Superintendent's Advisory Councils
Superintendent’s Advisory Councils
Superintendent Jason Kamras hosts several advisory councils throughout the school year to bring together members of our community to advise the RPS leadership team, join together in advocacy, and work in partnership to achieving RPS’s goals.
All advisory councils meet monthly during the school year (approximately October through May). Please see below for more information, application links, and staff points of contact for each council.
Multilingual Learner Success Advisory Council (MLSAC)
The Richmond Public Schools Multilingual Learner Success Advisory Council brings together members from diverse backgrounds with the administration to engage as true partners in the educational process. All meetings will be held in-person at locations that are relevant to the multilingual learner community to support increased participation and accessibility. Meetings will take place in the early evening hours monthly beginning in October.
During the 2024-25 school year, the focus of the MLS Advisory Council will be on harnessing multilingual families' funds of knowledge, and creating welcoming, trusting, and culturally responsive school environments that empower families as co-partners in student success. We will spend every meeting identifying and deconstructing barriers to education, and by May 2025, we will have a co-created curriculum, centered in empowerment and advocacy, for multilingual parents and families to engage in with RPS staff.
The application will close by Friday, September 27, 2024 and is available to the public in English and Spanish. Additional languages are available upon request. All final candidates will be selected by Friday, October 4, 2024.
For more information, please contact Jennifer Blackwell, Director of Multilingual Learner Success jblackwe@rvaschools.net.
Parent & Caregivers Advisory Council (PAC)
The Parent & Caregivers Advisory Council brings together parents from diverse backgrounds to engage as partners in the educational process with the Superintendent and RPS administration. Monthly council meetings provide the space for those most connected to our students to advocate and work in partnership to achieve RPS goals.
During the 2024-25 school year, a focus of the PAC will be supporting the activation of parent-led organizations (i.e. Parent Teacher Associations, Parent Teacher Organizations, and Parent Teacher Student Associations) at every RPS school. The PAC will be helping develop resources, training, and peer mentorship programs for parents and school staff to ensure that parent-led organizations are set up to succeed and are inclusive and welcoming to all families.
Parents and caregivers may apply to serve on the PAC by completing this application by September 6, 2024. For more information, please reach out to Matthew Stanley at mstanley@rvaschools.net.
Student Advisory Council (SAC)
The Student Advisory Council brings together RPS high school students to help shape policy, ensure that student voice is a meaningful part of decision-making and advocacy efforts, and serves as a bridge between the administration and the RPS student body.
Students are nominated to participate by their Principals. For more information, please reach out to Darryl Williams at dwilli15@rvaschools.net.
Teacher Advisory Council (TAC)
The Superintendent's Teacher Advisory Council (TAC) serves as a vital platform for educators to actively contribute to policy development and ensure a rigorous, engaging learning environment for every student. TAC's multifaceted work encompasses key areas such as advocacy, curriculum enhancement, professional development, fostering a positive school culture, and championing equity. The Council is committed to seeking out innovative strategies that facilitate continuous learning, empower teachers as leaders, and cultivate collaboration, thereby ensuring that teacher perspectives remain central to all decision-making processes.
Teachers may apply to serve on the TAC by completing this application by Friday, September 27, 2024. For more information, please contact Kimberly Jones at kjones@rvaschools.net.
Interfaith Advisory Council (IAC)
The Richmond Public Schools Interfaith Advisory Council (IAC) brings together an inclusive group of faith-based leaders from various religions and denominations to support the division's efforts to increase student achievement and foster deep and meaningful family and community engagement.
During the 2024-25 school year, a focus of the IAC will be advocating with the Virginia General Assembly to secure more state support for public education and school facilities. We will spend time at every meeting learning more about how to successfully advocate with policy makers and how to empower others to get involved in these efforts.
The IAC meets monthly, usually in-person on the third Friday of the month, at locations throughout our City.
Faith-based leaders may apply to serve on the IAC by completing this application by September 6, 2024. For questions or more information, please contact, Nannette Bailey at nbailey2@rvaschools.net.