Ward plans Glade Creek school visit

N.C. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mike Ward will visit Glade Creek Elementary School Dec. 13.

Principal Gary West said Ward will present the School of Excellence award and banner to the school that morning. Glade Creek was named a School of Excellence this year for the first time under the state's ABCs accountability standards. To receive that accolade, a school must meet expected growth and have 90 percent of pupils performing at grade level on end-of-grade examinations (or end-of-course exams for high schools).

Ward's appearance will be part of Glade Creek's "School of Excellence Celebration." The school will hold a breakfast at 7:30 a.m., with Ward scheduled to arrive, and the program to begin, at 8:30 a.m.

The program is scheduled to open with Glade Creek's fourth- and fifth-graders singing "America the Beautiful." Speakers will represent various "partners in excellence:" Teachers will be represented by Pam Braley, parents by Laura Poole, pupils by Megan Poole, graduates by Lauren Byers, volunteers by Peggy Choate, support staff by James Smith and administration by Stephanie Blevins and West.

Ward will be the featured speaker.

The program is set to conclude with a release of balloons.

West said the school has sent invitations to parents, Alleghany County Board of Education members and office personnel, personnel from other schools, county government officials and state legislators. The program is open to the public.

Piney Creek Elementary School was also named a School of Excellence. Principal Phil Howell said that while only 73 schools (including Piney Creek) received that honor last year, 172 schools did so this year. He said he expects that either Ward or Phil Kirk, chairman of the N.C. Board of Education, will visit Piney Creek sometime after the first of the year to present the award.

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