Ashe County Board of Education took the opportunity Monday night to recognize the county’s outstanding teachers, nominated at their respective schools for Teacher of the Year, and to honor Travis Richardson from Blue Ridge Elementary who was chosen last spring as Ashe County Teacher of the Year for 2010-11.

A reception was held prior to the board’s regular meeting, and during the meeting the teachers were presented certificates and Richardson was also presented with a plaque.

Teachers chosen as outstanding for their respective schools are: Sarah Lambert, Westwood Elementary; Robin Nethery, Mountain View Elementary; Travis Richardson, Blue Ridge Elementary; Marybeth Knight Greene, Ashe County High; and Dustin Farmer, Ashe County Middle.

Recognition was also given to Sharon Eldreth, Exceptional Children Teacher of the Year for Ashe County Schools.

National Board recipients were also honored. They are Casey Smith, Julie Little, Misty Prichard, Courtney Eller, and Katy Waddell, all at Blue Ridge Elementary, Penny Barker at Ashe County Middle and Marybeth Knight Greene at Ashe County High.

Travis Richardson is a fourth grade teacher at Blue Ridge Elementary who has been teaching in Ashe since 2000. He is teaching in the same community in which he was born and raised. After graduating from the former Northwest Ashe High School, he earned a degree in K-6 elementary education at Appalachian State University and last year complete a Master’s in School Administration at ASU.

Travis and his wife, Dawn, who also teaches at Blue Ridge Elementary, have twin daughters in pre-K, and the family lives in Lansing.