Aila Boyd
aboyd@mainstreetnewspapers.com
The Salem City School Board held its annual reorganizational meeting on July 15, unanimously voting to retain Andy Raines as chairman and Teresa Sizemore as vice chair.
The meeting took place at the School Board’s Central Office.
Raines had been serving as chairman for the past six months, stepping into the role after former board chair Nancy Bradley retired from the board on Jan. 1. Monday’s vote marks Raines’ first full term as chair. He was originally appointed to the board in 2014 and is now serving his fourth term.
Sizemore, who was first appointed in June 2021, is currently in her second full term on the board. This is her second consecutive term as vice chair.
Following the leadership votes, board members turned their attention to honoring a standout student-athlete.
Salem High School junior Drew Perez was recognized for capturing his second consecutive Virginia High School League Class 4 boys tennis singles state championship. Perez completed a perfect 2024 season, finishing undefeated in both regular and postseason play.
On June 14 at Huntington Park in Newport News, Perez defeated Powhatan’s Jamison Wallace 6-4, 6-2 in the state championship match. The win capped a dominant postseason run in which he didn’t drop a single set.
Perez now holds an overall record of 52-3 in singles play during his varsity career at Salem High School. He was named to the All-State Boys Tennis Team for the second straight year and continues to hone his game at the prestigious Smith Stearns Tennis Academy in Hilton Head, South Carolina.
Board members praised Perez’s accomplishments and dedication, with several noting the example he sets for his peers in the classroom and on the court.
