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…
In Q-and-A, new Superintendent LaTanya McDade discusses equity, later school start times, other hot topics
LaTanya McDade took over as superintendent of Prince William County schools on July 1. During her first week on the job, McDade announced a 100-day listening tour to gather input from teachers, principals and support staff. McDade comes to the county after a 23-year…
Virginia Beach teacher creates coloring book for biology review
What do biology, the SOLs, and coloring have in common? Well, during the pandemic, a teacher in Virginia Beach created a common thread and helped her students get ready for testing in a unique way. Breanna Calkins is a biology teacher at Green Run Collegiate. This…
VA Teacher Sings and Dances to Help Kids Read
Faced with the challenge of instructing kindergartners online, one teacher from Virginia took an unusual approach and – in the process – won a big prize.Before children learn to sound-out words, many school districts urge them to memorize commonly used words like we and me…
Warren School Board votes against transgender policy
Transgender rights came under fire Wednesday as the Warren County School Board rejected updated anti-discrimination policies. Vice Chairwoman Catherine R. Bower and board members Kristen J. Pence, Ralph A. Rinaldi and James S. Wells voted against approving updates to the…
Officials: Critical race theory not taught in Bedford County Public Schools
Critical race theory is not being taught in Bedford County Public Schools, division officials said Thursday. The Bedford County School Board met Thursday night and heard an update regarding recent changes to the state history curriculum. School administrators addressed…
Thursday’s Albemarle School Board meeting could prove contentious
With hot-button topics on the agenda, and a new, more-limiting public comment policy debuting, Thursday’s Albemarle County School Board meeting could produce some drama. The Albemarle County School Board is set to sign off on a new strategic plan that centers the…
No masks required in Fauquier County schools, contradicting new public health order in VA
At least one Northern Virginia school district is not abiding by a new public health order that requires masks in public and private schools in Virginia through July 25.On June 30, the day that the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 state of emergency order officially expired, Fauquier…
VDOE: WPS attendance policy amid pandemic did not follow state guidelines
An investigation launched in March by the Virginia Department of Education found that Winchester Public Schools’ attendance policy did not follow state guidelines during the 2020-21 school year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. According to VDOE Spokesperson Charles Pyle…
WMMS kids take 1st, 8th in nation for NHD
Two William Monroe Middle School students are first in the country for their National History Day (NHD) project. Eighth-graders Caroline Bruton and Kayla Shaller took first place in the junior group documentary category with “Communicating Through Cell Walls: The Secret…
FCPS principal goes door-knocking to get students excited for fall
In five weeks, Fairfax County Public School (FCPS) students will be headed back to the classroom for five-day in-person instruction. It’s been over 15 months since many students in the school district have been to school, prompting West Springfield Elementary School…
2021 VSBA Media Honor Roll- Open Now!
Reporters and local media outlets play an important role in public education. School division leaders rely on responsible reporting by local media representatives so that our community members receive timely information about division initiatives and programs. Considering the…