By Edmee CR Hasler
At the Salem City School Board meeting on Jan. 14, a resolution honoring Nancy Bradley for her years of service and dedication to the children of Salem was approved.
Superintendent Curtis Hicks introduced Bradley, highlighting their long-standing friendship.
“Nancy, come on up and stand with me,” he said. “For ourselves, the children of Salem, and the school division. I arrived in 1993 and joined Northside Middle School in 1995, where Nancy was already making a difference. We’ve known each other for over 30 years, and I’m thrilled to recognize her remarkable service on the school board.”
Hicks continued, “I’ll read the resolution, then you all can approve it so we can celebrate Dr. Bradley.”
He read:
Resolution #267: A Resolution Recognizing Nancy Bradley for Her Service to the Children of Salem and the Salem City School Division
- Whereas Nancy Bradley served the Salem City School Division from 2012 to 2024 as a dedicated and respected school board member and servant to the community.
- Whereas Nancy Bradley worked tirelessly and humbly, helping to maintain Salem’s reputation as one of Virginia’s most respected school divisions.
- Whereas Nancy Bradley provided exemplary leadership as vice chair and chair of the board, ensuring the division’s continual accreditation and national recognition for innovation.
- Whereas Nancy Bradley’s extensive background in higher education and teacher preparation enabled her to support teachers, administrators, and students from multiple perspectives.
- Whereas Nancy Bradley took pride in mentoring young teachers, understanding their readiness and comfort in the classroom directly impacted student outcomes.
- Whereas Nancy Bradley helped create a quality learning environment, contributing to building Salem’s first new school during the Great Recession and spearheading renovations across all six schools, including Salem High School.
- Whereas Nancy Bradley’s leadership emphasized inclusivity and excellence, benefiting thousands of students and making Salem a better place for employees and board members.
Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Salem City School Board expresses its deep appreciation to Dr. Nancy Bradley. A copy of this resolution is presented to her in recognition of her contributions, with best wishes for her future endeavors.
The resolution was unanimously approved, after which Bradley shared a heartfelt response.
“I want to thank the city council for continually appointing me to serve on the school board. It has been an honor and privilege to work with all of you. These 12 years flew by—when I began, my daughter Emma was at West Salem Elementary, Alyssa was at Salem High School, and Clay was in middle school. Today, they are adults, and much of their success stems from Salem City Schools. I also want to thank my husband, Jeff, and my friends for their patience during countless Tuesday evenings with Chick-fil-A dinners. I even apologize to my children, who had to endure seeing my photo in their school buildings! I’ll never forget my first January work session during a snow day. Touring South Salem Elementary, which was just a concrete shell at the time, and navigating challenges like the COVID pandemic taught me the importance of putting children first every day. Thank you all for this incredible journey,” she said.
Bradley’s remarks were met with applause, marking the end of an evening honoring her legacy.
