Recently the department hosted three listening sessions for the Board and heard from parents, educators, legislators, and community members on the Board of Education’s newly proposed School-Connected Overdose Response and Notification Guidelines. The comments we have received clearly demonstrates the importance of immediate parent notification and clear partnerships with families.  We are grateful for the insightful and meaningful discussions as we continue to shape the Guidelines. Feedback can be submitted using this public comment form through January 21.    

You have an additional opportunity to share your thoughts with VDOE on the topic of Seat Time Flexibility.  As a follow up to the December 2, 2024, Board of Education’s presentation, we will host feedback sessions to explore how school divisions can use seat time flexibility to provide personalized and mastery-based learning opportunities for students. These sessions will take place on January 21 from 2-3 p.m., January 22 from 1-2 p.m., and January 24 from 10-11 a.m. We encourage staff involved in master scheduling to attend, such as building leaders, counselors, and central office staff. More information is below. 

This week I am excited to highlight Red Oak-Sturgeon Elementary School in Brunswick County.  It’s clear that the school’s success is the result of a collective effort from every corner of the school community. Superintendent Dr. Kristy Somerville-Midgette reflects this sentiment well: "At Red Oak-Sturgeon Elementary, the progress we see reflects the collective dedication of our administration, instructional coaches, teachers, staff, and families. Everyone has played a vital role in creating an environment where students are supported, challenged, and celebrated. This success demonstrates what we can achieve together when we prioritize the needs of our children and their future."  

Red Oak-Sturgeon Elementary School stands out for their work exceeding the SPSF high expectations for mastery scoring 20.62 out of 22.5 in Reading, 21.42 out of 22.5 in Mathematics, and scored 9.04/10 in Science. In growth, the school scored 13.60 out of 17.5 for Reading and 18.89 out of 17.5 for Mathematics and their Chronic Absenteeism yielded 8.53/10.  Principal Michelle Jones-Finney’s proudly celebrates that accomplishments at her school are a result of the dedication of educators, students, families, and community working in harmony. She highlights, “Together, we’re fostering a school community where every student has the opportunity to succeed." The emphasis on meaningful engagement such as Family Engagement Summit, literacy family nights, and community literacy volunteers, only strengthens this sense of collaboration and shared responsibility.  

A significant factor behind the school’s achievements is the strategic use of educational tools that address each student's individual needs. Instructional Coach Aimee Bianco and Division Reading Specialist Jackie Alston point to tools like Zearn and Lexia, which provide engaging, adaptive math and literacy practice for students at all levels. Additionally, the VALLSS Diagnostic Screener has been invaluable to the school to assess strengths and pinpoint areas for improvement, ensuring that instruction is data-driven and responsive to student needs. The school’s strong focus on professional development, which includes hands-on support, lesson modeling, and strategies for flexible small group instruction, further empowers teachers to provide the best possible learning experiences for their students. 

In the coming weeks, I look forward to sharing strategies from additional schools across the Commonwealth. As we move forward, I value our continued collaboration and commitment to creating an environment where every child is supported, challenged, and celebrated, setting them up for success in the future.

Educators are invited to join the Virginia Department of Education for the upcoming virtual Listen and Learn sessions to discuss Seat Time Flexibility as outlined in HB1477 (2024). Participants will have the opportunity to share their experiences with seat time flexibility and discuss strategies for implementation. Additionally, comments regarding seat time flexibility may be submitted through the online public comment form. 

Details regarding the one-hour sessions will be sent to school division superintendents to invite their key instructional staff.  Session schedule: 

• Session 1: Jan 21, 2025 at 2:00 p.m.  
• Session 2: Jan 22, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. 
• Session 3: Jan 24, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. 

We look forward to your participation and valuable input during these sessions. 

The Virginia Department of Education is collecting data on teachers who are pursuing initial certification or maintenance of certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) employed in Title I or Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) schools. 

School divisions are encouraged to submit this data collection through February 2, 2025.  Please refer to the data collection packet for additional details around eligibility and required documentation.

An LEA that determines the U.S. Census estimates are incorrect may contact the Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) Branch of the Census Bureau at (301) 763-3193 or sehsd.saipe@census.gov no later than Monday, March 17, 2025. When sending an email, include your name, mailing address, telephone number, email address, and organization affiliation.  

More information and guidance concerning the Census Bureau’s challenge procedures is available in the Contact Section of the U.S. Census Bureau Website. Information about the data sources and the methodology used to prepare these data is available in the Programs and Surveys Section of the U.S. Census Bureau Website. 

The VDOE is pleased to announce the 2024-2025 Mentor Teacher Program Division Awards.   

The Mentor Teacher Program provides grants to school divisions offering mentoring programs for teachers with zero years of teaching experience. All programs should be in alignment with the Guidelines for Mentor Teacher Programs for Beginning and Experienced Teachers approved by the Virginia Board of Education in 2021.   

School divisions should review the 2024-2025 Mentor Teacher Terms of Grant Award for additional information including reporting requirements.   

Additional information on the Mentor Teacher Program and the Career Switcher Mentor Program is available here.  

The VDOE is pleased to announce the 2024-2025 Career Switcher Mentor Grant Awards.   

The Career Switcher Mentor Grant provides grants to school divisions who employ new teachers entering the profession through the Career Switcher Program. Each local school division will receive $2,455 per Career Switcher reported in the annual new teacher data collection to support mentoring programs for these teachers.  

Additional information on the Career Switcher Mentor Program is available here. 

On January 24, the VDOE will host a webinar for site administrators who are participating in VQB5. Information about local and external CLASS observations, curriculum requirements, and classroom lists will be shared.  

• Webinar: VQB5 Mid-Year Refresher for Program Leaders  
  Date: Friday, January 24 at Noon  
  Registration link  

Article: 2025-02-010

Six Virginia teachers were recognized this week as Virginia’s recipients for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). The award, regarded as the nation’s top honor for K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teachers, recognizes educators who have both deep content knowledge of the subjects they teach and the ability to motivate and enable students to be successful in those areas.  

The following teachers are Virginia state recipients:  

• Emily Burrell, South Lakes High School, Reston, 7-12 Mathematics (2023) 
• Raymond Cotter, William Fleming High School, Roanoke, 7-12 Science (2021) 
• Sarah Flippen, Madison Elementary School, Ruther Glen, K-6 Mathematics (2022) 
• Geraldine Maskelony, Arlington Career Center, Arlington, 7-12 Mathematics (2021) 
• Marie Peaches, James K. Polk Elementary School, Alexandria, K-6 Science (2022) 
• Erich Sneller, Harrisonburg High School, Harrisonburg, 7-12 Science (2023) 

The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching program is administered by the National Science Foundation on behalf of the White House. 

Congratulations to all awardees!  

This year Virginia Kindness Week is February 9-15. This initiative aims to highlight the significance of everyday acts of kindness, which contribute to making our schools, communities, and state more compassionate, secure, healthy, and welcoming environments for living, working, learning, and playing. For schools interested in participating in Kindness Week, a variety of resources and activities are available on the Virginia Department of Education’s Kindness Week webpage.  

A Kindness Week Webinar will be held on January 17, 2025, from 1-2 p.m. This session will provide school staff with various strategies to promote kindness within their schools and communities. Participants are encouraged to register via the Kindness Week Webinar Registration Form. A recording will be made available to all registrants. 

A Kindness Week Participation Digital Badge is available to schools participating in Kindness Week. To obtain this badge, please complete this short Kindness Week Participation Form. 

Virginia Kindness Ambassador Nominations are currently being accepted. Schools are also encouraged to nominate a staff member or student as a 2025 Virginia Kindness Ambassador. This title is awarded to individuals who consistently engage in positive actions that reflect friendliness, care, and compassion towards themselves and others. Nominations for the Virginia Kindness Week Ambassador will be accepted through the Virginia Kindness Week Ambassador Nomination Form. The nomination period will end on February 2, 2025. 

The 6th Annual Kindness Week T-Shirt Fundraiser is currently active. This year, all proceeds will benefit the Southwest Virginia United Way to support those affected by Hurricane Helene.