[Contact: Claire Mansfield at 804.692.2545 or cmansfield@strength.org]
Richmond, VA (Oct. 31, 2019) – Highland View Elementary Principal Pamela L. Davis-Vaught received this year’s “Educator of the Year” award from national anti-hunger nonprofit Share Our Strength for her work to support childhood hunger programs in Bristol, Virginia. Former First Lady of Virginia Dorothy McAuliffe presented Davis with the award at the “Share Strength: A No Kid Hungry Leaders Summit” this week in Washington D.C.
Former First Lady of Virginia Dorothy McAuliffe presents Highland View Elementary Principal Pamela L. Davis-Vaught with the ‘Educator of the Year’ Award from Share Our Strength
Davis-Vaught was recognized for her work to form partnerships with local and state agencies to support childhood hunger programs at Highland View Elementary. Under her leadership, Highland View Elementary launched a Breakfast After the Bell program in 2014. The school was the first in the Bristol school division to offer an alternative breakfast model to students. Davis-Vaught also oversaw community partnerships at Highland View to provide holiday and weekend backpack programs to help meet the nutritional needs of students when school was not in session.
“We’re proud to celebrate the 2019 Educator of the Year for her work to promote childhood hunger programs at Highland View Elementary and throughout the Commonwealth,” said Mrs. McAuliffe. “Principal Davis-Vaught is committed to finding innovative solutions to make sure students can access the meals and other resources they need to succeed. Thanks to dedicated partners and advocates like Principal Davis-Vaught, Virginia has become a national model for ending childhood hunger.”
Davis-Vaught’s efforts helped enroll Highland View Elementary in the Virginia 365 project, a multi-year federal pilot to demonstrate the impact of ensuring students have access to three meals a day. Highland View continues to provide Breakfast after the Bell, afterschool meals and weekend backpacks today.
One in seven children in America live in families that struggle with hunger. Research shows that hunger has long-term ramifications on children, including lower test scores, weaker attendance rates, and a higher risk of hospitalizations and chronic diseases. Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign and its partners focus on Breakfast After the Bell as a critical way to end childhood hunger.
“Principal Pam Davis-Vaught is a true school meals champion,” said Claire Mansfield, No Kid Hungry Virginia state director. “She has worked tirelessly to create a strong and successful Breakfast After the Bell and afterschool programs that are making a big impact. Highland View
Elementary’s approach to child nutrition has become model that schools across the U.S. are looking to thanks to Principal Davis-Vaught’s leadership and vision.”
Visit nokidhungry.org for more information about No Kid Hungry’s work and Breakfast After the Bell.