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Suffolk Public Schools highlights community donations, new STEM lab school and multiple school recognitions
Summary
At its Sept. 25 meeting the board recognized community donations — including a $31,000 gift for hearing‑impaired students from the Bennetts Creek Sertoma Club and a $5,000 STEM grant increase from Northrop Grumman — and celebrated the opening of Booker T. Washington Elementary School STEM Academy and several school awards.
Suffolk Public Schools used its Sept. 25 meeting to recognize recent donations, program launches and awards across the district.
Donations and partnerships Communications and community engagement officer Antoinette Dickens thanked community partners and noted the Bennetts Creek Sertoma Club donated $31,000 to the district to support students with hearing impairments and to help Lakeland High School purchase auditory equipment for its auditorium. The district also acknowledged a $5,000 increase from Northrop Grumman to an existing STEM grant.
STEM lab school and recognitions Superintendent John Gordon announced the district opened Booker T. Washington Elementary School STEM Academy in August; staff described it as Virginia's first elementary lab school in partnership with Old Dominion University's College Partnership Lab School Network. The presentation said the school will serve as a model for lab‑school development and early STEM exposure.
School awards and counseling recognition The board recognized multiple schools for honors including: - Forest Glen Middle School: named a 2024–25 National Beta School of Distinction. - Hill Point Elementary School and Colonel Fred Cherry Middle School: recognized by the Virginia Department of Education for exemplary school counseling programs (Hill Point as a showcase school; Colonel Fred Cherry as a model comprehensive site and the only middle school so recognized this year). - Kilby Shores Elementary School: awarded the Peggy Kubert award for mental health excellence by ERIC's Lighthouse. - John Yates and Kings Fork Middle School: recognized with a 4‑pillar Peggy Kubert award for broad mental‑health programming.
Virginia Recovery School The board recognized the Virginia Recovery School (a collaboration with Hope Harbor Center), one of three recovery‑focused K–12 programs in the state. District presenters described the program as providing a supportive instructional setting for students in recovery and noted it serves students regionally across multiple cities.
Community context and thanks Speakers emphasized the role of community partners and volunteers in back‑to‑school drives, book giveaways and other supports that helped students start the year prepared.
Ending Board members praised staff, teachers and community partners for restoring programs and advancing mental‑health, STEM and access initiatives across Suffolk Public Schools.
