Governor McAuliffe Announces Eight 2015 Virginia Regional Teachers of the Year

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

State’s Top Teacher to be Named October 10

Eight educators today learned of their selection as 2015 Virginia Regional Teachers of the Year during surprise classroom visits and announcements made by their division superintendents — and in the case of a Chesterfield County chemistry teacher — Governor Terry McAuliffe and Superintendent of Public Instruction Steven R. Staples.

“At the heart of Virginia’s national and international reputation for excellent and innovative public schools are thousands of smart and dedicated teachers who are epitomized by the eight recognized today as best of the best,” McAuliffe said after announcing the selection of James River High chemistry teacher Tara L. Brunyansky as the 2015 Region I Teacher of Year.

The other seven 2015 Regional Teachers of the Year announced are as follows:

• Bevin K. Reinen, a first-grade teacher at Three Oaks Elementary in Virginia Beach (Region 2)
• Jennifer H. Worrell, a fourth-grade language arts teacher at Petsworth Elementary in Gloucester County (Region 3)
• Jaclyn M. Roller, an agricultural education teacher at Signal Knob Middle in Shenandoah County (Region 4)
• Gerin E. Martin, an early childhood special education teacher at Hutcherson Early Learning Program in Lynchburg (Region 5)
• Matthew T. Newton, a grades 3-5 special education teacher at Fishburn Park Elementary in Roanoke (Region 6)
• Mark T. Merz, a pre-kindergarten teacher at Oak Point Elementaryin Smyth County (Region 7)
• Kelly S. Jones, a World History and Sociology teacher at Greensville County High in Greensville County (Region 8).

“These teachers represent a cross section of the educators you will find in a 21st-century Virginia school division,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Steven R. Staples. “All of these educators are dedicated to helping their students overcome challenges and achieve at their highest potential.”

The teachers were selected from among candidates nominated by school divisions in each of the state’s eight superintendents’ regions. The candidates submitted portfolios highlighting their accomplishments, educational philosophies and community activities.

A panel, including classroom teachers, representatives of professional and educational associations, the business community and 2014 Virginia Teacher of the Year and 2014 National Teacher of the Year finalist Melissa A. Porfirio of Fairfax reviewed the portfolios and selected the eight regional teachers of the year. The panel will interview each of the eight teachers next month to select the 2015 Virginia Teacher of the Year. The decision will be announced during an awards ceremony to be heldOctober 10 in Richmond.

The 2015 Virginia Teacher of the Year will be the Commonwealth’s nominee in the National Teacher of the Year Program. The recognition is given by the Council of Chief State School Officers, in partnership with the Voya Foundation and People to People Ambassador Programs. Two previous Virginia teachers — B. Philip Bigler, the 1998 Virginia Teacher of the Year, and Mary V. Bicouvaris, the 1989 Virginia Teacher of the Year — went on to be named as a National Teacher of the Year.

Governor McAuliffe Names Steve Staples as Superintendent of Public Instruction

Seal of the United States Department of Education (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Governor Terry McAuliffe on Monday announced the appointment of Steve Staples as Superintendent of Public Instruction. Staples, who most recently served as Executive Director of the Virginia Association of School Superintendents, has dedicated his career to improving public education through innovative educational programs and by focusing on the specific needs of local communities.

“I am proud to announce that Steve Staples will serve as Virginia’s next Superintendent of Public Instruction,” said Governor McAuliffe. “Steve has a deep understanding of Virginia’s strengths, its challenges, and the opportunities we have to take bold, innovative steps to improve schools in every corner of the Commonwealth. He has what it takes to drive Virginia’s public education system into the future.”

Staples added during the announcement, “These are important times for public education in the Commonwealth and I can assure you that it has become quite clear to me that the Governor and the team he has assembled care deeply about our public schools. We've got a lot of work ahead of us. It's time to review the two decades old accountability system to better align it with the needs of the 21st Century, and we need to encourage our schools to innovate and meet the changing expectations of workplace and society. I am ready to hit the ground running to tackle the challenges Virginia’s education system faces and ensure every Virginia student has access to quality public education.”

Virginia Secretary of Education Anne Holton stated, “I am excited to partner with Steve, a true education leader and innovator, and I look forward to the progress we will make over the next four years improving our education system and preparing our students with the tools and resources they need to succeed in a global economy. I want to thank everyone who offered input in this decision and I am grateful to the exceptional education interest and talent we have in the Commonwealth.”

Staples has served as the Executive Director of the Virginia Association of School Superintendents for nearly two years, during which time he has visited almost every school superintendent in the Commonwealth in his or her office, seeking to understand local perspectives and needs. Prior to that, he served on the faculty at William and Mary’s School of Education from 2008-2012.  Previously, Staples was school superintendent in York County (serving 13,000 students) for 16 years, during which time York County was named by Money Magazine’s as one of the “Top 100 Best Buys in Public Education in the United States”.  Staples implemented a variety of exemplary programs in York County, including magnet programs in fine arts and in math, science and technology, and a charter school program that links academic standards to licensure competencies in career/technical fields.

In 1997, Staples was selected by his peers as Virginia Superintendent of the Year. He received his Bachelor of Arts and a Masters of Education at William and Mary and a Doctorate of Education in Administration and Supervision at Virginia Tech.

Staples joins the McAuliffe Administration on the heels of the release of the Governor’s proposed biennium budget for FY2015-FY2016, which closes the health care coverage gap and uses hundreds of millions in savings associated with that action to invest in key educational priorities including a 2% raise for teachers and other state employees across the Commonwealth.

“If members of our Senate and House of Delegates put politics aside and pass my proposed budget, we can begin Steve’s term as Superintendent on the strongest possible footing, with a budget that creates jobs, keeps families healthy, and honors our commitment to schools and students.”

Staples will replace Superintendent Pat Wright, who announced her retirement earlier this month. Wright was appointed Superintendent of Public Administration by Governor Tim Kaine in 2008 after serving nearly 30 years in the Department of Education.

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Governor McAuliffe Statement on the Retirement of Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Patricia I. Wright

education (Photo credit: Sean MacEntee)

RICHMOND, Va. – Governor Terry McAuliffe released the following statement in response to today’s announcement that Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Patricia I. Wright will retire on May 1^st, 2014:

“I want to thank Superintendent Pat Wright for her exemplary work making our education system better for Virginia’s students, educators and economy. As a product of Virginia public schools, a former public school math teacher and a statewide education leader, Pat is living proof of the opportunity our schools can offer students and educators across the Commonwealth. Few have made a greater difference in the lives of Virginians than Pat Wright has, and I have no doubt that her legacy will endure in the students and colleagues she mentored and inspired.

“I also want to thank Superintendent Wright for staying on through May 1^st as my team and I seek a qualified education leader to continue her great work. In the coming weeks we will evaluate candidates and choose a Superintendent who will work alongside Secretary Anne Holton and our entire team to strengthen our education system and prepare every Virginia student to succeed in a 21^st Century economy.”

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Gloucester, VA School Board, Federal and State Grants (Part 4)

Armand A. Fusco, Ed.D.

About the Yankee Institute for Public Policy

The Yankee Institute for Public Policy, Inc. is a nonpartisan educational and research organization
founded more than two decades ago. Today, the Yankee Institute’s mission is to “promote
economic opportunity through lower taxes and new ideas for better government in Connecticut.”


Question 4: Federal and State Grants 

How are grants being managed in the school district? Who is responsible for
monitoring the grants for proper implementation? How is the monitoring actually
done?

Background: Grants are another common and significant source of
corrupt acts. There are two types of grants: entitlement (specific dollar amounts
allocated to a district for specific reasons) and competitive (schools are not
required to apply for such grants). All too often, districts do not take advantage
of the latter because they involve extra effort and work -- a poor excuse
considering the additional resources such grants could provide.

It is extremely important to note that grant monies cannot be used to
replace previously budgeted dollars. The monies must be used as an add-on to
the budget. One common grant abuse is that schools use funds to supplant
the budget (replace previous budgeted dollars) -- a corrupt act. What must
also be reviewed very carefully is to see who has received any of the monies.

Since grants usually do not involve local dollars (some do require
matching funds or resources), local oversight is shoddy at best. State and
federal education bureaucrats are responsible for monitoring the grants, but
are too often ineffective in uncovering mismanagement and fraud. This is why
grants dollars are abused so easily.  

Proposed Solution: During each budget presentation, a list of all grants
that were available to the school district should be listed, as well as the dollar
amounts involved. Next to each should be indicated whether the grant was
applied for and whether it was approved (with dollar amounts). If some were
not applied for, the reason should be given. The State Department of Education
will also have a list of all such grants (unless they are foundation grants).

Approved grants are public documents and must be forensically
examined to determine whether they are and have been used for the purpose
intended. If funds have not been spent according to the grant application, the
reasons must be given.

Any citizen can sue the district (as a person) if federal grant dollars have
been misused and receive a third of the recovered amount. School Corruption:
Betrayal of Children and the Public Trust gives the citation of the unanimous
U.S. Supreme Court ruling on this issue.

This is part 4 in our 10 part series on avoiding school corruption.  It's time to ask a lot of questions.

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