Schools say farewell and hello to administrators

Susan Reynolds, principal of Herman L. Horn Elementary, announced she would retire at end of the school year.

Reynolds has worked more than 30 years in public education and will officially retire on June 30. She made her announcement at a Roanoke County School Board meeting.

During her time as principal, Reynolds oversaw a school renovation and expansion in 2004-2005 and was named Virginia's National Distinguished Principal of the Year for 2007.

Tommie Ann Perdue is stepping down as principal of Masons Cove Elementary after 34 years of service with Roanoke County Public Schools.

Perdue, who joined Roanoke County Schools in 1974, will leave the principal's office at the end of June.

During her career, she taught at Clearbrook and Green Valley elementary schools before becoming an assistant principal at Cave Spring Elementary School in 1998. In 2002, she became principal of Masons Cove Elementary School.

The Roanoke County School Board named Phyllis Satterfield the new Glenvar Elementary assistant principal.

Satterfield, currently a guidance counselor at Masons Cove Elementary School, will assume her new role on July 1.

She joined Roanoke County Public Schools in 1998 worked as a counselor at Clearbrook and Bent Mountain elementary schools.

The Roanoke County School Board also named Andrew Kufel the new assistant principal of Hidden Valley High School.

Kufel, currently a math teacher at Cave Spring High, will assume his new role on July 1.

He has worked with Roanoke County Public Schools since 2005 and has previously worked with the School of Education at Virginia Tech.

Smyth-Bland Regional Library to hold contest

The Smyth-Bland Regional Library is preparing for the annual Sherwood Anderson Short Story Contest in Marion.

The contest is open to residents in Southwest Virginia and bordering states. Participants are allowed one entry. The story should be under 6,000 words and relate to life in rural or small-towns in America.

The festival is sponsored by the library and the contest, for students in first to 12th grade, is divided into five categories based on grade level: first to fourth, fifth to eighth, ninth to twelfth, college undergraduates and a graduate student level which includes adults.

For contest rules and more information, visit SBRL.org or call 276-783-2323, ext. 28.

Hidden Valley teacher is county educator of year

Mara Pufko, an English teacher at Hidden Valley High School, has been selected as the 2008 Roanoke County Educator of the Year.

Pufko received her award at the 74th Annual Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce awards ceremony.

She has taught for 20 years, including eight years in Roanoke County.

In addition to her teacher duties, Pufko has presented at conferences, sponsored student activities, mentored teachers and embraced technology in education.

Franklin County students donate money for horses

Franklin County High School's sophomore class donated $225 to Roanoke Valley Horse Rescue.

The class sold 400 carnations for Valentine's Day and used the proceeds to held the organization purchase hay for the horses at the RVHR facility.

Sophomore class president Brian Luckett and class sponsor Mark Hatcher presented RVHR president Pat Muncy with the fundraiser's proceeds on Feb. 20.