Petersburg names Frank Maddox division Teacher of the Year; Kiwanis donates $5,000 to STEM program

The Petersburg City Public Schools board used its Feb. 5 meeting to recognize School Board Appreciation Month, welcome new staff and honor teachers.

Assistant Superintendent: Superintendent and board members introduced Dr. Shamika Long Lane as the district’s new assistant superintendent of human resources and invited her to briefly address the community. Dr. Lane described her 20-year career in education and said she was “excited to be here” and to focus on students and culture change.

Teacher recognitions: Paul Brown, the district’s chief academic officer, announced Teachers of the Year at each school and named Frank Maddox of Vernon Johns Middle School (Blandford Academy at Vernon Johns) as Petersburg City Public Schools’ division Teacher of the Year. Maddox thanked the board, district staff and his administrators and said, “I’m grateful every day that I’m here to service students in the city of Petersburg.” The board said it submitted Maddox’s paperwork to the Virginia Department of Education as the division nominee.

Community donation: Celeste Revish (member of Petersburg Kiwanis) presented a $5,000 check to support the district’s STEM program. Revish described community fundraising and in-kind support (donated game consoles and other equipment) that helped early STEM camps and gaming-team activities.

Other recognitions and proclamations: The board accepted a proclamation declaring February as National School Counseling Week and accepted Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) Business Honor Roll nominations for several local organizations, including H2O Community Church, Jazz Barber and Hair Styling Academy, and the Kimples Court mentoring program.

Ending: The board thanked teachers and community partners and said formal recognition documents and the Teacher of the Year submission will be part of the district’s personnel and awards records.