Star Award Winners - Spring 2008

Congratulations to this quarter’s Star Award winners, who will be recognized at the June 12th Suffolk School Board meeting. The honorees were awarded a U.S. Savings Bond, courtesy of program co-sponsor the Suffolk Education Foundation, as well as a certificate and distinctive star lapel pin.

The winner of the Star Award for Support Staff is Betty Howard, a teacher assistant at Kilby Shores Elementary School, working most recently with kindergarten students.  She started her career with one year at Nansemond Parkway Elementary, but has been an assistant at Kilby Shores Elementary for the last 25 years.  Her nominator wrote:  “Betty always has a reason to smile. When Betty Howard is in your presence, laughter accompanies her.  Children love Mrs. Howard’s laughter and her hugs.  Her innate ability to communicate on the child’s level is never failing.  Her love of children is visible to all.”  Mrs. Howard loves to share a good book with children.  “How the kids love to hear her read!  She can take on the character of Junie B. Jones in a heartbeat!  Teachers even have to stop to listen to the story and watch as she makes her connection with the kids,” wrote first-grade teacher Deborah Rasberry in the nomination.  Part of Mrs. Howard’s job is bus duty – “180 days of the year … rain, shine, cold, or sweat.  Betty is on the job greeting children as soon as they hop off or on the bus.  She is there to ‘pick a child up’ whether bodily or in spirit.  She is there with a greeting or a wave for the bus drivers.  No one gets left out.”


The winner of the Star Award for Instructional Staff is Sara Knight, a sixth-grade English teacher at Forest Glen Middle School.  Nominated by a parent, Mrs. Knight was applauded as an exemplary teacher who demonstrated concern for students and championed interaction with parents.  “Students are motivated to learn through creative instruction and positive feedback,” her nominator wrote.  Mrs. Knight regularly contacted the student’s home, offering concerns on her academic progress, praising her Spelling Bee accomplishments, and expressing support during a week-long illness.  “She consistently goes above and beyond to find fun methods to teach English, and to keep parents informed and involved.”

    for more information about Star Awards click here