In a ceremony held May 16, Mr. Dan Dunsmore was one of a select group of local teachers who received a 2018 Golden Apple Award. Mr. Dunsmore teaches English, and is the chair of the BRS English Department. He has taught at Blue Ridge since 1998.

Mr. Dunsmore earned a Bachelor of Arts in English as well as a Bachelor of Science in Speech/Theater Education from the University of Tennessee and a Master of Arts in Secondary English Education from Georgia State University. He has been an educator for over three decades beginning his career in 1979 at Carter High School in Knox County, Tennessee. From there, he has taught at Gordon High School in DeKalb County, Georgia, Marist School in Atlanta, Durham Academy in Durham, North Carolina, Albemarle County Schools, and Free Union Country School before joining the BRS staff in 1998.

​Since arriving in St. George, Mr. Dunsmore served several roles in the BRS administration including director of annual giving and director of alumni relations before accepting a post as a Fishburne Learning Center teacher and more recently, English teacher and English Department Chair.

The awards ceremony for was held on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at the Albemarle County Office Building where he and the other award recipients were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the education of children in the schools in Albemarle County, Charlottesville City, and the schools of the Virginia Association of Independent Schools.

During this ceremony, eight candidates were selected in a random drawing to receive a Golden Apple Grant ($1,000).  This grant award will be used to support the recipient’s continued professional development.