SEDLEY
Nottoway Elementary School, along with 166 other schools across Virginia, received the 2016 Board of Education Distinguished Achievement Award. All schools that were given the distinction met all state and federal benchmarks and made progress toward goals and milestones predetermined by the board and Gov. Terry McAuliffe.

“We are very excited,” said Principal Christopher Tsitsera “It’s humbling. This award is like the exclamation point at the end of the sentence. It recognizes all our hard work.”

Superintendent Alvera J. Parrish echoed Tsitsera’s statements.

“This is a major accomplishment and we are proud of the staff, students and leadership of that school,” she said. “Our educators are always on the front line and every day they come in and give their best to the children and the families.”

The award makes special note of schools that have made efforts to close achievement gaps, defined as disparities between the scholastic performance of students of different genders, races or socioeconomic backgrounds.

“We are especially proud because this award singles out schools that are ensuring that each and every student can do their very best,” Parrish added.

Carrollton Elementary School in Isle of Wight County, and several other schools in the wider Hampton Roads area were also honored.