Schools

MEGA Mentors celebrate 10 years of mentoring, achievement

By Press release on January 29, 2019 Activities, Clubs, Community

MEGA Mentors students from Carver Middle, Falling Creek Middle, Manchester Middle and Providence Middle schools visited the Freedom Classic Festival at the Virginia State University’s Multi-Purpose Center on Jan. 19. The students were rewarded for excelling in academics and discipline at their respective schools. MEGA Mentors was founded in 2009 after a request for help from former Chesterfield County Public Schools Superintendent Marcus Newsome. Greg Cummings, MEGA’s current president, assembled a group of skilled and retired individuals who volunteered to assist the schools. They developed the foundation of MEGA’s mentoring program that teaches life skills, provides meaningful learning experiences, and…

JTCC announces art award winners

By Press release on January 29, 2019 Art, Community, Schools

Tabitha Buchanan’s art project shows a crystal ball in a stream. Tabitha Buchanan’s “Stream at Mid-Lothian Mines” recently won the 2019 John Tyler Community College Foundation’s art award. While working on a freelance photography job, Buchanan visited Mid-Lothian Mines Park, and as she scouted the area and took photographs, she decided to place a crystal ball in a stream, a press release states. The resulting image is ethereal, showing a world within a world and highlighting nature’s beauty. In addition to Buchanan, the following students created artwork that were finalists for the art award: Janet Burgos, Joshua Cloninger, Julia DiMartino,…

Former PTA treasurer sentenced to three months for embezzlement

By Caleb M Soptelean on January 29, 2019 Courts, Schools

Jessica Yeakey A former treasurer of the Parent Teacher Association at Elizabeth Scott Elementary School was recently sentenced to five years in prison with all but three months suspended for embezzlement. Jessica Yeakey, 42, of the 12000 block of Windsor Road, was sentenced Jan. 17 after pleading guilty. Judge David E. Johnson departed from the sentencing guidelines, which called for probation and no jail time. Yeakey was ordered to pay restitution of $2,840 plus $445 for the cost of her defense and complete a Recovery Connection addiction treatment program. She was also banned from the Elizabeth Scott PTA. The funds…

‘Crowder bench’ dedicated at Ecoff Elementary School

By Press release on January 29, 2019 Community, Schools, Teachers

Harold Crowder sits on a bench dedicated to the memory of his wife, Mary. Also pictured are former teachers. From the day the doors of Ecoff Elementary School opened in 1990 until her retirement in 2011, Mary D. Crowder was a beloved primary teacher at the school. When she died in August, a group of her former colleagues decided to place a lasting memorial to her at the school she loved. A bench with a sunflower design was recently purchased and placed in the school garden outside of the library. Crowder’s family and her coworkers held a ceremony when the…

Superintendent seeking $7.7M more from Chesterfield

By Caleb M Soptelean on January 29, 2019 Board of Supervisors, School Board, Schools

The new Chesterfield school superintendent is asking for a 3-percent raise for teachers and staff and an additional $7.7 million from the county to help fund a proposed $17.5 million budget increase for Fiscal Year 2020. The salary increases alone would cost $12.9 million in the $672.2 million budget. Staff received increases of 2, 3, 2 and 2 percent in each of the past four years. Mervyn Daugherty made the proposal during the school board’s budget work session Jan. 22. The increase would support an additional 54 staff members because of an estimated increase of 520 students. This includes an…

New principal on board at Ecoff Elementary School

By Caleb M Soptelean on January 22, 2019 Schools, Teachers

Kristin Tait talks to first-grader Stephen Schultz on his first day of school in Stacey Blaha’s class. Tevin Nguyen is in the background. Like many of her co-workers, Kristin Tait knew she wanted to be a teacher while growing up. A love for leadership came later, she said. Tait began working as the new principal at Ecoff Elementary School Jan. 7, replacing Joshua Cole, who was principal at the school 9 1/2 years and accepted a job as director of strategic engagement at Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Education. Tait, a northern Virginia native and graduate of Potomac High School,…

Kane teaches first grade, STEAM Club at Salem Church Elementary

By Danielle Ozbat on January 15, 2019 Schools, Teachers

Kimberly Kane When she was announced as Salem Church Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year, Kimberly Kane said she was surprised. She couldn’t believe that someone had taken the time to write something about her. “When you’re a teacher and you have two million things to do, that is a big deal,” Kane said. “I have no time to write a nomination ballot for anybody, and somebody took that time and wrote it about me, and that was enough.” She initially wanted to be a doctor and majored in biology. After staying an extra semester to have enough credits for…

Decision on expansion of gifted program delayed: New Carver Middle School program could be affected

By Caleb M Soptelean on January 15, 2019 Schools

A plan to expand Chesterfield County Public Schools’ Center-Based Gifted program was delayed by the school board last week. The board voted to delay the vote until its Feb. 12 meeting, but took public comment on the issue on Jan. 8. Some Bermuda District residents expressed concern about the delay because the expansion would add a CBG program at Carver Middle School. Several noted that Bermuda is the only one of five county districts without a CBG program. The school board approved an expansion plan last year that would result in students from Bailey Bridge Middle School – located west…

Winds of change at TDHS

By Caleb M Soptelean on January 15, 2019 Schools

Chris Jones The new principal of Thomas Dale High School has a vision that includes making school fun. Chris Jones hosted an assembly Wednesday evening Jan. 9 for parents, students and community members where he talked about his vision. The assembly marked Jones’ 100 days on the job. “Monday’s the new Friday,” he said, referring to the “making school fun” part. This involved focusing on enrichment, including club/activity meetings and “Genius Hour.” Another part of his vision includes a “rigorous communication program.” He said the school now has over 3,000 followers on its new Facebook page, “Thomas Dale.” The school…

Matoaca Middle School East addition involves two projects

By Caleb M Soptelean on January 8, 2019 Schools

School district and county officials and construction and architecture employees broke ground Friday. Progress toward a new unified Matoaca Middle School began last week with a groundbreaking ceremony at 6001 Hickory Road. School district and county officials and construction and architectural representatives were on hand for the Jan. 4 event. Phase I of the project will result in a new 38,255-square-foot wing being added at the Matoaca Middle School East campus at an estimated cost of $15.6 million. That addition will include 20 to 30 new classrooms, Matoaca school board member Rob Thompson said Friday. The project will ultimately result…

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