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Powhatan schools celebrate national CTE placings, athlete scholarship and student leadership programs
Summary
Board recognized FFA national competitors, teacher gold-star awards, and athletic milestones; Powhatan Elementary highlighted new safety-patrol, Digital Divas coding club and monthly attendance incentives.
The Powhatan County Public Schools board used part of its Dec. 23 meeting to recognize student and staff achievements across career and technical education, athletics and classroom leadership.
Chief school officer Courtney Jarman introduced FFA national contest results: the Hippology (horse judging) team placed 11th in the nation, and other CTE competitors and individuals earned national rankings. Individual students and coaches were invited forward for recognition; several students received national medals and two received gold individual awards. Jarman also announced two "Gold Star" teachers who achieved a 93% student pass rate on the division—s financial literacy certification.
The board celebrated senior wide receiver Ben Whitver—s signing of a full scholarship to James Madison University and noted his VHSL career receiving-yard record (3,501 yards) and other school records. Field-hockey players Hannah Ritchie (senior) and Chloe Johnson (freshman) were honored for all-region and all-state selections.
Dr. Jason Gills presented Powhatan Elementary programming highlights: reinstated fifth-grade safety patrols (about 25 students) to assist pre-K and arrival/dismissal routines; the "Digital Divas" initiative led by Amanda Henley to introduce girls to computer science (planned expansion to additional grades); live morning announcements run via Google Meet by fifth graders; and monthly attendance celebrations (examples cited: pre-K 96.7%, third grade 97.8%, kindergarten 97.2%).
Board members praised the CTE certifications and praised school staff for bringing trades and workforce pathways to students, noting the real-world earning potential those credentials can create. The board emphasized continuing family outreach through surveys (including a forthcoming food survey) and thanked facilities, transportation partners and emergency services for their work reopening schools after recent winter weather.
The recognitions segment concluded without motions; the board moved on to routine business.
