Education Foundation Honors School Division Heroes
Gala held at the new Kelly Leadership Center recognizes PWCS administrators, educators, and staff as “Heroes in Education.”

More than 150 local business leaders, School Division staff, community members, and student volunteers filled the atrium of the new Edward L. Kelly Leadership Center as the PWCS Education Foundation hosted its annual gala, “Honoring Our Heroes in Education.” The event gave everyone in attendance a chance to celebrate the achievements of the Foundation’s 2009 honorees, to include PWCS Teacher of the Year Andrew Stanley, Principal of the Year Terry DeCarbo, and the PWCS School Board for receiving the American School Board Journal’s “Magna Award” for their support of the Sea Perch underwater robotics program.  

In addition, the Foundation honored the administrators, teachers, and staff selected by the School Division as recipients of the Classy Award as Heroes in Education. These awards recognized a variety of achievements, including the Virginia Counselor of the Year, awarded to Kimberlee Ratliff of Potomac Middle School; the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award presented to the Office of Budget; and the No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School title given to Springwoods Elementary School.

This year’s gala featured a different look and feel as the entire event focused on student success. The room was decorated in brightly colored banners provided by the PWCS Schools of Excellence; the tables were decorated with student-crafted centerpieces; entertainment was provided by student musical groups from Battlefield High School and Potomac Middle School; and video vignettes were produced for the event by Hylton High School’s TV3 students.

Most notably, the evening’s program was led by student emcees from the Division’s Healthy Communities, Healthy Youth and Today’s Students, Tomorrow’s Teachers programs. These four student leaders guided the guests through a fun-filled evening of award presentation where honorees were encouraged to dance their way to the podium to songs specially selected for each medal recipient.

Special guests for the evening’s festivities included the Honorable Gerald E. Connolly, Virginia Congressman for the 11th District; State Delegate Jackson Miller representing the state’s 50th district; School Board Chairman Milton C. Johns (At-Large), Vice-Chairman Denita S. Ramirez (Woodbridge), and School Board Members Betty D. Covington (Dumfries), Grant Lattin (Occoquan), Julie C. Lucas (Neabsco), Michael I. Otaigbe (Coles), and Don Richardson (Gainesville). Prince William County Supervisor Wally Covington (Brentsville) and Jane Beyer, representing Supervisor Maureen Caddigan’s Office (Dumfries) were also in attendance.

Sponsors and contributors for the evening included Moseley Architects; BB&T; Finley Asphalt; Micron Technology Foundation; SchoolFusion; SAI Engineering, Inc.; Hylton High School; Independent Hill/PACE East School; R.W. Murray Co.; Vaughan Elementary School; Belvoir Federal Credit Union; Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield; East to West Embroidery; Potomac Hospital; V.F. Pavone; and Woodbridge Plumbing.

To see a complete list of the Foundation's "Heroes in Education," view the event program.

Photography for the evening was generously donated by ImageWerks. To see more photos from the event, visit http://imagefoto.smugmug.com/gallery/7844070_4cgJ4.

Click here to see a .pdf of the evening's PowePoint presentation of winners.