Most children would love to grow up and be paid to dig in the dirt for a living, but few ever get that chance the way Massanutten Military Academy science and STEM teacher Hannah Conway has.
A former archaeologist, Conway has traveled across the country and around the world to sift through the remains of 
ancient cultures. Specializing in prehistoric groups, Conway’s research has allowed her to work on digs in every state along the east coast and even took her as far away as Mongolia.
“I decided to stop doing archaeology because I wanted to be home more and spend time with family,” said Conway, who earned her B.S. in Anthropology at Radford University and her Masters at Johns Hopkins University.
The archaeology world’s loss has been Massanutten’s gain. This will be the third year teaching at Massanutten for Conway, who was named the school’s Teacher of the Year for the 2018-19 school year.
“Before working at MMA, I honestly hadn’t considered teaching,” she said. “I’m more soft spoken and thought that it would be difficult for me so I was nervous when I took the job as a science teacher. Teaching came naturally to me and I have absolutely loved it ever since. I love helping people and science in general so there’s no other place I would rather be right now.”
Originally from Winchester, Virginia, Conway has settled into Woodstock while she and her husband, Matt, continue to grow their family. They have a 3-year-old son, Weston, and their second son is due in March 2020.
“My favorite thing about working at MMA is the diversity, flexibility, and how each day is different,” she said. “I also love how small the community is and the relationships I get to build with cadets. I love how I get to play many different roles and get to be involved in many different committees/organizations. It never gets boring!”
