

More than 400 people attended the VBCPS Citywide PTA dinner and awards ceremony May 14 at Bayside High School.
The annual event hosted by the Virginia Beach Council of PTAs and supported by the VBCPS Office of Family and Community Engagement honored each school’s “Volunteer of the Year.”
Following dinner from Outback Steakhouse and the Bayside High School culinary department, VBCPS Superintendent Dr. Donald Robertson Jr. thanked the volunteers for making a positive impact on students’ education.
“Our PTAs are invested in the success of our schools,” he said.
VBCPS Citywide PTA President Tara Campbell announced the 2025 divisionwide “Volunteer of the Year” for the primary and secondary levels.
Primary:
Amy Torres, Birdneck Elementary’s “Volunteer of the Year,” supported the design and development of an outdoor garden and learning space at the school. The Amazon employee secured a group of volunteers from her company to assist with physical labor and ongoing maintenance. The garden has become an invaluable resource for students to engage in hands-on learning. In addition, she was instrumental in acquiring items for the teachers’ lounge to make the space more comfortable and supportive for staff. Also, thanks to Torres, the school received laboratory coats for students in support of science programs.

Secondary:
Kelly Siegel, Corporate Landing Middle School’s “Volunteer of the Year,” organized numerous events and initiatives to enrich the educational experience for students, including student dances, family movie nights, Halloween “boo grams” for students, a sneaker drive for those in need, and a food drive to support the local food bank. She also coordinated donations for Corporate Landing Middle students and staff in need and put together many staff appreciation events and supply drives. She spearheaded the school’s first annual BoosterThon Color Run to fund some of the school’s ancillary endeavors.

Additional recognitions:
Other awards were presented to local PTAs. More than 40 units were recognized for increasing PTA membership levels from last year and also for sending 75% of their membership dues to the state PTA by Dec. 1.
Eight schools received the merit award for having 100% membership from teachers and staff: Centerville, Fairfield, Glenwood, Hermitage, Luxford, New Castle Ocean Lakes elementary schools and Landstown Middle.
The exemplary award for outstanding contributions by the PTA went to Glenwood, Centerville, Hermitage and Ocean Lakes elementary schools and Landstown Middle.
Visit vbschools.com for more information about volunteering with VBCPS.

“He’s awesome,” said PTA president Cheryl Conrad. “I pick up the phone and ask and he says – I got it!”
From left, PTA vice-president of membership Christina Vacca, Conrad, principal Linda Sidone, the Whitlocks.







