Thanks to the generosity of Neena G. Singh, M.D., and Gurpal S. Bhuller, M.D., the “Singh-Bhuller Tri-Cities Outstanding Educator of the Year Award” was created in December 2002. The award’s goal is to annually honor an exceptional educator and inspire them to uphold high standards of excellence. A $5,000 grant is available to support one dedicated teacher in enhancing students’ learning environments with new classroom equipment or materials that promote growth. Additionally, there is flexibility to use some of the funds for professional development, allowing teachers to improve their skills and make an even greater impact.

Dr. Neena G. Singh was a psychiatrist with her practice in Hopewell. She was born in India where she received her basic schooling and earned her medical degree. She completed her psychiatric training in New Zealand and Omaha, and at the Medical College of Virginia. She was the Medical Director of the psychiatric unit at John Randolph Medical Center and was also part of the clinical teaching faculty at the Medical College of Virginia. She moved to Northern Virginia in 2015 where she continued to practice psychiatry till her retirement in 2021.

Dr. Gurpal Singh Bhuller was born in Malaysia and received his medical training at the Christian Medical College in Ludhiana, India. He began his training in orthopedic surgery in New Zealand and completed it at UNMC in Omaha, Nebraska. Following graduation, Dr. Bhuller began his practice of orthopedic surgery in the Tri-Cities area in 1982. The practice evolved into Colonial Orthopedics, providing a full range orthopedic services in Hopewell, Petersburg, Chesterfield and Richmond. Colonial Orthopedics merged with VCU in 2019. Dr. Bhuller retired from active practice in 2015 and now lives in Northern Virginia. Drs. Singh and Bhuller were married in 1973 and have two daughters, Harsharen and Simran.

POLICY

The award is available to any educator possessing a current Virginia teaching license, teaching in the foundation’s service area. Teachers holding provisional licenses are not eligible to participate in the program. All awards are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or disability. Neither teachers retiring from the profession at the end of the school year nor John Randolph Foundation Trustees, employees and their immediate families (parents, spouses, and siblings) are eligible for the Award. Deadline for submitting an application is April 1st.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Each candidate must submit to their school district information requested below: 

  1. Professional Development. In outline form, list
    1. Colleges and universities attended, including post-graduate studies, and indicate degrees earned and dates of attendance;
    2. Teaching employment history, and indicate dates of employment, grade level and subject area;
    3. Professional association memberships, including information regarding offices held and other relevant activities;
    4. Activities in staff development and the training of future teachers; and
    5. Awards and other recognition of your outstanding teaching.
  2. Extra-Curricular Activities and Community Involvement. Describe your extra-curricular activities at school and outside of school, as well as your commitment to your community through service-oriented activities such as volunteer work, civic and other group activities.
  3. Professional Biography. In this narrative describe your personal feelings and beliefs about teaching; what factors influenced you to become a teacher, whether you have a desire to pursue continued education in your field of study and what you consider to be your greatest contributions and accomplishments in education.
  4. Use of $5,000 Grant. Explain how you would use the $5,000 grant to enhance your teaching skills. Please include a budget to show anticipated expenses.
  5. Letters of Support. Include three letters of support, one of which must come from a teacher’s principal. The other two letters may come from among the following: superintendent, colleague, student, student’s parent or civic leader. An effective letter of support would contain evidence of personal knowledge of the teacher and an indication of the qualities that would qualify the teacher to receive the award.