Community High School principal wins R.E.B. honor

Accashian

Jamie Accashian, principal of Chesterfield Community High School, is the Chesterfield County winner of the 2007 R.E.B. Award for Distinguished Educational Leadership, which recognizes Richmond area principals who "go beyond the day-to-day demands of their position to create an exceptional educational environment."

"I have been very fortunate to be at Chesterfield Community High School and to work with such a dedicated and passionate faculty and staff," Accashian said. "It is truly an honor to be the leader of such a tremendous team and to be selected as the recipient of the R.E.B. Award for Distinguished Educational Leadership."

Public Schools in 1982 as head football coach and teacher at Meadowbrook High School. In 1991, he created and led a pilot program at Meadowbrook that eventually developed into r Accashian joined Chesterfield County Chesterfield Community High, the county's alternative high school for students at risk of dropping out of school because of academic, behavioral and social problems. Community High opened in 1998, and Accashian's leadership and hard work led to full accreditation for the school in 2006.

Four R.E.B. Awards for Distinguished Educational Leadership are bestowed annually on a principal from each of these localities: Chesterfield County, Henrico County, Hanover County and Richmond. The award consists of a $7,500 cash grant to the principal and an additional $7,500 for the principal's school.

This year, Ettrick Elementary Principal Rosemary Rice-Jones joined Accashian as a Chesterfield finalist for the award.

Twelve other Chesterfield principals were nominated for the 2007 award: Don Bechtel of Swift Creek Elementary, Steve Cunningham of Matoaca High, David Joyner of Gordon Elementary, Peter Koste of Manchester High, Joyce Lanier of Evergreen Elementary, Tina Martin of Hopkins Road Elementary, Anne O'Toole of Robious Elementary, Mary Robinson of Swift Creek Middle, Harold Saunders of Providence Middle, Joan Temple of Spring Run Elementary, Joe Tylus of Bird High and Ed Walent of Chalkley Elementary.