NNPS welcomes new educators for 2026-2027 school year
Published August 5, 2026
Newport News Public Schools welcomed its newest educators to the school division for the 2026-2027 school year.
School division leadership kicked off New Educator Orientation with a welcome event on August 4 at Heritage High School. After spending the morning of their first day at their assigned schools, all of the teachers came together in one place in the afternoon.
"We are thankful that you accepted our invitation, our invitation to be part of a winning team," said School Board Vice Chairman Maritsa Alger as she welcomed attendees.
New teachers will have a week-long orientation before being joined by all teachers and instructional assistants on August 13 in preparation for the new school year that begins August 24.
Mayor Phillip Jones, Alger, Superintendent Dr. Michele Mitchell and 2026-2027 NNPS Division-wide Teacher of the Year John Lovett spoke to the excited group.
Lovett spoke of the many rewards teaching brings that far outweigh any possible negatives. He talked about the long-term impacts of finding ways to reach students.
"One of the most important things that you can do in your role as a teacher is develop relationships with your students; make connections with your students," said Lovett, a math teacher at Warwick High School with 31 years of experience.
Years later, students may not remember specific lessons but will remember how their teachers made them feel and the many things they did to help them succeed in school.
"And maybe one day, when they're older and they have an opportunity to help a younger person on the way up, they'll model what you do did for them," Lovett said. "And you will have had a role in creating a good citizen."
Mitchell described the pivotal role NNPS employees play in serving students and families, and that the best interest of students is expected to guide every decision and action. Relationships create trust, which creates belonging, which creates achievement.
"Beginning today, your story becomes part of the story of every student that you serve," Mitchell said. "Every child who walks through our doors carries a dream; they carry strengths, they carry challenges. But they also carry hope."
