Newport News School Governance Team becomes a VSBA Master Board
Posted: November 16, 2020
The Newport News School Board and Superintendent are the second school governance team in Virginia to earn the designation of a Virginia School Board Association Master Board. The team attended three sessions totaling over eighteen hours of professional development beginning in August and concluding on November 6. The discussions, facilitated by staff of the Virginia School Boards Association, focused on team building, improving communication, listening, and board building behaviors.
"We are hopeful that Master Board training has given us the leadership skills that our parents, students, and staff need during this time of crisis," said School Board Chairman Douglas Brown. "I would like to thank the entire Board and Superintendent for making the sacrifices necessary to become a Master Board. The Master Board Training has led to several important changes in our policy, meeting structure, and team communication to support the education of our students in Newport News."
"To become a Master Board takes a commitment of time and energy, and a willingness to learn about good board governance practices," said VSBA Executive Director Gina Patterson. "As only the second board in the state to achieve this honor I would like to congratulate the Newport News Governance Team for this great accomplishment."
The Virginia School Boards Association offers individualized professional development activities and training to school boards across Virginia. These sessions are personalized based on the need of the school board governance team. The VSBA Master Board Training program guides a school board and superintendent through numerous activities and modules that include personality assessments, team building exercises and prompts discussions focused on building a team and the many facets of communication.
About the Newport News School Board
The Newport News School Board and the Superintendent focus on one mission: ensuring that all students graduate college, career and citizen-ready. The school division serves nearly 28,000 students in 42 schools. Under the dedicated leadership of the School Board and the Superintendent, the graduation rate has increased, instruction in STEM has expanded, and students have access to magnet schools, Governor's Academies and specialty programs. The seven members of the School Board are Chairman Douglas Brown, Vice Chairman Lisa Surles-Law, and Members, Rebecca Aman, Dr. Terri Best, John Eley, Marvin Harris and Gary Hunter. The Superintendent of Schools is Dr. George Parker.
About the Virginia School Boards Association
Virginia School Boards Association, a voluntary, nonpartisan organization of Virginia school boards, promotes excellence in public education through advocacy, training and services. The Association offers conferences, information, training, and counseling designed to meet the needs of the Commonwealth's educational leaders.
