Vera (Woody) Woodson, a Falls Church resident and marketing teacher and supervisor of Fairfax County Public Schools’ Tysons Corner Classroom on the Mall, has been named the winner of the 2011 Creating Excellence Individual Educator Award by the Virginia Department of Education. She received her award at a luncheon in Richmond on June 16.

Woodson was recognized for her work with the Students Helping Improve Neighborhoods Through Education program, which engaged students in a number of school- and community-based projects and experiential learning initiatives. More than 100 FCPS students participated in the projects during the 2010-11 school year, which included a school beautification project at Falls Church High School, creating and delivering handmade flowers to the residents of Sunrise Assisted Living of Falls Church, and a leadership and resume building session to support the college application process.