Virginia First Lady visits E. Wilson Morrison Elementary School

First Lady Pamela Northam is escorted into E. Wilson Morrison Elementary School by the Boys Into Gentlemen Club members.

As part of her annual statewide tour of Head Start programs, child care classrooms and elementary schools, Virginia first lady Pamela Northam on September 19th included E. Wilson Elementary School as part of her tour to highlight the importance of early childhood education. Steven Schetrom, Executive Director for the United Way of Front Royal-Warren County coordinated the tour with the first lady as part of their ongoing partnership with Warren County Public Public Schools.

First Lady Pamela Northam will visit early childhood education programs and elementary schools in each of the Commonwealth’s eight Superintendent Regions, highlighting the importance of school readiness.

In July, Governor Northam signed Executive Director Four, establishing the Executive Leadership Team on School Readiness that will be responsible for developing a plan to ensure that all at-risk three and four-year-olds in Virginia have access to a quality, subsidized early education option by 2025. Executive Directive Four also instructs state agencies to develop a uniform measurement and improvement system and make recommendations for streamlining early childhood governance at the state level.

This year all kindergarten teachers in Virginia public schools will be using the Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program (VKRP) to evaluate and better support each child entering kindergarten. Through VKRP, families and educators will work together closely to build children’s literacy, math, and socio-emotional skills so they start off school fully prepared to succeed during the kindergarten year and into the future.

First Lady Pamela Northam reads to the class and then gifted them with special coins.

Before her arrival, Mike McCool, publisher of the Royal Examiner spoke with Principal Shane Goodwin, along with Jenny Dunivan, M.Ed, Family Engagement Coordinator for the Warren County Public Schools, James Wells, Warren County School Board member and Steven Schetron, Executive Director of the United Way. Donald Lambert and Rich Cooley from the Northern Virginia Daily were also present and asked several questions as well. After her visit at E. Wilson Morrison Elementary School, the first lady continued her tour and went to Ressie Jefferies Elementary School.

The Royal Examiner’s camera was there: