Dear Fellow School Board Members,
Congratulations on supporting your school division’s creative and innovative graduations for the Class of 2020. I hope you noticed the way the VSBA staff integrated highlights from the graduations on the VSBA website and within many of the VSBA webinars and online events.
Speaking of congratulations, I want to recognize the achievements continuing to pour in from around the Commonwealth. The Food for Thought Awards and the Workforce Readiness Awards recipients featured amazing talent. I am confident the judges had some tough decisions. Kudos to the winners and to all who submitted. Please take a moment to thank the judges, the VSBA staff, and those from your local divisions who contributed to making the awards program a great success.
I admit that since March I debated whether I should start off each article focused on the impact of COVID-19 on our school divisions. Each morning, anxiously I peruse the VSBA Virginia Daily Education News to read about how division after division decisions for the upcoming school year are being made with grace under tremendous stress. In our debates and our discussions, there is not a one of you (us) that does not have the best interests of our children and all the adults employed to serve them in mind. Likewise, the stress on parents were given great thought, weight, and understanding. Please do not forget to take moments here and there to consider your own socioemotional needs. The days ahead may present more challenges and opportunities for us all. Keep your spirits high and your body and minds refreshed.
Once again in the midst of it all, your Virginia School Boards Association remains hard at work continuing to provide leadership, advocacy, and support to you locally, statewide, and nationally. Please take advantage of the many virtual professional development, leadership, advocacy, and fellowship opportunities the VSBA administration and team continues to provide. Those hard at work for you include your VSBA Board of Directors who continue to share the pulse of your regions at the board table. Please thank them too for their service.
In closing, I want to reaffirm your VSBA understands the expectations the community has of you during these challenging times. VSBA is here to support you. Please remember… WE CAN MAKE IT… TOGETHER!
-RAJ
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Rodney A. Jordan
VSBA President
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Issue Highlights
Legislative Updates
2020 VSBA Student Art Contest Winners
School Boards Hire New Leaders
Westmoreland- The First VSBA Master Board
Spotlight Article on Brunswick County Public Schools
2020 VSBA Food for Thought Winners
2020 Excellence in Workforce Readiness Winners
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Executive Director
Gina G. Patterson
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FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR |
Why perform a yearly board self-evaluation?
Successful boards are the result of effective leadership and governance. Effective governing boards are committed to assessing how well they perform their governance responsibilities and to using the results of an annual board self-assessment to enhance board effectiveness.
As you all know, local school boards are under more scrutiny than ever before by the public, media, and local governing body. Assessing board performance involves looking at the board as a whole. While individual board behavior contributes to effective board governance, the focus of a board self-evaluation is not on individuals but on how they work together to govern the division. Additionally, the board and superintendent evaluations are intertwined. When the board evaluates itself, it is evaluating in part how well the superintendent supports the board. The superintendent contributes to the board self-evaluation and evaluates his or her support and leadership to the board. When the board evaluates the superintendent, it is evaluating the direction and support the board provides that position. The board must look at its own behavior in fostering the superintendent’s effectiveness.
The purpose of the board self-evaluation is to identify areas of board functioning that are working well and those that may need improvement. It is an opportunity for an open and candid discussion about board and superintendent responsibilities, and the boards’ interests and desires for the division. Exploring these areas fosters communication among the members and leads to more cohesive board governance teams.
Board self-evaluations are a governance tool, the ultimate goal is continuous improvement. To achieve it, board self-evaluation should be an ongoing, systematic process with the ultimate beneficiary being the Division as a whole.
VSBA has a full-day Board Self-Evaluation training available to school boards. VSBA Staff will guide you through the discussion of your board-self evaluation and work with your team to learn of your strengths and challenges and move you in the direction that you would like to go. To schedule a board self-evaluation session, please email Samantha Bosserman at samantha@vsba.org for additional information.
Thank you for all that you continue to do for the students in our public schools.
-GP
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VSBA President Rodney Jordan named 2020 Recipient of the Benjamin Elijah Mays Lifetime Achievement Award
By Samantha Bosserman, Director of Communications and Board Development
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Rodney A. Jordan grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia. His mother was a math professor at Norfolk State University and his father was an electrical engineer. Jordan comes from a family of “doers.” Jordan’s uncle was an attorney who fought poll taxes and a member of Norfolk City Council and his aunts were principals and teachers. Jordan recalls as a child his father was a Big Brother through the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program and that his family worked to instill a deep understanding of what it means to give back and to serve the community. Jordan has even come across letters to the editor written by his grandmother who often petitioned the school board. Jordan was taught that this country could live up to its ideals, but in order for it do to so, one must contribute and participate to make things happen. You would say that being an advocate and serving the community is in Rodney’s blood.
The dedication and passion that Jordan has for public education earned him the 2020 Benjamin Elijah Mays Lifetime Achievement Award. This award is given to an individual who, during his or her lifetime, has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to the educational needs of urban school children through his or her service as a local school board member.
When asked how Jordan feels about being the 2020 recipient of this award he is somewhat speechless, which for those who have spent much time around Jordan, know that this is not an easy feat. Jordan says, “While I am very appreciative and honored to receive this award, I am still trying to convince myself that I am worthy.” Jordan mentions that he has rooked up to Dr. Mays for many years not only for his service on the school board in Atlanta, but for his work around civil Rights and his leadership role at Morehouse College.
Another factor that deepens the meaning of the Benjamin Elijah Mays award to Jordan is related to one of its past recipients, Dr. Elizabeth Daniels of Portsmouth who was honored with the award posthumously in 2014. Jordan met with Dr. Daniels once when he first became a school board member and sought to learn from her experiences and her successes as a school board member and as a public servant. Jordan stated that when he first learned that he would be honored with this award, his mind went to that day with Dr. Daniels and how this honor meant more than just an honor with the Benjamin Elijah Mays namesake, but as an honor to follow in the footsteps of the recipients prior.
In fact, since the beginning of the award in 2017, Virginia has had five recipients including Jordan, which is the most of any state. The past recipients include: 2008: Dr. Ulysses Van Spiva, Virginia Beach ; 2010: Mr. Henry J. Godfrey, Hampton; 2014: Dr. Elizabeth Daniels - award posthumously; and 2018: Mr. Cardell Patillo, Portsmouth.
There are many life experiences that motivate Jordan to continue to serve the community and to advocate for students. Jordan recalls that as a child he and his brother were discouraged from signing up for the advanced math courses. Once his mother found out what was happening, she worked to ensure that Jordan, his brother, and any of their peers of all backgrounds, were not held back from pursuing the courses that they wanted to take. Jordan reflected on this experience and wanted to ensure to work so that every child has the opportunity to succeed no matter their zip code, how others perceive them, or their background.
Jordan’s professional career as a software engineer and digital inclusion visionary has brought him into situations where he has had to fight for students at all levels. Jordan remembers helping to organize a “net day” in the early nineties to organize volunteers to work to wire school buildings. When Jordan shared what school they would be wiring, many gave push back because the school had a very high percentage of students of color and students in poverty. This did not stop Jordan from ensuring that the school had what it needed to foster success of the students. Jordan states “If I can demonstrate what can happen in places where people say it can’t happen, there is no excuse that it cannot happen everywhere.” Jordan used this line of thought as he works to ensure students and adults across the country have access to internet and are skilled in creative uses of technology to help to close the digital divide and encourage learning for all students.
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Jordan has served since 2012 as a member of the Norfolk City School Board and has served on the VSBA Board of Directors since 2015, serving this year as President of the Association. Prior to serving on the VSBA Board of Directors, Jordan served as a member and later as co-chair of the VSBA Task Force on Students and Schools in Challenging Environments, where he diligently led the Task Force through dialogues on the needs of students and schools in challenging environments and creating a report that was presented to the Virginia Governor, Legislators and other stakeholders on how to best serve all students.
Jordan was also an integral part of the charge in Virginia to remove the word “failing” from use at the state level for public schools. He vocalized the stigma that a “failing” label can bring to school divisions, teachers and students and he advocated for the change of terminology from “failing” to “challenged”. Today you can look through language from the Office of the Governor, the Virginia Department of Education, and other state agencies and see very little use of the word failing to describe a school or school division.
Jordan was also selected to serve on the African American History Education Commission by Governor Northam in 2019 bringing his perspective of working with students and schools in challenging environments and his lifelong desire to make sure that African American perspective was accurately represented in Virginia history.
In addition to his service on the school board, Jordan is active in organizations including Norfolk GAINS, Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Norfolk Branch NAACP, Old Dominion University’s Community Development Corporation, Hampton Roads Workforce Development Board, Urban League of Hampton Roads, The Hampton Roads Committee of 200+ Men, just to name a few.
When asked if receiving the Benjamin Elijah Mays Lifetime Achievement Award will continue to motivate Jordan in his work Jordan added “In many African societies sometimes people will give you a name based on who you are, and sometimes a name will be given to you on who to live up to, Benjamin Mays is a name for me to try to live up to.”
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J.T. Kessler, Government Relations Specialist |
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Legislative Updates
Final Fiscal Year 2020 Numbers Announced by Governor Northam
In early July, the Northam Administration released numbers for Virginia’s Fiscal Year 2020 tax collections. The Governor announced a General Fund deficit of approximately $236.5 million for Fiscal Year 2020 which was much smaller than the projected $1 billion deficit predicted at the onset of Virginia’s closure of non-essential business as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Virginia fared better than our neighboring states. The less than anticipated deficit is attributed to the large federal workforce in the D.C. suburbs of northern Virginia, federal contracts, especially in the Hampton Roads region, the response by Congress passing multiple stimulus measures, and the actions by the Federal Reserve injecting money into the economy.
Overall, revenue collections grew by 2 percent when compared to Fiscal Year 2019. The 2 percent growth was far below administration projections of 3.1 percent growth for Fiscal Year 2020. While individual income tax non-withholding collections met the forecast of a 4.3 percent decline, payroll withholding and sales tax collections, which are the bulk of state General Fund revenues, failed to meet expectations, falling 2 percent and 7 percent in the fourth quarter, respectively.
Despite the rosier than projected numbers for Fiscal Year 2020, budget experts caution deficits in each year of the biennium are still likely with the end to federal stimulus and possible changes in monetary policy by the Federal Reserve.
On August 18, 2020, Governor Northam will provide a full recap of Fiscal Year 2020 revenue collections during a meeting of the House Appropriations Committee, House Finance Committee, and Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee (Joint Money Committees). VSBA anticipates new revenue projections and an updated financial forecast for the biennium will be provided to the Joint Money Committees during this meeting which will assist lawmakers as they revisit the budget during the special session.
Special Legislative Session
The Virginia General Assembly will convene a Special Session beginning on August 18, 2020, and lasting approximately two weeks, to assess the fiscal impact on the 2020-2022 Biennium Budget. In March, lawmakers passed the budget days before Governor Ralph S. Northam issued Executive Orders closing non-essential businesses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to the pandemic, Northam also amended the Biennium Budget, unallotting all new spending in the budget until the Department of Finance could provide updated revenue projections for the biennium. Lawmakers approved the Governor’s budget amendments during the Reconvened Session in April.
In addition to addressing changes in the state budget, VSBA Government Relations staff believe the General Assembly will debate measures around reforming the criminal justice system in the wake of recent/current events. Committees in both chambers of the legislature have held meetings throughout the summer to hear from experts on best practices for criminal justice and police reform.
VSBA will monitor all pieces of legislation under consideration during the special session. To provide school board members with the latest information, the VSBA Government Relations team will continue to provide updates via email, the VSBA Legislative Update Blog, and through social media posts on the VSBA Facebook page and Twitter. Please watch for important Action Alerts from the VSBA Government Relations team in the coming weeks.
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Scott Albrecht, 2017-2018 President of VSBA, is presented with a Resolution from the VSBA Board of Directors by VSBA President Rodney Jordan acknowledging his contributions to the Association. |
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Congratulations 2020 VSBA Regional Student Art Contest Winners! |
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BLUE RIDGE
First Place Elementary School
Isaac "Trindon" Morton-Robertson- Radford City Public Schools
First Place Middle School
Nicole Frye- Covington City Public Schools
First Place High School
Dee Dee Triplett- Pulaski County Public Schools
CENTRAL
First Place Elementary School
Ellen Elias- Charlottesville City Public Schools
First Place Middle School
Isabelle Halliday- Buckingham County Public Schools
First Place High School
Orina Chen- Orange County Public Schools
EASTERN
First Place Elementary School
Abigail Macias- Mathews County Public Schools
First Place Middle School
Keira Jean Bradsky- King George Public Schools
First Place High School
Jordan Hunley- Mathews County Public Schools
NORTHEASTERN
First Place Elementary School
Lily Lai- Manassas City Public Schools
First Place Middle School
Citlahlly Rodriguez- Manassas City Public Schools
First Place High School
Sienna Williams- Fairfax City Public Schools
SOUTHERN
First Place Elementary School
Jane Davidson- Bedford County Public Schools
First Place Middle School
Isabella Carr- Bedford County Public Schools
First Place High School
Hayley Moody- Lunenburg County Public Schools
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SOUTHSIDE
First Place Elementary School
Grace Tun- Nottoway County Public Schools
First Place Middle School
Indigo Drake- Henrico County Public Schools
First Place High School
Norman Johnson- Dinwiddie County Public Schools
SOUTHWEST
First Place Elementary School
Noah Lawson- Lee County Public Schools
First Place Middle School
Quint Leonard- Carroll County Public Schools
First Place High School
Kayla Weston- Lee County Public Schools
TIDEWATER
First Place Elementary School
Mia Nguyen- Chesapeake City Public Schools
First Place Middle School
Zoey Dorn- Suffolk City Public Schools
First Place High School
Areli Enriquez Garcia- Accomack County Public Schools
VALLEY
First Place Elementary School
Chloe Price- Page County Public Schools
First Place Middle School
Chloe Combs- Augusta County Public Schools
First Place High School
Amir Lee- Shenandoah County Public Schools
Photos of each of the winning pieces of art are available to view on the VSBA Website.
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School Boards Hire New Leaders |
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Dr. Christopher Ballenger |
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Virginia school boards have been busy deciding on new superintendents who will lead their divisions this year. Here are some of the recent hires as of July 1.
Arlington County Public Schools
On May 7, 2020, the Arlington School Board named Dr. Francisco Durán as the new Superintendent of Arlington Public Schools (APS). Dr. Durán joins APS from Fairfax County Public Schools where he has served as Chief Academic and Equity Officer since 2015. He has a diverse background in education spanning 26 years, including top-level leadership and superintendent experience in a variety of large urban school divisions with culturally diverse populations. He has served in various roles as a teacher, director, principal, administrator and superintendent. In 2018, Dr. Durán was appointed to the Virginia State Board of Education where he played a key role in the adoption of the new Standards of Quality for Virginia.
Dr. Durán has a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of New Mexico, a master’s degree in educational administration from San Francisco State University, and a master’s degree and doctorate in organization and leadership from Columbia University.
Botetourt County Public Schools
Dr. Jonathan Russ was appointed as the next superintendent of Botetourt County Public Schools on June 29, 2020. Russ has 29 years of experience working as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, director of assessment and accountability, director of human resources, chief administrative officer and deputy superintendent. Since 2019, Russ has served as the Deputy Superintendent of Fredericksburg City Public Schools.
“I am elated and honored to be selected as the next superintendent of Botetourt County Public Schools," said Russ. "I am grateful to the Botetourt County School Board for this opportunity. This school division has an excellent reputation and I am excited to work collaboratively with the school board, staff and the community in Botetourt County.”
Russ earned a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Virginia Tech, a Master of Education from George Mason University and a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Emory & Henry College.
The VSBA assisted the school board with the superintendent search process.
Charles City County Public Schools
Dr. Dalphine Joppy was named the new superintendent of Charles City County Public Schools on May 19, 2020.
Joppy has over 20 years of experience working as a teacher, staff development specialist, assistant principal, principal and director in Chesapeake City Public Schools. Since 2013, she has served as the director of professional and organization development.
“I am honored to be selected as the next superintendent of Charles City County Public Schools," said Joppy. "I am excited to have this opportunity to work collaboratively with the school board, staff and the community in Charles City County.”
Joppy earned a Doctorate in Educational Administration and Policy Studies from George Washington University, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Norfolk State University and a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications from Norfolk State University.
VSBA assisted the Charles City County School Board with the superintendent search.
Cumberland County Public Schools
Chip Jones will be in his first year as superintendent and beginning his 17th year of working in Cumberland County Public Schools. He has been in education for 23 years working in Cumberland and Nottoway public school divisions. Dr. Jones has served as Assistant Superintendent, Director of Finance and Operations, elementary principal, elementary assistant principal, elementary, and middle school teacher.
He earned his Associate’s Degree from Southside Virginia Community College on the John H. Daniel Campus, and a Bachelor of Science and a Master's of Education in Administration and Supervision from Longwood University. Dr. Jones completed his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Poquoson City Public Schools
On May 5, 2020 the Poquoson City School Board voted Mr. Artie Tillett as its next superintendent.
“I am elated, humbled and honored to be named Poquoson schools superintendent,” Tillett said in a news release. “I look forward to becoming a part of this amazing community and sharing my passion for learning and for doing what is best for students.”
Tillett served as assistant superintendent in Dare County, North Carolina prior to joining Poquoson City.
Tillett completed undergrad at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and earned his master’s degree in school administration from East Carolina University.
Roanoke City Public Schools
On May 26, 2020, the Roanoke City School Board appointed Verletta White to be the next superintendent of Roanoke City Public Schools.
White most recently served as the interim superintendent for Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS), the 25th largest school system in the nation. Superintendent White focused on literacy across all subject areas, equity, inclusion, and opportunity for all students. She also put tremendous emphasis on positive, safe, and healthy school climates, which are essential to support effective teaching and learning in every classroom.
White began her teaching career in 1992, as an elementary school teacher in Baltimore City, then transitioned to a teaching position in Baltimore County in 1995. She rose through the ranks in BCPS, where she served as chief academic officer, assistant superintendent for elementary schools, area assistant superintendent for the Northeast Area, and executive director of professional development.
White is currently working on her doctoral dissertation in Urban Educational Leadership at Morgan State University and anticipates earning her Ph.D. in December of 2020.
Surry County Public Schools
Dr. Serbrenia J. Sims was appointed as the next superintendent of Surry County Public Schools. Sims has more than 22 years’ experience in public education in with thirteen years of experience in Surry County Public Schools.
Sims has worked as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent in Virginia. Sims has experience working in York County Public Schools and Williamsburg/James City County Public Schools, and Surry County Public Schools. Since 2009, she has served Assistant Superintendent in Surry County.
Sims earned a doctor of education from The College of William and Mary, a master of science in education from Christopher Newport University, a master of public administration from Auburn University at Montgomery, and a bachelor of science in biology from Auburn University at Montgomery.
VSBA assisted the Surry County School Board with the superintendent search.
Warren County Public Schools
The Warren County School Board named Dr. Christopher Ballenger as the next superintendent of Warren County Public Schools on June 26, 2020.
“I’m excited and honored to be the new superintendent of Warren County,” Ballenger said after the board’s vote. “There are a lot of things that Warren County offers that I’m excited to be a part of. Within this system you have dedicated staff, you have wonderful people, and you have a community that is growing and that is vibrant and it is exciting to be a part of this.”
Ballenger, originally from Oklahoma, became Assistant Superintendent for Smyth County Public Schools in Virginia three years ago.
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Registration is now Open for the Virtual 2020 VSBA Annual Convention! |
The VSBA Annual Convention is the largest and most anticipated VSBA meeting of the year. While this year our Annual Convention may look a little different, and we won't get to see your smiling faces in person, we hope you'll find our event schedule to be just as enriching and educational as always. This event brings together school board members, superintendents, and school division staff from across Virginia. There are plenty of opportunities for you to immerse yourself in learning. Attend general sessions, choose from over thirty hot topic seminars pertinent to public education issues, have the opportunity to meet with businesses dedicated to serving schools, and much more.
Check out the brochure above!
Don't forget these other great events:
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Chávez is new NSBA CEO: replaces Gentzel
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Ann Maria Chávez has been appointed as the National School Boards Association's new executive director and CEO, the organization announced April 20.
Chávez has 25 years of experience in government and non-profit leadership and management, including strategic planning, advocating for children and under-served populations, building new partnerships, and increasing revenues. For five years, she was the CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA.
She comes to NSBA from the National Council on Aging, where she has been interim president and CEO and previously was executive vice president and chief growth officer.
The NSBA works with 49 state school boards associations and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, NSBA represents more than 90,000 school board officials who govern more than 13,600 local school districts.
The association is advocating for federal education policies, including securing full federal funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Act, that would have a positive impact on millions of students.
"As a product of public education and an advocate for children and under-served populations, I'm thrilled to join NSBA, the leading organization for public education," said Chávez . "NSBA's commitment to equity and excellence in public education through school board leadership mirrors my values. I look forward to upholding the organization's strong priorities including shaping federal education policy and championing the right of every child to succeed in school and life."
Chavez succeeds Thomas J. Gentzel, who retired after more than 40 years of service on behalf of school boards. Gentzel has led NSBA for the past seven and a half years.
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Westmoreland County Governance Team Becomes a VSBA Master Board |
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This May through July, the Westmoreland County Governance Team attended a series of trainings that led them to become the first-ever VSBA Master Board. Each session, held virtually, took the team through exercises that focused on focused on team building, improving communication, listening, and board building behaviors.
Congratulations to the Westmoreland County Governance Team! If you would like information on how your team can become a Master Board, please contact Samantha Bosserman, director of communications and board development at 1-800-446-8722 or samantha@vsba.org
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Training Requirement for School Board Members |
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This is just a reminder that Virginia's Standards of Quality (SOQs) provide that each school board must require its members to participate annually in high quality professional development activities at the state, local or national levels on governance. These activities must include, but are not limited to, personnel policies and practices; the evaluation of personnel, curriculum, and instruction; use of data in planning and decision making; and current issues in education.
Each local board must certify that all its members have met this requirement, as well as all the requirements of the SOQs, in its annual SOQ compliance report which is filed each spring. Given the provision of Va. Code § 22.1-253.13:8 which permits the Board of Education to petition local circuit courts to enforce compliance with the Standards of Quality, it is more important than ever that each local board and individual board members meet all legal requirements, and certify that they have done so, in order to avoid the possibility of judicial involvement in the operation of the local division.
If you have any questions about the professional development requirement or the certification process, please contact the Virginia Department of Education.
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Division Spotlight: Brunswick County Public Schools
In each newsletter VSBA will spotlight a recent initiative or best practice taking place in a school division in Virginia. If you have a story you would like to submit for inclusion in the spotlight section of the VSBA Newsletter, please contact Samantha Bosserman, director of communications and board development, for more information. We look forward to hearing about the great things going on in your divisions.
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Chromebooks Used to Bring Smiles to Children’s Faces
Submitted by Brunswick County Public Schools
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The digital divide that existed between Brunswick County Public Schools (BCPS) and other divisions within the region and state prior to the 2018-2019 academic year was significant. The inability of teachers to gain access to Youtube videos and other educational sites as a resource to enhance instruction and student learning required a technology request submitted in advance. That process inhibited and quenched teachable moments and the ability for students and teachers to propel into 21st century learning opportunities. Upon the arrival of Dr. Kristy Somerville-Midgette, Division Superintendent, to Brunswick County Public Schools in summer of 2018, she knew that the technological divide had to change. Dr. Midgette’s main focus regarding technology was the implementation of 1:1 access for students and teachers. In order to bring this vision to life, she immediately knew that the appointment of Mrs. Krystle Pearson to serve as the Director of Technology was a critical decision as she is the right person to lead the charge!
Another hindrance with the division for the support of learning overall was the low ratio of devices per student that existed across the county. At the middle school alone, the ratio was sometimes 22:1 or 14:1. The average student enrollment across the county in each of the five buildings servicing students ranged between 200-300. Students were utilizing a computer lab sign-up model, where each school had one to two computer labs on their campus, housing 25-27 computers and one or two laptop carts for checkout. This system allowed all students access to technology possibly once a week.
In the 2019-2020 academic school year, Brunswick County Public Schools began making real and visible changes pertaining to technology advancements with the launch of their first school transitioning to 1:1 devices for the students at Totaro Elementary School (TES). With the implementation of this 1:1 program, this meant that every student in the school would be assigned a Dell 3100 Chromebook. With the 1:1 initiative, students at Totaro Elementary were now participating in numerous subscriptions/programs such as Google Classroom, Nearpod, Kahoot, IXL, Clever, and PowerSchool for student assessments and data collection. Under the direction of Dr. Kristy Somerville-Midgette, Division Superintendent, and Dr. Terence Wyche, Totaro Elementary Principal, the grant was written to secure the 1:1 devices for Totaro Elementary School. Mrs. Pearson, Director of Technology, led the charge to bring this vision of 1:1 access at Totaro Elementary School to fruition.
Under Dr. Somerville-Midgette’s leadership, Mrs. Krystle Pearson, Director of Technology, was charged with researching and developing a plan to move BCPS towards a 1:1 device access for all students and teachers. The strategic planning to implement this program would provide the necessary transition Brunswick County Schools needed from the school division’s previous model of Bring Your Own Device program, which supported less than 10% of the student population of users at the end of the 2018-2019 academic year.
The implementation of the 1:1 initiative at Totaro Elementary further served as a model to gain the momentum of support from our BCPS School Board for the expansion of a full deployment across the division to the other four schools, which was accomplished within the timeframe of November 2019 to March 2020. The full deployment allowed Brunswick County Schools to decrease the student-to-device ratio from 19:1 and 22:1 in some cases to 2:1 and 1:1 by March 2020. Mrs. Pearson also led the migration of a Google Platform and facilitated the first noted teacher and administrator device deployment at Brunswick County Public Schools. This deployment provided more than 150 chromebooks to teachers and administrators for instructional use. Mrs. Pearson also made it possible under her leadership for all 9th-12th grade students to have their own division issued student email addresses. This was a first ever and necessary step to help support the migration to the GooglePlatform for more collaboration and cooperative learning experiences for students.
The strategic planning and visionary efforts which allowed Brunswick County Public Schools to make this transition began with BCPS’s Division Superintendent, Dr. Kristy Somerville-Midgette’s leadership in organizing resources and a survey of the infrastructure and needs required to support such an initiative with the realignment of financial reserves. Today, as Brunswick County Public Schools begin another academic school year amid a pandemic, the face of learning is different and their readiness to provide quality learning virtually is now possible due to early efforts made to transition to a 1:1 learning model. During the last week of July 2020 and beginning of August 2020, not only has Brunswick County Public Schools been engaged in a deployment of over 1500 devices to send home with students to support their virtual learning model, but they have also added mobile hotspots to the package to provide BCPS students with connectivity, which will allow them access.
Brunswick County Public Schools is now looking forward to providing the support and efforts of sustainability for the 1:1 device implementation for the division. The focus now however becomes providing support for teachers and students in helping them to effectively use information technologies as part of their instructional delivery and learning in the classroom that will lead students to produce, create, and collaborate through various modes of student media presentations, digital media flyers, student-led and directed videos and much more to enhance 21st century learner’s abilities as a digital navigator and learner.
“Technology will not replace great teachers but technology in the hands of great teachers can be transformational.” -George Couros
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News Tidbits: Stories and Studies from Around the Country |
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Parent and Family Involvement in Education: 2019
Find information about and locate all publications and data products on education information from the National Center for Education Statistics--NCES--. In most cases you may also browse the content of publications or download data files.
Read more
nces.ed.gov
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Schools Should Prioritize Reopening in Fall 2020...
Weighing the health risks of reopening K-12 schools in fall 2020 against the educational risks of providing no in-person instruction, school districts should prioritize reopening schools full time, especially for grades K-5 and...
Read more
www.nationalacademies.org
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Radical shift in COVID-19 testing needed to reopen...
Science's COVID-19 reporting is supported by the Pulitzer Center and the Heising-Simons Foundation. Even as the United States ramped up coronavirus testing from about 100,000 per week in mid-March to more than 5 million per week in late July, the ...
Read more
www.sciencemag.org
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New Report Explores Innovation of Educators in...
A new policy report released yesterday by the Immigration Initiative at Harvard (IIH) with the PIECE (Putting Immigration and Education in Conversation Everyday) research collaborative reports cutting-edge findings on how six immigrant-serving...
Read more
www.gse.harvard.edu
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VSBA Food For Thought Competition and VSBA Excellence in Workforce Readiness Award Winners Recognized at Virtual Award Ceremony |
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On July 23, 2020 VSBA hosted a Virtual Awards Ceremony highlighting the winners of the Food For Thought Competition and the VSBA Excellence in Workforce Readiness Awards. Thirteen school divisions were recognized and representatives from divisions who placed first in each category/student population were invited to share remarks. Below are some photos from the ceremony as well as a sampling of comments from the winners. To watch the recording of the ceremony, please visit: https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/4500689628544937741
2020 Food For Thought Competition
Meal Access to Fight Hunger Category Winner (Below 10,000 Student Population) – Greensville County Public Schools
Greensville County Public Schools used their Summer Food Service Program to continue to serve meals to students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The division innovated how they were serving students by creating new menus, creating flexible staff work schedules coming up with creative ways for alternate methods of distribution. When the division was struck with a case of COVID-19 and they were forced to temporarily cancel meal service, they worked to source pre-packaged, shelf-stable breakfast and lunch meals that enabled them to provide students multiple nutritious meals and limit exposure for everyone involved.
Greensville County school board chair Marva Dunn stated, “We are so excited and appreciative to have been chosen to receive this award. We are very proud to say that during the time schools were closed as a result of COVID-19, 49,035 meals were served in spite of the many impediments that COVID-19 presented. We will continue to work hard to provide nutritious meals to our students.”
Meal Access to Fight Hunger Category Winner (Above 10,001 Student Population) – Chesterfield County Public Schools
Chesterfield County Public School’s program recognized the essential nature of food service to students during the pandemic. The division quickly worked to begin serving their community the Monday following school closures and was able to transition from a 5-day distribution to a 7-day distribution in a little over two weeks. The Division took a holistic approach to providing food service. They were able to source and provide Virginia grown products, which supported their local economy, and transitioned to providing milk by the half gallon instead of multiple cartons. This allowed for families to be more flexible with their use of the milk, and the division even provided recipe ideas for families with ways to use the ingredients that were provided.
“I want to thank the VSBA for recognizing the outstanding work of our food and nutrition services team,” chair of the Chesterfield County School Board Debbie Bailey stated. “Where will I get my next meal and when will I be able to eat again, are questions that, I would imagine, most of us have never had to ask. The unfortunate reality is that those questions are asked all too frequently by many of our children and the answer is often: I only eat when I am at school.”
Wellness and Physical Activity Category Winner (Below 10,000 Student Population) – King & Queen County Public Schools
King & Queen County hosted a Virtual Field Day during school closures. To prepare for the event, division staff recorded and distributed videos daily to demonstrate the different activities that would be involved in the larger program. All activities included require very few materials, and those that were needed were among common household items. These videos served as a daily challenge for students and families to participate in keeping them active leading up to the Field Day Event. This initiative allowed students and their families to become physically active together, as well as provide a connection between students and their teachers who also virtually completed the challenges.
“I would like thank first-year teacher Andrew Balderson for bringing this opportunity to our students, along with the Principal, Jennifer Perry,” said Celestine Gaines, King & Queen County School Board chair. “I am proud to accept this award on behalf of King & Queen County School Board, staff and students.”
Wellness and Physical Activity Category Winner (Above 10,001 Student Population) – Williamsburg James City County Public Schools
Williamsburg James City County Public Schools developed a series of online videos for parents to use with their students in an effort to support parents who overnight became teachers, sports coaches, food service staff, and technology support- all while working from home, or being an essential worker. These quick, easy to understand videos provided tips and activities that demonstrated how physical activity could be integrated to make learning fun while increasing attention and focus. In addition to videos focused on physical activity, the division also produced videos on cooking and gardening as well as hiking trail tours to provide a holistic view of wellness for families.
“When school buildings across the Commonwealth were closed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, WJCC schools prioritized the wellbeing of its students, staff and families, Recognizing the increased importance of wellness and physical activity by developing this program,” stated Kyra Cook, school board member, Williamsburg James City County School Board. “The WJCC School Board couldn’t be prouder of WJCC staff or more honored to receive this award from VSBA.”
Healthy School Meals Category Winner (Below 10,000 Student Population) – Fluvanna County Public Schools
Fluvanna County Public Schools initiated a Harvest of the Month campaign. Each month the program promoted a healthy seasonal fruit or vegetable in order to promote seasonal eating, increase fruit and vegetable consumption, and support local economies. The division utilized Department of Defense funding for the program and was able to source almost 20% of the produce locally. In addition to teaching students about seasonal produce, the program highlighted new recipes, facts on menus about the produce, and allowed students to experience the joy of eating seasonal and local foods, some for the very first time helping to establish healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime.
“It is our continued hope that this will encourage children to develop healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime,” stated Shirley Stewart, vice chair of the Fluvanna County School Board. “Thank you for selecting Fluvanna for this honor.”
Healthy School Meals Category Winner (Above 10,001 Student Population) – Virginia Beach City Public Schools
Virginia Beach City Public Schools created an initiative to enhance the Food Services Department menus and reduce the number of heat & serve/processed menu items to ones that are rooted in scratch cooking and even student run gardens. The program is currently in twelve schools and will be added in 8-10 schools each year. Each school will have enhanced menus that include cleaner products and menus that incorporate vegetables, herbs and fruits from the school’s student run gardens. In addition, the division has introduced culinary and garden clubs as well as school cooking competitions and student tasting committees to increase student buy in and participation in the initiative.
“On behalf of Virginia Beach City Public Schools thank you very much for this honor,” stated Beverley Anderson, member of the Virginia Beach City School Board. “I am so proud of our school system for beginning the scratch cooking initiative throughout the school division.”
2020 Excellence in Workforce Readiness Awards
Student Population Below 5,000 Students
First Place- Cumberland County Public Schools, Career Connections
The Career Connections and Dukes Discover program prepares students for the workforce by allowing them to explore careers and obtain hands on training while in middle and high school. The program provides students with opportunities to learn skills needed to be successful in high-wage, high-demand careers in welding, precision machining, automation, robotics, engineering, and health sciences. The program aligns with the Profile of a Virginia Graduate initiative in that it seeks to provide students with the skills, especially the 5 C's, that will enable them to get and retain high-wage, high-demand jobs in fields of their choice. It revamps high schools so that learning is no longer measured in seat time, allowing students to receive course credits for workplace learning provided by experts in the field. This program connects students to the community and is ensuring Cumberland County students are prepared for success upon graduation.
Student Population Between 5,001 – 10,000 Students
First Place- Pittsylvania County Public Schools, Precision Machining Technology
The Precision Machining Program at the Pittsylvania Career and Technical Center has expanded opportunities for students in Pittsylvania County Schools, thus providing 20 students each year with the opportunity to plant their own seed to career success here in their own region. The program is a proven pipeline into advanced manufacturing that saves students time, and money. Nearly one hundred students have graduated from PCTC and have either obtained a job in the field or gone on to earn their associates degree at the Gene Haas Center for Integrated Machining. The direct pipeline of STEM based, hands-on education has proven to build a strong foundation of connections from the middle school level all the way into the workplace. Students that leave PCTC, transition to Danville Community College (DCC) and graduate with a Precision Machining Diploma have 100% job placement. The active engagement of our business and industry partners within our Precision Machining Program along with the support of DCC has created a successful pipeline of skilled workforce for the advanced manufacturing industry.
“Thank you for recognizing our program in this very special way,” stated Dr. Mark Jones, superintendent of Pittsylvania County Public schools. “We have a dedicated staff who have put in many hours in preparing both the facility and the students for a career where they can earn at a high-wage level. This program is a way to revitalize our community.”
Student Population Above 10,001 Students
First Place- Fairfax County Public Schools, Health and Medical Services Programs
Following a review of employment data, Fairfax County Public Schools engaged in a partnership with the Claude Moore Foundation and other healthcare partners to expand the Health and Medical Sciences programs. During the 2019-20 school year more than 1,900 students were enrolled in HMS courses. Students obtained 241 certifications and licenses that confirm they are prepared for the workforce. The graduation rate for the 2018-19 school year among CTE completer students was 99.6 percent. Falls Church and West Potomac Academies were designated by VDOE as Governor’s Health Science Academies, a title bestowed to academic centers that were created to provide expanded options for students in health sciences and prepare them for high-demand, high-wage, and high-skill careers.
“On behalf of the school board, we want to thank the VSBA for recognizing FCPS’s efforts to provide these important opportunities for our students,” stated Stella Pekarsky, vice-chair of the Fairfax County School Board. “We are so very proud of our career and technical education programs for students that provide world experience in training and careers that are in high demand such as our health and medical sciences program, as well as the staff that support these students.”
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VSBA Affiliate Member Profiles
In each Issue of the VSBA Newsletter, we will feature three VSBA Affiliate Members.
Thank you for your support of the VSBA and Virginia's public education system.
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J. A. Street & Associates
Providing Preconstruction, Value Engineering, Construction Management, Design-Build, and PPEA services for new construction and rehabilitation projects since 1985.
Shari Brown, AICP
Phone:(423) 323-8017
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Pierce Group Benefits
Pierce Group Benefits is the leading regional provider of employee benefits to the public sector.
Donna Nixon
Phone: (800) 387-5955
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Roof Consulting Services, Inc.
Our mission is to provide state of the art technology. We provide roof moisture surveys, visual roof inspections, quality control roof inspection, roof repair, replacement design services, construction admin. services.
William Sanders, CEO/President
Phone:(804) 515-0885
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UPCOMING EVENTS, WORKSHOPS, & WEBINARS |
Paid Events
Wednesday, August 26, 2020 12:00-1:00 PM
There was already a mental health epidemic facing schools across the nation prior to COVID-19. Comprehensive School Mental Health Systems build the foundations for schools to be able to create thriving environments and develop sustainable supports. A school board is a vital partner to improve the mental health of our students, staff, and families. As a school board member, Dr. Ulie-Wells will discuss critical mental health trends, what mental health looks like in school, and concrete strategies every school board member needs to know.
Cost: $150 per registration (multiple registrations needed if viewing from multiple devices/locations).
REGISTRATION FOR THE WEBINAR IS FINAL. If you are unable to attend the live webinar, the webinar recording will be available for purchase.
Monday, August 31, 2020, 9:00 AM- 3:45 PM
LOCATION: Virtual Conference
DETAIL: Have you recently been selected as your school board’s new chair or vice-chair? If so, don’t miss the VSBA Orientation for New Chair/Vice-Chair, which has been especially designed to help you become more comfortable with your new role and responsibilities. Experts in a variety of areas will address many important topics, such as the legal responsibilities of the chair, handling media inquires, parliamentary procedure, and the leadership role as a board chair. Join us for a day filled with learning, as well as an opportunity to network with other new chairs and vice-chairs from across Virginia!
Cost: $205 per registration (multiple registrations needed if viewing from multiple devices/locations).
Thursday, September 17, 2020, 10:00 AM- 1:30 PM
LOCATION: Virtual Conference
DETAIL: With claims of sexual harassment and sexual misconduct hitting newsstands everywhere, Title IX coordinators and other senior staff need to be confident in their knowledge and enforcement of their divisions’ policies. Prevention and thorough investigations are the best ways to manage risk and foster a safe and healthy school environment. Participants will learn the basics of Title IX, best practices regarding Title IX policies, and recent case law relating to sexual harassment of students, gender discrimination, and employee training requirements. In addition, participants will walk away equipped with tools to help administrators spot, prevent, and investigate claims of unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. Even if you have attended this session in the past, with new title IX regulations changing, you don’t want to miss this updated workshop.
Cost: $150 per registration (multiple registrations needed if viewing from multiple devices/locations).
Thursday, September 24, 2020, 9:00 AM- 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Virtual Conference
DETAIL: Now, more than ever, school board member voices need to be heard! The stakes for public education have never been greater and school board members must be prepared to advocate effectively for public schools. Join VSBA at our 2020 Legislative Advocacy Conference where you will gain valuable insight into the issues that promise to have lasting impacts on the Commonwealth and nation. This premier virtual conference will inform and educate school board members as leaders from Virginia and across the country discuss the Commonwealth’s new collective bargaining law, ideas for addressing the Homework Gap, a glimpse into the crystal ball on how current events will influence the direction of the 2021 General Assembly, and much more. Participants will gain valuable perspectives on how to be effective advocates for education when interacting with policymakers at all levels of government. This virtual conference also includes a training session on FOIA to meet the new requirements for elected school board members.
Cost: $175 per registration (multiple registrations needed if viewing from multiple devices/locations).
Wednesday, October 7, 2020, 9:00 AM- 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Virtual Conference
DETAIL: Are you prepared to evaluate your superintendent? The Guidelines for Uniform Performance Standards and Evaluation Criteria for Superintendents developed by the Virginia Department of Education provide a wealth of information regarding the requirements. Filtering through this document to determine what is required and what is optional requires focused attention. For some, the changes to their current evaluation model may be minor, while others face major revisions in order to be in compliance with the regulations.
This workshop is designed to provide small group support to superintendents and board members responsible for assessing and updating their evaluation model. Participants will have the opportunity to review the guidelines in detail and then use them as they draft their own models. Individual consultation and support will be provided after the session as participants work on their revisions.
Cost: $165 per registration (multiple registrations needed if viewing from multiple devices/locations).
November 18-20, 2020
LOCATION: Virtual Conference
DETAIL: The VSBA Annual Convention is the largest and most anticipated VSBA meeting of the year. While this year our Annual Convention may look a little different, and we won't get to see your smiling faces in person, we hope you'll find our event schedule to be just as enriching and educational as always. This event brings together school board members, superintendents, and school division staff from across Virginia. There are plenty of opportunities for you to immerse yourself in learning. Attend general sessions, choose from over thirty hot topic seminars pertinent to public education issues, have the opportunity to meet with businesses dedicated to serving schools, and much more. We hope to see you there!
Cost: $260 per registration (multiple registrations needed if viewing from multiple devices/locations).
Free Events
Tuesday, August 18, 2020 12:00- 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Online Webinar
DETAIL:Communication is a skill that every board member should have in their toolbox. Attend this webinar to learn and discuss the importance of communication, how to communicate as a board member and ways to communicate strategically through various methods. Helpful hints and tips for interviews, social media, and general communication methods will be discussed and attendees will have the opportunity to ask best-practice related questions.
Cost: Free (multiple registrations needed if viewing from multiple devices/locations)
Thursday, August 20, 2020 12:00 -1:00 PM
LOCATION: Online Webinar
DETAIL:Take part in our live webinar with Benefit Plan Administrator, also known as BPA, as they introduce their new ancillary benefits program. BPA’s new program will give guidance and instruction on how to take away the stress of keeping up with billings. Get ready to save time and money!
Cost: Free (multiple registrations needed if viewing from multiple devices/locations)
Tuesday, August 25, 2020 6:00 -7:00 PM
LOCATION: Online Webinar
DETAIL:The Virginia General Assembly will convene for a Special Session in late August 18, lasting approximately two weeks, to address the state budget and other issues as the Commonwealth battles the COVID-19 pandemic. Join VSBA Government Relations Specialist, J.T. Kessler, for this hour-long webinar that will explore the Special Session. J.T. will offer insight into potential legislation and answer questions on how action taken by the legislature may impact public schools in the coming months.
Cost: Free (multiple registrations needed if viewing from multiple devices/locations)
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200 Hansen Road, Charlottesville, VA 22911
Tel: 434-295-8722 Fax: 434-295-8785
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