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Joy Reed, principal of Henrico County’s Harold Macon Ratcliffe Elementary School, has been awarded the 2019-20 REB Award for Distinguished Educational Leadership. The award was announced by HCPS Superintendent Amy Cashwell at a virtual meeting April 14 of Ratcliffe faculty members.
The Community Foundation presents the award to four principals annually — one each from the school systems of Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover counties and one from the city of Richmond. The award recognizes principals who go beyond the day-to-day demands of their jobs to create an exceptional educational environment. The award stresses management and communication skills, and the ability to inspire, encourage and advocate for the school. It includes $7,500 for personal development and an additional $7,500 for school projects of the recipient’s choosing.
Reed plans to use the $7,500 in project funding to enhance social-emotional learning and support systems at the school. Part of the funds will train teachers and families to help students use calming techniques, as well as pay for classroom items and “student social-emotional calm-down kits.”
“At Ratcliffe we’re invested in meeting the needs of the whole child. That’s why I felt so passionately about this,” Reed said. “Our staff is truly amazing in the work they do each day to provide social-emotional learning along with instruction. In end-of-the-year surveys, [our teachers] have said, ‘Look, I want our kids to be able to have some of the tools they need’” to address emotional challenges.
Reed joined Henrico Schools in 2016 as Ratcliffe’s principal after serving as assistant principal at Chesterfield’s Salem Church Elementary School. She started her career in education as an exceptional education teacher and also served as coordinator of exceptional education at Thomas Dale High School and assistant principal at Ettrick Elementary School.
Originally from Richmond, Reed has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University, and an associate degree from Reynolds Community College. She also earned a post-master’s certificate in educational leadership from VCU.
