The principal of Francis C. Hammond Middle School followed in the steps of the former First Lady of Virginia when she became the 2019 winner of the Milliken Award from Communities in Schools this week.
Pierrette Peters was honored for her “tireless leadership” and her work to build a culture of shared responsibility and stability for a high-needs population.
Communities in Schools founder Bill Milliken stopped by the school to announce the award in person. Previous recipients include Dorothy McAuliffe, former First Lady of Virginia.
“This is really quite an honor, given I don’t share the same celebrity status as the First Lady, but this is an acknowledgement of the work that my staff and I have been collaborating on at Hammond and I’m delighted to see our work recognized in this way,” said Peters.
Principal Peters was honored at a dinner attended by Dorothy McAuliffe and her husband, former Governor Terry McAuliffe on Thursday evening.
The Communities in Schools (CIS) Milliken Award, named for CIS founder Bill Milliken and his wife Jean Milliken, recognizes individuals who embody the quality of persistence — the common denominator in making a positive difference in the lives of the most vulnerable across our community.
“As principal of Francis C. Hammond Middle School, Ms. Peters’ tireless leadership over the past four years has brought much-needed stability and built a culture of shared responsibility to serve a high need student population at Hammond. This is why she is being honored,” Bill Milliken said.