statewide based on priorities set by the governor and General Assembly each year.
For a complete list of Lottery funds distributed to Virginia school districts, visit the Virginia Lottery's Giving Back page. Connect with the Lottery on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube. With all gaming, please play responsibly.