ABINGDON, Va. ― Jessica Edwards, a teacher at Cornerstone Christian Academy (CCA), was recently presented with the 2017 Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Teacher of the Year award at the local and district levels.

Edwards, the fifth-grade teacher at CCA, was recognized by VFW Post 1994 — Abingdon Memorial Post and Virginia District 12. The VFW Teacher of the Year award honors exceptional instructors for their outstanding commitment to teaching Americanism and patriotism.

Edwards’ nomination, which was submitted by Dr. Clay Brinson, head of school at CCA, highlighted her ongoing efforts to support and promote patriotism, which include:

• leading nearly 200 students and 40 staff last month in honoring approximately 100 local veterans as part of CCA’s annual Veterans’ Day program;
• advocating for Boots In The House ™, a faith-based organization dedicated to supporting the emotional health and well-being of military service members and their families, by posting classroom photographs of the organization’s enlisted members and other service personnel, and leading students in daily prayers for the military;
• sending classroom cards and care packages to Boots In The House soldiers throughout the year;
• coordinating “Operation Blessing” with her fifth-grade students, which involves collecting personal hygiene products and other gift items to create more than 200 blessing bags that will be distributed to patients at the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center in Johnson City, Tennessee; and
• holding nightly prayer groups for our country and troops.

“I believe it is important to cultivate a heart of patriotism in our children and students so that they can be contributors to their family, church, school, community and nation,” Edwards says. “Also, it is important to lift up our soldiers in prayer daily as well as remember and respect the veterans who have returned home after serving at home and abroad. It is my hope that one day I can connect students with active and inactive soldiers so they can form relationships and have the opportunity to learn the lessons of courage, sacrifice, loyalty and brotherly love.”

Edwards’ nomination will now be judged on a state level, where winners are passed along for consideration in the national awards contest.

“Mrs. Edwards seeks to promote patriotism and love of country each day to all of her students and co-workers,” Brinson says. “She is most deserving of this award, and we are incredibly thankful that she is part of our family here at CCA.”

Located in Abingdon, Virginia, CCA is a classical, non-denominational Christian school that serves students from junior kindergarten through 12th grade. Since its founding in 2011, CCA’s enrollment has grown from 27 students to nearly 200. The school is currently accepting enrollment for spring 2018.

CCA is currently leasing space at Abingdon Bible Church, located at 16210 Elementary Drive in Abingdon. To accommodate its continued growth and expansion, the school is planning to develop a 27-acre campus adjacent to I-81 off Exit 13, conveniently situated between Abingdon and Bristol.

In 2016, CCA received a five-year accreditation from the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) for grades K-12. ACSI is one of 14 associations with accreditation processes that have been approved by the Virginia Council for Private Education (VCPE) and recognized by the Virginia Board of Education. Accreditation through a VCPE-approved, state-recognized accrediting member guarantees the transfer of student-earned credits from a private school to a public school, and ensures recognition of teacher licensure credits for time served in an accredited private school.

For more information about CCA, visit www.cornerstoneabingdon.org.

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For more information, contact Dr. Clay Brinson,
head of school at CCA, at (276) 623-7164.