CHAPEL HILL – The North Carolina High School Athletic Association announced the selection of Jones and Cherryville High Schools as the 2020-2021 Exemplary School Award winners. This award is presented annually from nominations received from member schools. The awards are given as a cooperative venture among the NCHSAA, the North Carolina Coaches Association, and the North Carolina Athletic Directors Association. In addition to a trophy and a banner for display at the respective schools, each school receives a $1000 cash award.
The Exemplary School Award recognizes the top overall school in the state in terms of the “total program,” including but not limited to athletic success, the scope of athletic opportunities offered, facilities, community interest and involvement, academics, and the like. The award was revamped this year to include measurements of commitment to participation in NCHSAA programs and opportunities, the school’s sportsmanship profiles, as well as professional development of administrators.
Cherryville High School
Cherryville is a small 1A school in the western part of Gaston County. The Ironmen have a proud athletic history, including a strong baseball program. Cherryville boasts a National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) School Honor Role Level 1 distinction, which requires 90% or more of the athletic coaching staff at the school to complete four specific professional development courses through NFHS Learn.
The Ironmen also regularly participate in the NCHSAA Scholarship program and by submitting Performance of the Week Award nominations. The Cherryville administration has demonstrated a commitment to advanced certifications, evidenced by Athletic Director Scott Harrill’s Certified Master Athletic Administrator (CMAA) status as recognized by the NIAAA.
Jones Senior High School
Jones Senior is a 1A school in the small Eastern North Carolina town of Trenton. While times have been tough in Trenton due to hurricanes and flooding, Jones has excelled in coaches' education. The Trojans lead the way in North Carolina in coaches' education as they became the first Level 3 Certified NFHS School Honor Roll program in the state. They were just the fourth in the nation to reach this benchmark. Level 3 certification is earned by having 90% of a school’s coaching staff complete 12 specific professional development courses through NFHS Learn.
Additionally, Principal Tod Morgan is a Certified Athletic Administrator (CAA) as recognized by the NIAAA and serves on the Board of Directors for the NCHSAA. Jones’ brand-new campus is state-of-the-art. The new campus opened in 2019 and serves students from 7th through 12th grades.
