NN School Board adopts new strategic plan Elevate 2030
Posted: January 16, 2026
Newport News School Board approved a new five-year strategic plan for Newport News Public Schools at its December 16 meeting.
The plan is called Elevate 2030: Empowering Every Learner and it's designed to outline the priorities of the board and school division leadership to guide their work through 2030. The plan contains new mission, vision and core values statements, as well as goals in the focus categories of academic literacy, culture of advancement, workforce readiness, civic and business partnerships, and elevating our identity.
"A lot of hard work and thought went into our strategic plan," said School Board Chairman Dr. Terri Best. "And I think it's really going to benefit the students in Newport News Public Schools."
Elevate 2030 was formulated through the work of a steering committee comprised of a cross-section of members from throughout the community. The group worked on the plan for six months in 2025 and it was finalized for presentation to the School Board in October.
"This document reflects community and stakeholder engagement including board workshops, focus groups and surveys," said NNPS Superintendent Dr. Michele Mitchell. "It provides clear goal statements and success measures that the board can use to govern and it aligns with policy, as well as accountability."
The steering committee included students, parents, teachers, school division officials from numerous departments, city officials, business and civic leaders, and community members. They were tasked with helping to formulate a foundation and roadmap for the district that will serve as a living document, as well as include an accountability dimension that aligns its priorities and goals.
The plan's building process included data analysis, stakeholder surveys and focus groups. NNPS partnered with education consulting company K12 Coalition to facilitate the strategic planning process.
"We want to especially thank all the people who served on the steering committee," Mitchell said. "They advised on the development of the plan, elevated the voices of stakeholders, served as ambassadors for the project and provided thought leadership on the implementation."
Board members expressed their gratitude to school division leadership and committee members for their work on the plan.
"We were encouraged to focus on the what and Dr. Mitchell, you and your team are going to be focused on the how," board member Lisa Surles-Law said. "And we are very, very excited to see how it actually comes to pass that our strategic plan is implemented."
