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Suffolk School Board recognized outgoing members Lorita W. Mayo and Sherri D. Story for their service as their terms end later this month.

During the Dec. 8 meeting, Mayo of the Holy Neck Borough and Story of the Chuckatuck Borough received praise for their service to the students, teachers and staff of the city schools. Both have served since January 2019.

“When I think of a School Board member, my first thought is these individuals must have a passion for children,” Community Engagement Officer Anthonette Ward-Dickens said during the meeting. “They must be strong advocates for student achievement and success and they have to be well known in their community. They have to have the best interests of Suffolk Public Schools at the forefront in everything that they do.”

Ward-Dickens went on to say that a simple Google search points to the definition of a school board member as one who represents different groups in the community, serves as a conduit for the concerns and interest of teachers and parents, and helps create strong ties between the school board and other stakeholders.

“The two board members that we are recognizing tonight have demonstrated all of the above,” she said.

Story, a former science teacher, was recognized as teacher of the year at King’s Fork High School.

Mayo served Suffolk Public School for 31 years — 18 of those as an elementary and middle school music teacher, four as an assistant principal at Elephant’s Fork Elementary School and nine as principal at Southwestern Elementary School.