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Roanoke board honors students and staff, names three elementary principals
Summary
The board recognized student and staff achievements — including national Scholastic gold winners and support-staff winner Perba Tamang — and approved principal appointments at Fallon Park, Fishburne Park and Round Hill.
The Roanoke City Public Schools board spent the early portion of its May 13 meeting honoring students, staff and community partners and then accepted several recommended principal appointments.
Whitney Johnson opened the recognitions by honoring Pedro Saleh and the Southwest Virginia Ballet for the Dance Espanol outreach program and that program’s long partnership with RCPS. Directors and teachers accepted recognition for high ratings from regional band, orchestra and choir competitions: Patrick Henry band earned a superior and the Virginia Honor Band Award, William Fleming achieved a first unanimous superior rating in more than 20 years, and multiple choir and orchestra ensembles received superior or excellent ratings.
Two students in visual arts—Mary Clark (painting) and Rachel Turnbull (ceramics and glass)—were named national Scholastic Art & Writing gold winners and were invited, with their teachers Sue Thomas and Jennifer Fowler, to receive awards at Carnegie Hall in June. Sydney Anderson (Patrick Henry) was recognized as a National Merit finalist and a recipient of a full scholarship to West Virginia University.
John Michael Deeds announced Perba Tamang of Monterey Elementary as the district’s 2024–25 Support Staff of the Year. Deeds described Tamang’s custodial work and his role translating for families; Tamang addressed the board, recounting his experience as a refugee and calling the district his second home.
Superintendent White introduced three recommended principal appointments the board heard and later approved by voice vote: Dr. Natasha Weddle (Fallon Park Elementary, interim already in place, official July 1, 2025), Tim Moller (Fishburne Park Elementary principal), and Steve Sizemore (Round Hill Elementary principal). Each appointee addressed the board with brief remarks about priorities including student-centered instruction, community engagement and STEM programming.
The board thanked the educators, parents and community partners for their efforts and applauded the recognitions.
