Worlds of Work

As a school district leader, I see preparing students to be successful in the real world as one of the primary goals of public education. That is evident in our district’s mission statement “…to promote educational excellence by engaging all students in meaningful and innovative learning experiences that empower them

“Grow Our Own” Voices

  This summer over 70 rising juniors and seniors participated in the “Grow Our Own” internship program funded with the generous support of the Chesapeake Educational Foundation. I handed my blog over to three interns with our Department of Communications to share more about their experience in the program. Dymond

Reflecting on our Success

  It’s truly amazing the difference a year can make! As I wrap up my 29th year in public education, I’ve come to realize that one of the incredible things about the work we do is that we are lucky enough to get a clearly defined sense of closure every

What Matters Most

Earlier this week I had the honor of presenting the annual State of the Schools Address at a fundraising breakfast hosted by the Chesapeake Public Schools Educational Foundation. It was the first in-person event of its kind since the fall of 2019 and since then so much about education in

Halfway There

Can you believe that we are halfway through the 2021-2022 school year? For many, this halfway point represents a fresh start. At the high school level, our students and teachers are beginning brand new classes and coursework. For many of our elementary and middle school students and teachers, the shift

A Gift of Thanks

As we head into Thanksgiving break this week, I realize just how much we have to be thankful for in our district despite all the challenges this year has presented.  I know most of us were hoping that this year would have more of a feeling of normalcy. Instead, the

Reflect and Recharge

This week marks the end of a trying year for all of us, but after all that we have gone through together as a school district and as a community, my message to you is simple – we made it!  I know it was a hard year. I know we

Share the Love

There are so many things about this school year that have been fundamentally different than any other year I’ve experienced in my educational career. While it’s certainly been one of the most challenging for everyone, I’ve also been continually impressed by the resiliency and determination of our students. That couldn’t

Pride during the Pandemic

I am fortunate to have this opportunity to share my thoughts with all of you.  I feel even more grateful during this pandemic that has caused many sources of anxiety. I know I feel it every day in the weight of my responsibilities and decisions as Superintendent. I know our

A Year Like No Other

I know I join our administrators, teachers, support staff, and many others who have committed their lives to the cause of public education in saying that I could never have imagined a year like this one, nor could I have ever imagined the incredible sacrifices that our students would be