WASHINGTON, D.C. — Three West Virginia elementary schools were honored during a ceremony in Washington, D.C. Friday afternoon as National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education.
Officials from Greenmont Elementary in Wood County, Hollywood Elementary in Raleigh County and West Teays Elementary in Putnam County joined representatives from 359 other schools from across the country at the two-day event that ended with an awards luncheon.
Wood County School Superintendent Will Hosaflook told MetroNews he’s proud of Greenmont Elementary.
“Every time I go to Greenmont, I go to multiple assemblies there, they just value education. Education is at the top,” Hosaflook said.
The three schools received the distinction based on overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.
Hosaflook said those at Greenmont, which is located in Vienna, have the right attitude about education.
“The worst thing that can happen educationally is to become stagnant, for the status quo. You’re always looking to achieve at greater heights and that’s what Greenmont Elementary does,” Hosaflook said.
Valerie Fowler, the principal at West Teays in Hurricane said in a previously released video a successful school takes a village.
“The village starts with our students. We provide every student with leadership opportunities. Students provide services for our other students,” Fowler said.
Hollywood Elementary Principal Tamber Hodges said students at her school receive educational fundamentals through an integrated curriculum.
“Where students are engaged to encourage lifelong learning,” Hodges previously said.