Laney High School
Teacher Receives
Women of Achievement Award by the YWCA
At the recent YWCA Lower Cape Fear Women
of Achievement Award banquet, Richelle Bragg Dombroski, social
studies teacher at Laney High School, was the recipient of the
Women of Achievement Award for Education. Mrs. Dombroski was one
of 36 adult nominees from the four-county area of Brunswick,
Columbus, New Hanover and Pender counties. The nominees were
considered for the Women of Achievement Awards in the following
award categories: arts, business, communications, environmental,
health and wellness, public service, and volunteer.
As a Wilmington native, Mrs. Dombroski
has taught in New Hanover County Schools for the past 24 years.
During her career in education, she has served as Chair of the
Social Studies Department for 19 years and presently teaches
U.S. History and Teacher Cadet classes. Mrs. Dombroski's work
was instrumental in implementing the first Teacher Cadet program
for New Hanover County Schools at Laney. This successful program
has expanded to other NHC high schools, and Mrs. Dombroski has
obtained over $15,000 in grants and donations to support the
Teacher Cadet program.
Nominated for the award by Tannis
Nelson, Past President of the North Carolina PTA, Mrs. Nelson
states, "Richelle Dombroski is a phenomenal teacher. She teaches
and nurtures the total child in all of her students. Richelle
has gone the extra mile in the teaching profession by initiating
the Teacher Cadet program for New Hanover County. This program
helps to open doors for students considering a career in
education. I commend her for all that she has accomplished
through her work in the classroom as well as in the community."
Mrs. Dombroski was very humbled by
receiving the Women of Achievement award from the YWCA. "I love
being a teacher and I want to mentor young women and give back
to the community that mentored me. I had wonderful role models
starting with my mother who encouraged me to stand up for what
is right and to help all students. I am still standing up for
students everyday and they in turn teach me life lessons. I am a
better mother and teacher because every student touches my
life," Mrs. Dombroski said.
Mrs. Dombroski extends her outreach to
the community as she volunteers at her son's elementary school
and her church. She is a member of the Cape Fear Historical
Society and Cape Fear Optimist Club.
