School Board Honors Pearl River Middle School Accomplishment

The Pearl River Board of Education recognized Pearl River Middle School for a national accomplishment at Tuesday's regular board meeting in Pirate Cove.

Pearl River Middle School received a 2011 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Sept. 15 from the U.S. Department of Education.

"We're very proud of this," Pearl River School Board President Michael Clohessy said as he congratulated Pearl River Middle School Principal Maria Paese.

Clohessy then insisted that Kevin O'Connor, president of the Pearl River Teacher's Association and a social studies teacher at the middle school, come up and join them.

"Kevin, congratulations to you for your teachers down there," Clohessy said. "It's a great job."

"I want to publicly thank the board for their support over the years I've been here," Paese said. "And to the staff at the middle school, we worked long and hard for this. Kudos to you."

Paese pointed out that it was the entire staff, not just the teachers that played a role. She also pointed out the support from Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Sue Wheeler and Director of Community Relations and Adult Education Sandra Cokeley, who helped fill out the complicated application required for the honor.

"When we were nominated in the spring, I was jumping for joy," Paese said. "I owe a tremendous amount to Sandy Cokeley. After the staff pulled their pieces together, she sat for hours and hours to complete the application.

"It's kinda scary when you are nominated. It's like going to the Super Bowl. You get in there and you don't want to lose. And we won. Kudos to everyone, the parents and the students and everyone (involved)."