HERTFORD — Perquimans Schools are looking pretty good these days – Much pride and performance!

Let’s start with this from Monday’s Board of Education meeting — Dr. Catherine Stickney, Northeast Region Director for the North Carolina Department of Instruction, presented Hertford Grammar School Principal John Lassiter a cool-looking etched glass award for being named as a 2025 Wells Fargo Principal of the Year finalist for the Northeast Region. 

“We have the honor of working with a dedicated individual who has distinguished himself in service to his students, staff, his community and he is known throughout the region for his endless dedication to ensuring that the respect for education, educators and principals continues,” she said. “It is no surprise that for the second time in three years that we get to award Dr. John Lassiter with the Northeast Regional Principal of the Year Award.”  

Perquimans Pirates’ Class of 2005, Lassiter graduated from NC State in 2009 and began his teaching career at John A. Holmes High School, later serving as Principal at Chowan Middle School. During Lassiter’s three years at CMS, the school was redesignated a National “School to Watch”, one of just 11 middle schools in the state to earn the recognition.

When Perquimans Schools came calling, Lassiter was hired as Principal at Hertford Grammar. He was named Principal of the Year three times (2021, 2023, & 2025) by the school system and was named a Wells Fargo Regional Finalist for State Principal of the Year in 2023. 

More good news — Violet Pollock, a sixth grade student at Perquimans Middle School, was presented a certificate for writing a 1st place essay in the region’s Daughters of the American Revolution’s essay contest. Congrats! If the Albemarle Observer can acquire a copy of Pollock’s top notch essay, we will publish it! 

This is not the first time Pollock’s abilities have been recognized. Last year when Pollock was in fifth grade at 5th at Hertford Grammar School, she received Honorable Mention in the 2024 NC Farm to School Calendar Art Contest! Pollock was one of over 3,600 entries from 56 counties in the state and her artwork will be featured on the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services website.

If you want to subscribe — FREE — check out our website at https://albemarleobserver.news/

If you want to subscribe – you can enter your email address at the website or send it to us at albemarle.observer@gmail.com and we will gladly add you to our growing subscriber list. 

Superintendent Tanya Turner announced that Catherine Howell is North Carolina’s nominee for Presidential Scholars Program – congrats. The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program recognizes and honors distinguished graduating high school seniors. Each year, up to 161 students are named as Presidential Scholars, one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students. 

More good news – Pirates’ students and staff created a video about the school system’s relationship to the community — that video was so good that it was named Honorable Mention by the North Carolina School Board Association. Click the link to see that video.  

“This was their first time participating – Honorable Mention the first time. We say congratulations,” said Anne White, Perquimans Board of Education Vice Chair.

Video was created by:

• Kendra Graham, creator and director
• Jade Lassiter, narrator
• Coley Drew, narrator
• Kate Phthisic, English teacher
• Roberta Heath, District Digital Learning Coach
• Julie Roberts, Assistant Principal   

And don’t forget to say congrats to the latest Pirates’ educators who’ve become National Board Certified – that’s a big deal: 

• Hannah Blackley — 3rd grade teacher, Hertford Grammar School
• Katie Phthisic — English teacher, Perquimans High School
• Melissa Swain — Director of CTE

National Board Certification is the most respected professional certification available in education and provides numerous benefits to teachers, students and schools, according to the National Board Certification’s website. It was designed to develop, retain and recognize accomplished teachers and to generate ongoing improvement in schools nationwide.

Last but not least – since it is School Board Appreciation Month – the Perquimans Board of Education deserves a high-five, too, and gift baskets.   

“The Board plays a vital role in guiding our district, setting high expectations and ensuring that our students, staff and schools have the resources and support they need to succeed,” Turner said. “Your leadership, vision and commitment to excellence in education have made a lasting impact on our community. We are grateful for all the time, energy and heart that you pour into your work.” 

In other business, Hertford Grammar School has a new School Resource Officer – Ryan Cappel. The law officer has multiple years of experience and family ties to Perquimans County. 

And Dr. James Bunch gave a brief presentation (See photo above) about Discipline and Reportable Offense Information between August and December 2024. Long story short, roughly the same or fewer people, depending on the category, have needed a trip to the Principal’s office. That’s a good statistic to report when considering more students are attending this academic year than 2023-24.   

Board approved the first reading of the 2025-26 School Calendar.  

Speaking of the calendar – Turner provided an update (see photo above) about Remote Learning. Unless school is absolutely canceled, snow days can become remote learning days, which don’t count against the overall 185 days or 1,025 hours required by the instructional calendar. Good news – if your kid has a weak internet connection during remote learning days, then he/she has 5 days to submit work following a remote learning day. Now that’s a good news and great end to end this story