Sirisha Digumari, an instructional assistant for Exceptional Education at Short Pump Elementary School, was recognized as the “Yay of the Day” honoree, according to a statement released on April 27. Superintendent Amy Cashwell presented the honor during a recent visit to Short Pump.
The recognition highlights the impact that dedicated staff have on student learning and well-being. Henrico County Public Schools focused on delivering positive learning experiences to students via dedicated staff in educational and support roles, as noted on the official website.
Jennifer Barrett said, “She is vital to our kindergarten classroom’s success. Ms. Siri begins everyday with an incredibly positive attitude and heart felt adoration for all the students she encounters. She is compassionate, supportive and nurturing to the wide variety of student needs in our classroom. Throughout the day, Ms. Siri effortlessly adjusts assignments and instruction to best accommodate the individual students in the classroom. She has built an amazing, and admirable, rapport with the students that is evident by their comfort in asking for help and seeking their kindergarten age approval of ‘look at mine, Ms. Siri!’ on their work. Love and respect are the foundation that any classroom is built upon, and Ms. Siri has excelled in making all the students feel both.” Serena Erenburg added, “When talking or asking about Ms. Siri, my son warmly smiles — I can feel their shared connection. She has been instrumental in supporting my son’s success and sense of belonging at school. Through patience, encouragement and consistent guidance, she helps him navigate both academic and social challenges with confidence. Her dedication ensures he feels included, valued and capable alongside his peers.” Kathy Crews also said: “Sirisha (Ms. Siri) provided targeted assistance in a most calm and positive manner. She has built strong relationships with the student IA with whom she works. They are responsive to and trusting of her. Ms. Siri has taken time to read and do her own research on how to work with students with verbal limitations. She has been proactive in her efforts to utilize assistive technology and embeds use of multimodal communication throughout the day.”
Henrico County Public Schools extended educational services across Henrico County, Virginia according to its official website. The division provided services throughout Henrico County adjacent to Richmond as indicated by district information. The district adopted “The right to achieve. The support to succeed” as its motto according to official sources.
Cashwell served as superintendent of Henrico County Public Schools according to district leadership listings. The school division received accolades for teaching excellence through educators earning REB Awards for classroom performance per its website.
The broader recognition reflects ongoing efforts within Henrico schools toward fostering inclusive classrooms led by committed professionals like Digumari.
