Culpeper schools honor staff and board; board adopts appreciation resolutions

Pearl Sample Elementary principal Allie Hokanson described the school's twice-yearly award show and showed a short video during the Culpeper County School Board meeting, saying the events "celebrate students beyond the academics" and reinforce school values.

"We do them to celebrate students beyond the academics, recognize character, effort, and growth, and reinforce our school-wide values," Hokanson said. She described a five-category awards structure, teacher nominations informed by coaches and resource staff, and confirmed the school holds the show twice annually (a winter event and an end-of-year show).

The board then adopted ceremonial recognitions. Laura Hoover read a resolution designating February 2026 as School Board Appreciation Month and introduced certificates and gifts honoring board members. A motion to adopt the School Board Appreciation Month resolution was made and seconded and adopted by a voice vote recorded in the meeting as 6-0.

Following that, the board adopted a School Board Clerk Appreciation Week resolution recognizing the contributions of clerk Neil Dean and deputy clerk Sarah Moran; a motion to accept that appreciation week also passed by voice vote.

Hoover also announced that Division Superintendent Dr. Tony Bridal has been named the Region 4 Superintendent of the Year for his work on career and technical education partnerships and advocacy for teacher licensure reform. Hoover said Bridal will represent Region 4 in the statewide superintendent selection process.

Votes and next steps: both appreciation items were adopted by voice vote; the meeting proceeded to the consent agenda and other business afterward. The board later moved into a closed session under the Code of Virginia authority cited in the meeting.