A Perfect Fit: Two Randolph grads share their passion for teaching at Nelson County High School

The ability to forge relationships is the hallmark of a good educator, something professor Peggy Schimmoeller says Madi Tyree ’23, ’25 MEd and Jack Dolan ’21, ’23 MAT exude in everything they do. 

“They both know how to make meaningful connections with students,” said Schimmoeller, a professor of education and founding director of the College’s graduate programs in education.

“It doesn’t matter what the students are studying or what they’re playing. Madi and Jack understand the biggest strength of a teacher is the ability to develop relationships with students. If you can develop those relationships, you can work with any student or any type of athlete.”

And that’s exactly what they do in their respective roles at Nelson County High School. 

Tyree teaches family and consumer sciences and is head coach of the girls’ varsity basketball team, while Dolan teaches special education and coaches football, girls’ basketball, and softball. 

Both started as long-term substitute teachers at the high school, Dolan in 2021 during his first year in Randolph’s Master of Arts in Teaching program, and Tyree last year. 

She was also in the MAT program at the time, with plans to become a history teacher, but has since switched to the Master of Education program.  

“The programs really have a lot of similar components in them, and students can easily move from one to the other,’ Schimmoeller said. “I’ve had students that start in the MAT then decide, for various reasons, to move to the MEd. It’s a very smooth transition.” 

In Tyree’s case, she can use her full-time job to fulfill the student teaching requirement for teacher licensure while taking the instruction and curriculum courses necessary to teach career and technical education (CTE). 

“Getting thrown into CTE was a big adjustment,” Tyree said. “Randolph taught me how to be a good history teacher, but a lot of what they teach is very versatile and can be applied in a lot of different areas. I was able to apply what I learned in a history setting and adjust it to what I’m doing now.” 

Schimmoeller, who worked with Tyree when she was moved to the family and consumer sciences job, praised her adaptability. 

“Requirements are always changing, and Madi is extremely flexible and committed to her career goals,” Schimmoeller said. “She jumped into a position she had not really explored in the past, and because of her ability to monitor and adjust, she’s been very successful. She’s really passionate about teaching.” 

Dolan majored in sport and exercise studies and played on Randolph’s lacrosse team before entering the MAT program.

Both of his parents are teachers, and he developed a passion for special education while working with special needs children in high school. 

“He has a very positive outlook for students who have learning differences,” Schimmoeller said. “He doesn’t assume having a special ed student will be more work for him. He understands that students learn differently, and they’re just as intelligent and hardworking. This job is a perfect fit for him.” 

His time at Randolph shaped the kind of educator, and person, he is today. 

“Randolph really prepared me through the day-to-day interpersonal relationships you form there,” he said. “Madi and I talk about it all the time, how it almost shocks us when we walk by someone, and they don’t acknowledge you or say hi. The culture at Randolph is, whether you know someone or not, you say hello. It helps you be more open and more trustworthy. People feel like they can open up to you.”

This story appears in the Spring 2025 issue of the College’s Magazine, “Vita Abundantior.”