COURTLAND
Nottoway Elementary earlier this year became one of 55 schools from across the state to be honored by the Virginia Board of Education with Title I distinction; nine schools were named highly distinguished. In recognition of Nottoway’s performance on Standards of Learning assessments during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 school years, the VBOE has awarded the school $8,500 to support Title I-allowable programs and activities.

“We’re very, very proud and excited about the award that Nottoway Elementary has received for being a Title I Distinguished School,” Southampton County Public School Superintendent Dr. Alvera J. Parrish said. “[Nottoway Elementary Principal Chris] Tsitsera and I will be talking, but I’m sure he and his staff have probably spent all of it already.”

Title I is a supplemental education program that provides financial assistance to local educational agencies to improve scholastic opportunities for educationally deprived children. Only schools that have achieved full accreditation for a minimum of two-consecutive years and meet or exceed federal accountability benchmarks are eligible for the award.

“[We’re] ecstatic … basically overjoyed,” Tsitsera said. “We’ve been working hard … It’s a team effort. The teachers and parents get this commendation. This just proves what we’re doing is right.”

Carrsville Elementary was the only other local school given distinction, marking the seventh time in the past eight years that the Isle of Wight County school was honored.

“Public schools don’t get to select their students, but division superintendents, principals, teachers and other public school educators do decide how they respond to the challenges economically disadvantages children bring to the classroom,” board of education president Billy K. Cannaday Jr. said. “The Title I schools we are honoring combine effective instruction with the non-instructional supports that inspire many children in poverty to focus and succeed.”