The Virginia Congress of Parents and Teachers, better known as the Virginia PTA, recognized select local units from the Virginia Beach Council of PTA (VBPTA) at its annual conference July 16-18 in Richmond.
Providence Elementary School PTA received the Virginia PTA’s Outstanding Communication Award, an honor presented to only one local PTA unit each year. The Virginia PTA’s website indicates the award recognizes the “special or unique ways [local units] reach their members, supporters or communities” and “focuses on the thought and effort that goes into choosing how best to reach an audience.”
According to Providence Elementary School PTA past president Sandy Beale-Berry, the school’s PTA recognized they “have a diverse and actively-mobile audience,” so it conducted a survey to better serve the communication needs and preferences of their community. As a result, the Providence PTA used varied distribution methods to increase the visibility and reach of PTA-related communications. The PTA shared information through its website, Facebook page and weekly electronic newsletter as well as submitted PTA information for inclusion on the school’s morning announcements, website and take-home flyers.
At its annual conference, the Virginia PTA also recognized local units that excelled in membership achievement for the 2014-15 school year based on their school enrollment.
The following VBPTA local units earned Virginia PTA Superior Awards for having the largest percentages of memberships among schools across the state with similar student enrollment as of May 30:
- Green Run Collegiate PTA (Second Place, Division 1)
- Old Donation Center PTA (First Place, Division 2)
- Princess Anne Middle School PTSA (First Place, Division 7)
The following VBPTA local units earned Virginia PTA Outstanding Awards for having the largest percentages of membership increases among schools across the state with similar student enrollment as of May 30:
- Green Run Collegiate PTA (Second Place, Division 1)
- Independence Middle School PTSA (First Place, Division 7)
The Virginia PTA also presented awards to select individuals for their outstanding contributions to schools. Sharlene Stovall, nurse at Shelton Park Elementary School, was named the Virginia PTA 2015 School Nurse of the Year.
“Mrs. Stovall is more than a nurse to the staff and students at Shelton Park Elementary School; she is their friend,” the Virginia PTA noted in its awards program. “She takes care of families that move into the area and need help. With a large amount of military families in the area, she often helps those families connect with new families and community needs in the area. She takes the time to learn every child’s name in the school…[and] keeps the students and staff safe by knowing names, allergies, concerns and so much more.”
One student wrote of Stovall, “We can always count on her.”
I am very proud of my daughter-in-law, Sharlene Stovall for her award as school nurse of the year in the Virginia PTA. She truly deserves this award. She truly loves her job and the people she works with. She is amazing.