Carrsville Elementary named a National Blue Ribbon School
Published 11:12 am Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Assistant principal and reading specialist Tiffany Blatt works on the sign in front of the school. She is adding a blue ribbon. — Cain Madden | Tidewater News
CARRSVILLE—Carrsville Elementary School was named a 2013 National Blue Ribbon School on Tuesday by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. The Isle of Wight County school is one of seven Virginia public and three private schools to receive the honor.
The program recognizes schools that have shown excellence in either academics or significant increases in students’ success.
Carrsville Principal Laura Matthews spoke yesterday about the award’s significance.
“It’s validation for all the hard work by staff and students on a daily basis year after year,” she said. “It’s a tribute to the fact that students do their best and the teachers and staff are top notch and truly dedicated to Carrsville Elementary.”
Matthews added that she will travel to a conference and awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. The Department of Education will honor Carrsville and all the other National Blue Ribbon Schools on Nov. 18-19.
This isn’t the first award for Carrsville or the other recognized public schools. Earlier this year, they earned the Board of Education Distinguished Achievement Award through the Virginia Index of Performance program.
“Each of these schools has maintained full state accreditation despite a significant increase in the rigor of the commonwealth’s standards, assessments and accountability benchmarks,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Patricia I. Wright.
Second-grade teacher Shannon Hardison works with 7-year-old Emily Rawles. — CAIN MADDEN | TIDEWATER NEWS
The local recognition won’t be just for a day or a week.
“We’ll celebrate throughout the year to keep it in the forefront,” said Matthews, adding as one example that the school will wear blue on selected days.
The recognition is also meaningful to Shannon Hardison, who is in her 18th year of teaching, all at Carrsville Elementary.
“It’s absolutely wonderful,” Hardison said.
Though she was unaware of the announcement on Tuesday, parent Deborah Pevahouse still has praise for the school.
“Everybody’s so friendly. The curriculum is great. It’s awesome,” she said. “My daughter has learned so much. They work one-on-one here.”
Her daughter, first-grader Isabella Pevahouse, 6, said with a big smile why she likes coming to Carrsville: “It’s fun! I learn!”
