Manassas, VA — Manassas City Public Schools is proud to announce that Osbourn High School teacher Rebeca Carofilis has been selected as the local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) High School Teacher of the Year by VFW Manassas Post 7589. The honor recognizes her outstanding dedication to teaching citizenship, patriotism, American history, and civic engagement.
"To receive this award from the VFW means the world to me,” Carofilis said. “It is both a celebration and a responsibility that I embrace with gratitude and humility.”
Currently, Carofilis teaches U.S. /Virginia Government to ninth grade students who have recently arrived in the U.S. She also co-teaches English 11 Honors at Osbourn and teaches English to adults at a night school program at Metz. She is in her second year with Manassas City.
Curt Emmel serves as Director of Federal Programs and Family Engagement for MCPS and oversees the ESOL program. He praises Carofilis for being engaging, passionate and dedicated teacher.
“[She] stands as a shining example of how education can bridge cultures, empower multilingual learners, and strengthen the civic fabric of our nation,” Emmel said. “Her dedication to teaching U.S. Government through a lens of inclusion and empowerment is not only innovative, but it’s profoundly patriotic.”
She was nominated for this award by Adriana Cernucan, an ESOL Specialist for MCPS, who commends Carofilis for her exceptional commitment to promoting civic responsibility, democratic values, and inclusive learning for multilingual learners.
“Ms. Carofilis’ classroom is a living model of civic engagement,” Cernucan said. “Her work nurtures respect for democratic values while celebrating cultural diversity, instilling pride and belonging in every student.”
Motivated by her own journey from Ecuador, Carofilis is determined to help her students understand American democracy while finding pride and value in their own cultural identities. Their courage, resilience and dreams drive her to bring her best every day.
“What inspires me most are my students — their courage, their resilience, and their dreams,” she shared. “Moving from Ecuador to the United States taught me the power of hard work and hope. That experience fuels my commitment to making every student feel seen, welcomed, and supported.”
Carofilis serves as an international Participate Learning Ambassador Teacher, a program that enables MCPS to welcome highly skilled international educators who enrich classrooms with global perspectives and cross-cultural experiences. This year, MCPS has nearly 40 Participate Learning teachers from countries as far as Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia, Jamaica, and Costa Rica teaching in seven different schools.
Osbourn Principal Dr. Jennifer Chapman said Carofilis is an innovative and supportive teacher who is committed to the achievement of all students.
“She designs engaging lessons and builds strong relationships among her students which facilitates a classroom where peers support each other and lift each other up to meet challenging learning tasks,” Chapman said.
The walls of Carofilis’ classroom are an homage to American democracy. Across from a portrait of the Statue of Liberty is a wall-sized world map where she invites students and staff to place a Post-it note on where they’re from. Her whiteboard lists learning objectives and vocabulary words for students, while a large calendar displays the exciting projects and lessons coming up.
“I hope my lessons open my students’ minds to the world and to the United States, helping them understand both the opportunities and responsibilities that come with being part of this country,” Carofilis said. “Together, they help each other discover who they are becoming – active citizens, critical thinkers, and proud contributors to their community.”
Carofilis said her teaching philosophy is grounded in project-based and experiential learning where students can connect lessons to real life, building confidence and taking ownership over their education. Her students are invited to collaborate with others, explore their interests and practice language in authentic ways. They have participated in mock elections, mock trials and Carofilis often brings in guest speakers to discuss civic engagement. Carofilis’ class is currently preparing to interview the mayor at City Hall as part of their lesson on local government.
“Teaching is not just my profession — it is part of who I am,” Carofilis said. “I pour my love, my energy, and my purpose into my classrooms, so receiving this recognition feels like a beautiful affirmation that the work I do matters. It makes me feel seen, valued, and incredibly honored.”
Through her work, Carofilis says she hopes her lessons help her students develop a strong sense of citizenship and belonging. She strives to create a learning environment where students see themselves as capable, creative, and empowered learners.
“Above all, I want my students to walk away knowing that their voices matter, their dreams are possible, and their identity is something to be proud of,” she said. “If they leave my classroom feeling confident, connected, and inspired to contribute to this country in meaningful ways, then I know my lessons have had a lasting impact.”
The Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Award program recognizes K–12 educators and awards winners in the elementary, middle and high school level. Each year, local VFW Posts may submit their selections to the district level. Teachers are evaluated on four criteria: citizenship, innovation, resourcefulness, and passion. Carofilis’ nomination now moves forward in the competition, with state winners advancing for national consideration.