July 20, 2021, VSBA Conference on Education
Join hundreds of school division leaders from across Virginia at the 35th Annual VSBA Conference on Education. We are pleased to have Governor Ralph Northam in attendance, with our afternoon keynote presentation from the Aldrin Foundation! There will also be a time for…
New plan targets 5 areas for changes in Danville Public Schools
Danville Public Schools officials hope its new 5-year strategic plan will improve the school district’s performance. The plan will cover 2021-26 and focuses on five areas for improvement, including student achievement, staff learning and growth, and culture and climate, among…
Hampton Roads’ top teachers are finishing a unique school year. Here’s what they’ll miss.
At the end of every academic year, school districts across Hampton Roads each pick one teacher to recognize for their excellence in the classroom. This year’s honorees started the year teaching virtually from Zoom classrooms. As the school year comes to an end, some have…
Virginia student accepted into Juilliard overwhelmed by community helping to fund college
A Prince William County High School student is one of just a few in the world to be accepted into Juilliard’s Drama School in New York City. Jawuan Hill says it has left him speechless and in shock. “It’s still shocking to this day,” Hill laughed. “I don’t know but I am still through the…
Summer feeding programs in Martinsville, Henry County
Martinsville City Public Schools and Henry County Public Schools will be serving meals and snacks at no charge to children 18 and under this summer through Aug. 7 in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s approved program. The school districts’ releases said the waivers…
Clash over curriculum as Lynchburg City Schools approves equity lessons
There’s concern over high school equity lessons recently approved by the Lynchburg City School Board. Andrew Glover founded the Conservative Parents of Lynchburg, a group of more than 200 parents and educators. They claim the curriculum promotes the concept of critical…
High school students wanting to work in the tourism industry receive an opportunity in Virginia Beach
When Zadeyah Broadbent, 17, started her internship at a hotel in Town Center a few weeks ago, she wasn’t sure it was the right fit for her. She had worked in food service before and didn’t like it. She could only hope her experience at the Hyatt Place would be better. By the end of…
Supervisor questions school system’s performance
County Supervisor Jim Wilck is disturbed by the performance of Prince Edward County Schools. The Farmville representative on the Board of Supervisors presented a page of stats concerning the county schools Wednesday, June 2, during the joint meeting between the Prince Edward…
‘This is so surreal’: New Kent teacher wins vacation from Virginia Lottery
Representatives from the Virginia Lottery and First Lady of Virginia Pam Northam surprised Shelly Hogge, a teacher from New Kent Middle School, with a once-in-a-lifetime prize stemming from their “Thank a Teacher” campaign. On Monday afternoon, the group surprised Hogge in…
Area schools take to the outdoors, for learning opportunities and student wellbeing
Anne Heuschen, a second-grader at Mountain View Elementary, has enjoyed the time she’s spent outside the courtyard near her classroom this school year. “Because it’s so nice and you feel more alive,” she said of the perks. Friends Cassidy Nader and Raegan Brown agreed…
Judge to rule on lifting Virginia teacher’s suspension after pronoun comments
A Loudoun County, Virginia, judge said he expects to rule Monday on whether to reinstate teacher Byron Tanner Cross, who was suspended after telling the school board he wouldn’t address transgender students by their preferred pronouns. Cross, a Leesburg Elementary… Updates
Bluestone Elementary Solar Panel Project Resumes
Harrisonburg City Public Schools is putting out a request for companies to bid for the installation solar panels on the roof of Bluestone Elementary School. The project was put on hold for the past year due to COVID-19, but the school division is looking to get it started again. When the…
Pharrell Williams’ latest project: A private school in Norfolk for students from low-income families
Singer Pharrell Williams’ nonprofit plans to open a group of small private schools for students from low-income families, starting in Norfolk. The first school will open this fall in Ghent — the group declined to specify where — for students in the city in grades three through five with the…
Kamras administration’s timeline would not produce a new George Wythe High until 2027
The first timeline from Richmond schools Superintendent Jason Kamras’ administration for the construction of a new George Wythe High School affirms what some of the school’s students and alumni have feared — that the South Side high school won’t be rebuilt until 2027, three…
June 24, 2021, The Importance of Civility
Join VSBA for a live webinar with Executive Director Andrea Messina from the Florida School Boards Association as she shares why civility within the board room is so important. As we all know, variance in personal opinions result from different expectations, goals, beliefs, or…