Fourth Grade

Mr. John Bowman is super excited to join the Greenwood Fourth Grade team this year! He will be starting his ninth year of teaching in August. Mr. Bowman moved to the Richmond area three years ago from North Carolina where he previously taught second and third grades. Mr. Bowman taught fourth grade in nearby Chesterfield County the past three school years!. He is a proud alumni of East Carolina University (GO PIRATES!) and graduated with a degree in Elementary Education. Mr. Bowman encourages students to make real-world connections in their everyday learning. One question you will hear from him all the time is, “Why?” He wants students to understand why they are learning! That is his ultimate goal this school year, to help all students understand the why and to motivate every student to do their very best in all they do inside and outside of school!

Ms. Laurie Casey is excited to welcome her Gators to the 2022-2023 school year! She earned her bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Radford University. She is looking forward to beginning her 22nd year of teaching, with this school year marking her 15th as a Greenwood Gator! Ms. Casey has experience teaching second through fifth grade. She teaches to foster a lifelong love of wondering and learning. She strives to cultivate a classroom environment where students feel safe to make mistakes, collaborate with their peers, and feel valued. Ms. Casey believes that each and every student brings a special “magic” to the classroom. Ms. Casey cannot wait for the magical year ahead!

Ms. Donna Kouri is an educator, an encourager, a task-master, and a facilitator. She absolutely loves working with her fourth and fifth grade students while enriching their English, Language and Reading skills. Daily Ms. Kouri is living the dream! Working with the youth of the community remains the life-long goal of Ms. Kouri. Greenwood Elementary is an ideal setting for providing the opportunity for students to strive to do their absolute best while maintaining excellent work habits and realizing their effort is indeed fruitful. Ms. Kouri understands and nurtures the love of learning. She undoubtedly knows another great year is about to unfold! She is ready for her students!

Mrs. Lecia Meekins is excited about starting her 32nd year of teaching. Last year she received the great honor of being selected Greenwood’s “Teacher of the Year.” She is a graduate of Norfolk State University and earned a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education. She began her teaching career in Norfolk, Virginia. In 2002, she continued her teaching career in Henrico County. She has taught grades first, third, fourth, and fifth. Mrs. Meekins believes that all students can learn and be successful. She loves teaching Math because she has many strategies to unlock Math secrets that make learning Math fun. Her plan for this year is to motivate her students to meet their greatest potential through communication, collaboration, and hands-on activities. She is thrilled to work with your Greenwood gator!

Ms. Carlee Parker is excited to begin her second year of teaching and her second year at Greenwood! Ms. Parker graduated in 2020 with her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood/Childhood Education with a minor in Linguistics from the State University of New York at New Paltz. She continued her education, receiving her master’s degree in Literacy in 2021 from the State University of New York at New Paltz. Born and raised in New York, Ms. Parker moved to Richmond, Virginia in August of 2021 after accepting her first teaching position at Greenwood! Her goal in the classroom is to create an atmosphere where students feel as though they are an active member of their education. Naturally, children are curious, adventurous, and wanderers. As a teacher, Ms. Parker believes it is her duty to foster these characteristics, not diminish them. Her vision for the year is to create an environment that fosters the love and excitement of reading and writing in every student. Ms. Parker is ecstatic to meet each of her students and begin teaching the future of our world!