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Henrico board honors students, staff and proclaims May observances
Summary
Henrico County School Board recognized student ambassadors, REB award winners, school librarians, student artists, and celebrated partnerships with the ABLE Center; it also proclaimed May 2026 as Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, among other observances.
The Henrico County School Board used its April 30 meeting to recognize student and staff achievements and to proclaim several May observances.
Dr. Tiffany Chapman Smith, principal of Ward Elementary School, introduced student leaders who led the Pledge of Allegiance. Tiffany Lewis, chief of empowerment development and opportunity, described the Equity Ambassadors program and invited several student ambassadors to share how the program supports inclusion, cultural events and peer leadership.
Eileen Cox, chief of communications, announced REB Foundation awards and named Amanda Drinnon and Ellen Jewell as recipients of $15,000 grants; Dr. Jessica Seal of Short Pump Middle School received the REB distinguished educational leadership award with a $10,000 cash award and a $20,000 school grant.
Rebecca Harden, education specialist for library services, recognized Emily Underwood (7 Pines Elementary) as elementary librarian of the year and Lisa Chandler (Short Pump Middle School) as secondary librarian of the year. Mike Kalafatis, art education specialist, concluded recognitions by announcing student artists in the division's Youth Art Month show.
Dr. Cashwell highlighted a partnership between career and technical education programs and the ABLE Center, a nonprofit that provided a "day of beauty" mentorship for cosmetology students; students and program volunteers described mock interviews, hands-on salon skills and job-readiness benefits. The board also proclaimed May 2026 as Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Month and May 2026 as Mental Health Awareness Month, noting HCPS serves over 50,000 students.
