The Lebanon News | Shawn Street
The Russell County School Board honored Belfast Elementary School and Honaker High School for receiving the state board of education’s Highest Achievement Award.
“We would like to congratulate Honaker High School and Belfast Elementary School for being selected to receive the 2024 — 2025 Virginia Board of Education’s Highest Achievement Award,” said Superintendent Dr. Kim Hooker. “On behalf of the Russell County School Board, we thank the staff, students, and the community for providing high expectations that have resulted in positive educational outcomes for our students.”
The Exemplar Performance Award recognizes schools, school divisions, or school boards for excellence and has stringent criteria. The school must be accredited and: ■Meets state benchmarks in reading, math, and science (75 percent for reading and 70 percent for math and science) based on the current year pass rate on state assessments. ■All student groups within the school meet state benchmarks in reading and math (75 percent for reading and 70 percent for math) based on the current year pass rate on state assessments (not including growth or English Learner progress), and ■For schools with two student groups, there is not more than five percentage points between the lowest performing group and all other students in the school, or ■For schools with three or more student groups, there is no more than ten percentage points between the lowest performing group and all other students. ■School demonstrates a current-year chronic absenteeism rate of 15 percent or lower.
“I am just so proud of the students at Belfast Elementary,” said Principal Linda Miller. “I’m appreciative of the staff that I have.”
She thanked the teachers, the parents of students and the staff and administration at BES who preceded her. “This is an honor and we appreciate it,” she concluded.
Tony Bush, Honaker Principal, said the spot light belongs on the teachers of HHS rather than himself. “They are the ones who do the hard work,” he said. “I’m very proud to be at Honaker High School. We have a great staff, they are great people.”
He also thanked the students and their parents. “Because they are the ones that had to make this work,” he said.
Also recognized during the Nov. 7 were the Teacher of the Month and the Employee of the Month.
Teacher of the Month honors went to Travis Shawn Matney, the band director of Honaker High School. Matney, who was already emotional, could not hide his tears when the entire band entered the meeting room to those their support for him.
The Employee of the Month honors were bestowed on Noah Young of Castlewood Elementary School.
