RPS News

Last week, we celebrated the outstanding accomplishments of our dedicated teachers, administrators, and support staff at the fourth annual RPS Shines event. Each finalist and award winner represents the very best of who we are — proof of the brilliance that exists within RPS. Their stories inspire us all and serve as a powerful reminder of the incredible impact educators and staff make every day. Visit our YouTube channel to relive the excitement and be inspired by this year’s honorees.

Behind every student success story, there’s a great teacher. And behind every great teacher, there’s a story of connection, hard work, and often another great teacher.

Jatain McLane — Albert Hill Middle School history teacher and, as of Friday night, RPS’ New Teacher of the Year — is one such teacher. A proud Church Hill native who attended Martin Luther King, Jr., Middle School and Open High School, Mr. McLane started his career not at RPS, or even in teaching, but as a United States Postal Service letter carrier. 

Dear RPS Family,

With under 20 days left in the school year, we’ve entered celebration season! Friday was School Lunch Hero Day, when we honored our school nutrition team for nourishing our students’ bodies and minds; this Wednesday is School Nurse Day, a time to celebrate the dedicated healthcare professionals in our schools; and, of course, this whole week is Teacher Appreciation Week!

John Marshall’s Latrell Allmond was named RTD’s 2025 All-Metro Player of the Year after leading the Justices to a fourth straight state title, averaging 21 points and shooting 63 percent from the field. Senior guard Troy Henderson, who joins Allmond on the First-Team, also played a key role, averaging 13.7 points and six assists per game while shooting efficiently across the board. Troy will continue his career in Knoxville with the Tennessee Volunteers. Congrats, Justices!

Dear RPS Family,

May 1 is just around the corner, or, as many seniors know it, Decision Day! After years of hard work, dedication, and dreaming, seniors who are heading off to college will decide where — as LeBron James would say :) — “they’re taking their talents.”

Armstrong High School’s Fashion Marketing students held a soft opening for Kat’s Boutique — a student-run clothing closet offering free clothing, prom gowns, essentials, and hygiene products — and the Richmond Free Press was there to capture the moment. The boutique, developed by students and teacher Natasha Moorer, was created in just a few months with donations from local organizations like Dynamic Affirmations Group.

With the spring weather comes SOL season, which can bring stress, pressure, and many questions for students and families. But testing doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. It can be an opportunity to pause, reflect, and celebrate how far our students have come this school year.

We asked two RPS experts, Dr. DeLisa Joseph, school counselor at Southampton Elementary, and Dr. Olaniyi Lucas, from the Academic Office — whose role involves supporting secondary school counselors in RPS — to share their top three tips for helping students stay on track academically and emotionally during the SOL testing season.

Yesterday, we proudly celebrated our inaugural Kindergarten Signing Day, marking a joyful milestone for hundreds of our newest learners and their families. This special day celebrated the Class of 2038 while offering families enrollment and academic resources so all kiddos can start Day One Ready. Tag us in your photos on social media! We can’t wait to see you this fall!

Dear RPS Family,

Happy Passover to all who celebrate! I’m not gonna lie, my brisket on Saturday night was on point! I’d like to begin this morning with a few words about our budget for next year. As has been widely reported, based on state and City revenue projections, we are likely to be about $20 million short of the funding level that was assumed in the budget the School Board approved in March. So where does that leave us?

Lois Harrison-Jones Elementary has achieved remarkable success in literacy rates, with 85% of third graders passing the SOL. Notably, LHJ also leads in the percentage of disadvantaged students passing the test. Read more in the Richmonder about how partnerships, data-driven instruction, amazing teachers, and new curriculum — being taught in every RPS elementary school — is fueling progress

At RPS, we aspire to teach and lead with love, every day. Perhaps no other role does more of both in a building than an assistant principal. For their building or their grade level, they’re often the linchpin between teachers and administrators, parents and the school, the day-to-day operations, and the longer-term strategic goals. Ms. Nsombi Morrison, the first-year assistant principal at Woodville Elementary, tries to strike that balance every day — and loves them.

Dear RPS Family,

Welcome back! I hope you had a wonderful break!

I had the opportunity to spend some time last week in Washington, D.C., with several of my colleagues from around the country to learn from each other and discuss the current context in Washington. While we were together, the U.S. Department of Education released a memo directing all state education agencies to require their school divisions to sign a letter indicating that they would not discriminate based on race through DEI or other programs — or risk federal funding for things like Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Act (for students who receive special education services). The School Board and I will be taking a closer look at this memo with our legal counsel this week and I’ll circle back after.

On Wednesday, March 26 — alongside his daughter, Nadine Marsh-Carter — students and staff at Henry L. Marsh, III Elementary School proudly celebrated the first-ever Henry L. Marsh Day, honoring the extraordinary legacy of its namesake. Students took the stage with inspiring songs, monologues, and oratorical presentations that highlighted the lasting impact of the late senator and civil rights leader. View event coverage from CBS 6.

For nearly a decade, Rosalynn Anderson has been a beloved part of Richmond Public Schools, and for the past three years, she has been the heart and soul of the cafeteria at Lucille Brown Middle School. As the School Nutrition Services Manager, Ms. Anderson’s work is about much more than food — it’s about love, community, and nourishment in every sense of the word.

Ms. Anderson and her team are celebrating Fruit & Veggie Week this week by brightening the serving line with extra fresh fruit. She takes pride in making fruits and vegetables appealing to middle schoolers. “We make our serving lines pop with fresh fruits and veggies that catch the students’ eyes,” she says.

Dear RPS Family,

Welcome to Fruit and Veggie Week! I know, ALMOST as exciting as spring break :). Today, I’m spotlighting the incredible work of our Nutrition Services team, as well as our invaluable partners who contribute to the health and well-being of our students.

Students and staff at the Richmond Success Academy partnered with CTE classes at the Richmond Technical Center to collect an incredible 158 pounds of food for Feed More! Thanks to their generosity and teamwork, students came together to support local families facing food insecurity. This collaboration is a great example of how our school communities work hand-in-hand to make a positive impact beyond the classroom.

When families walk through the front doors of Broad Rock Elementary School to enroll in school, they’re not just entering a building — they’re walking into a space of reassurance, care, and unwavering support. This is due, in no small part, to office associates Karen Rubinos, Mercedes Castillo, and Carolyn Cox. With every handshake, warm smile, and kind word, they’re building the foundations of a strong and enduring relationship.

Dear RPS Family,

This morning, my heart is filled with profound gratitude as we continue to receive positive updates regarding Principal Muzik’s recovery. Mr. Muzik is more than just a principal: he’s a pillar of the Munford Elementary community and the wider RPS family. For over three decades, he has dedicated his life to the students, families, and staff of Munford, creating a nurturing and inspiring environment where children thrive. His leadership style, one that truly exemplifies leading with love, has touched countless lives.

What do pi and Superintendent Kamras’ love of math have in common? They both go on forever! This week, Jason brought his best math jokes to face off against some intrepid Miles Jones scholars in RPS’ first-ever Pi(e) Day Challenge. See who had the best jokes (and drop your favorites) here.  

Ms. Toni Nicer, a fifth-grade math teacher at Overby-Sheppard Elementary School, is on a mission to make every student love math — but more importantly, to navigate a complex world confidently and fearlessly. “Math has always been more than just numbers to me; it’s a tool for problem–solving, critical thinking, and resilience,” she explains. “I wanted to change the way students see math, not as something to be afraid of, but as something they can conquer with the right mindset.”

Dear RPS Family,

This week, we’re celebrating my favorite holiday, Pi Day, which comes on March 14, or 3.14! And that means…Pi jokes!

Congratulations to Karma Hutts, an eighth grader at Albert Hill Middle School, for winning this year's RPS Fine Arts Festival t-shirt design contest! Karma, a student in Ms. Bartenstein's art class, was surprised this week with the exciting news that her design will be featured on the official festival t-shirt. Join us at the Fine Arts Festival to celebrate the incredible creativity of RPS students this Saturday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., at Huguenot High School.

“And five, six, seven, eight!” dance teacher and choreographer Ms. Ryan Claytor shouts with a clap. And with that, her half-dozen students — who were just seconds earlier relaxing after a long school day — transport themselves from Huguenot High School to North Shore High School, the fictional high school where Mean Girls: The Musical takes place.

This year, Huguenot is bringing back a time-honored high-school tradition, the spring musical. It’s the brainchild of Ms. Chayla Simpson, the theatre teacher at Huguenot, who’s directing. In her third year at HHS, she explains, “I’ve been wanting to do a musical since my first year; however, I needed to build up our participation in the theatre program before trying to pull off a musical.” This year, “everyone was excited for the performance opportunity, especially because Mean Girls is a show that they all love.”

Dear RPS Family,

Welcome to Fine Arts Month! This is a time to celebrate the essential role that the fine arts play in the education and development of our students. Being a RPS student is about more than academics; it's about fostering creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence. The fine arts — music, theatre, visual arts, and dance — provide a unique and invaluable avenue for achieving these goals.

The Armstrong Leadership Program premiered a powerful documentary this week, highlighting the Cultural History Immersion Project, which took students across four states to explore key sites from slavery to the Civil Rights Movement. Following the screening, students shared how the experience deepened their understanding of their heritage and leadership potential. This summer, the group will travel to South Carolina to explore the history and culture of the Gullah community.

When students step into Mr. Carl Coles’ carpentry class at the Richmond Technical Center, they’re learning far more than just how to use a hammer, nails, and a level. For 25 years, Mr. Coles has been a steady presence in the lives of his students, providing mentorship, encouragement, and a sense of belonging in addition to technical expertise. While he’d taught carpentry early in his career, he’d returned to industry for five years before getting a call to come back into the classroom. “At first, I had some doubts,” he admits. “But now, I can honestly say I’m incredibly glad I chose to return. This experience has been rewarding, both for my students and for me.”

Dear RPS Family,

Happy no-winter-weather-week (fingers and toes crossed)! Thank you for your grace and understanding as we navigated last week’s storm. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for spring!

This week, RPS Swimming wrapped up its inaugural swim season for middle school, and year two for the high school teams! We are enormously grateful to SwimRVA and Carmax for their partnership. Middle school winners included Franklin Military (1st), Dogwood (2nd), and Albert Hill (3rd). High schools placed as follows: Armstrong (1st), RHSA (2nd), and TeeJay (3rd). Keep swimming, RPS! Check out more on the SwimRVA Facebook page!

January and February might be widely known widely as winter — but around RPS, those two months are also known as budget season. With the School Board and City Council considering RPS’ budget proposal and the General Assembly in session, these eight weeks are when the RPS team, the School Board, and citizens come together to build a budget for the next school year.

Dear RPS Family,

It’s budget season! That means lots of important discussions about what RPS needs for the coming school year — and lots of math :). I love budget season, but not just because of the math. Our budget is a statement of our priorities and our values, and it encapsulates our aspirations for the coming year.

So let’s get to it!

Enormous gratitude to Chesapeake Bank who graciously donated $1,000 to support the purchase of clear backpacks for RPS students. The check was presented during VCU Field Trip Day, an annual event in which students from across the region are invited to attend a VCU women’s basketball game at the Siegel Center. Board Chair Shavonda Fernandez and Chief Wellness Officer Renesha Parks were in attendance to accept the gift.  

Dear RPS Family,

I’ve received several questions about this morning’s decision to switch to virtual learning from a two-hour delay, so I thought it would be helpful to explain our thinking.

First, some context: As I’ve shared before, my default starting position is to keep our schools open. We know the best place for learning is in our classrooms, and that many of our students and families depend on RPS for a range of non-academic supports, including food. So, if we can safely open, we will. In addition, while we often align with the counties, we don’t always do so, as the needs of our students and families and the nature of Richmond’s geography are different.

Good morning, RPS Family,

I’m reaching out today about several executive orders that have come down over the last several weeks, that ban efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion; that undermine the honest teaching about race; and that call into question protections for LGBTQ+ students and staff.

And so let me be as perfectly clear as I can: To all of our students,  staff, and families, no matter your skin color, what country you come from, what language you speak at home, who you pray to, who you love, or how you identify — you are welcome at RPS, you are valued at RPS, and you are loved at RPS.

Dear RPS Family,

I’m reaching out with this special Friday message to share that Dana Fox, our Chief Operating Officer, announced yesterday that she will be taking a role in Hanover County to be closer to home and to prioritize her family. We will deeply miss Dana, but of course understand and support her decision. 

Anne Harris greets students and families with warm smiles as they arrive for the school day at Bellevue Elementary. Her presence is a constant source of comfort for students, many of whom have come to know her as a trusted mentor and advocate. For 24 years, Mrs. Harris has dedicated herself to the role of school counselor within RPS, with 21 of those years spent at Bellevue. Her passion for creating a nurturing environment and fostering leadership has shaped the lives of countless students.

Dear RPS Family,

With January behind us (phew!), we welcome February and the celebration of Black History Month, a time to mark the enduring contributions and resilience of Black Americans. It's a time for reflection, celebration, and a renewed commitment to the ongoing struggle for racial justice. This year, the importance of Black History Month feels particularly acute, given the alarming rise of efforts to suppress and distort the teaching of Black history. In this context, the legacy of figures like Henry Marsh, the first Black Mayor of Richmond and the namesake of Henry L. Marsh III Elementary School — who passed away just last week – becomes even more poignant, serving as both an inspiration and a stark reminder of the battles still being fought.

This week, Superintendent Kamras joined the Governor and leaders from the Virginia Department of Education for the release of the National Assessment of Educational Progress. While overall results in the Nation's Report Card were concerning, Richmond was honored as a bright spot. We have a long way to go, but our efforts in literacy instruction and chronic absenteeism are moving us in the right direction. Read more in the RTD.

“Ah! For me? ¡Qué lindo! Thank you for this, I will put it somewhere safe y donde pueda verlo.” Ms. Edilsa Guiterrez switches fluently from English to Spanish as she admires the brightly colored picture. Just moments before, the tiny scholar had burst through the main office door, bouncing on her toes and exclaiming, “It’s for you — ¡para ti!” Now, after a quick hug, she skips off to her first-grade class. Ms. Guiterrez, still admiring the photo, murmurs, “And we couldn’t even get her to come to school consistently a few months ago.” That’s the impact that RPS family liaisons have on many students across the Division.

This morning I’d like to address the uncertainty and anxiety many of our immigrant families are experiencing right now in light of recent federal actions regarding deportation. To our students, let me be abundantly clear: We love you here and RPS will always be a safe haven for you.

At this week’s Board meeting, we were thrilled to celebrate our incredible school leaders — several of whom joined us at the meeting — in honor of Virginia School Principals Appreciation Week (January 13-17). From fostering academic excellence to supporting students and staff, RPS principals make a difference every day. Please join us in thanking our principals for their hard work and commitment to #LeadWithLove.

Many students learn to spell the word ‘principal’ by remembering, “A principal is your pal.” And while they often offer high fives and smiles, the fifty-three principals across RPS are so much more than that: They’re instructional leaders, data analysts, problem-solvers, counselors, receptionists, and lunch monitors. They set the culture for their building, and while they’re usually in the front row at an assembly or a football game, they’re leaders because of their integrity and commitment when nobody is watching.

Dear RPS Families,

I hope you’re staying safe and warm! I’ve received several questions from families regarding my decision to close today so I thought it would be helpful to explain my thinking.

It’s always my deepest desire and intention to keep our schools open. Period. I hate missing days of instruction and many of our students and families depend on RPS for a range of non-academic supports, including food. When inclement weather or other emergencies strike, I weigh our commitment to staying open against two key factors: 1) safety for students and staff; and 2) the operations of the school system.

Dear RPS Family,

Last week was Virginia’s principal’s appreciation week, a time to reflect on and celebrate the extraordinary leaders we have in RPS. Over the last several weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to see the impact of so many of our principals through my observations of K-5 literacy instruction. As I have shared before, we’re engaged in a fundamental shift in how we teach reading, utilizing the very best research about what works and what doesn’t.

The iconic William Fox Elementary cupola was carefully set into place atop the school building last Friday. Over the past three years, $30 million in renovations have modernized the school with new classrooms, state-of-the-art safety features, and an elevator. The cupola’s return was celebrated by parents, students, and neighbors despite the frigid temperatures. Read more about the celebratory occasion in the RTD.

At Richmond Public Schools, our motto is to teach, lead, and serve with love every day. As we’ve learned over the last five years, those values matter most when the unexpected happens. Last week, as Richmond’s unprecedented water outage extended the winter break by a week, we saw those values in action daily: Teachers and principals called to check on their students and make sure that they had resources to get through the disruption. In partnership with Feed More, we mobilized to serve 4,276 meals to our families on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Dear #RPSStrong Families,

I hope you’re staying safe, staying strong, and…enjoying the water! We’re so excited that it’s back, and that the boiled water advisory has been lifted. Many thanks to the Mayor and our friends at the City for their tireless efforts over last week.

I also want to thank all the teachers and staff who embodied what it means to teach, lead, and serve with love last week, bringing meals to families and checking in on students. And families, I want to thank YOU for your patience and resilience as we all navigated a very unexpected start to 2025.

Dear #RPSStrong Families,

I hope you’re staying safe, staying strong, and…enjoying the water! We’re so excited that it’s back, and that the boiled water advisory has been lifted. Many thanks to the Mayor and our friends at the City for their tireless efforts over the past week.

I also want to thank all the teachers and staff who embodied what it means to teach, lead, and serve with love last week, bringing meals to families and checking in on students. And families, I want to thank YOU for your patience and resilience as we all navigated a very unexpected start to 2025.

Dear #RPSStrong Families,

I hope you’re all staying safe and strong. Today I visited Lucille Brown Middle School, where we passed out food to families. We visited six other sites across the City as well — thank you all for turning out, and thank you to our partners for support! We know that the response was overwhelming in many locations today, and we apologize for any inconvenience. Please contact careandsafety@rvaschools.net, or visit rva.gov, to learn about additional food resources over the weekend.

Dear #RPSStrong Families, I hope you’re staying safe and strong. I’m reporting today from Carver Elementary, which is one of our six food sites today!

We gave out pizza today at six sites, and we’ll be back tomorrow with food trucks from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.! We’re incredibly grateful to the Richmond Ed Fund for supporting our families, all of whom are invited to come out and get a free lunch. We know that it’s been difficult to be closed without school meals, and we want to do everything we can to support our families.

Dear #RPSStrong Families, I hope that you are all staying safe today. Fortunately we’re getting good news from the City, and water pressure is beginning to be restored. I just want to say thank you to the Mayor and to all of our friends at the City for all of their hard work over the last few days. I know everyone is working so, so hard.

I hope that you are staying safe and strong. When we announced that school would be closed on Monday, I truly hoped that I would be able to see your smiling faces this Tuesday morning. Unfortunately, nobody could have predicted the storm damaging the water plant so severely. I am in touch with the Mayor and our other wonderful City colleagues, and I am super happy to hear that we’ve officially restored water production. We are working hard to share with you the most accurate and updated information possible. Our teams are all focused on helping our communities quickly return to normalcy.

Since this is my last Monday message before break, let me take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, and Happy New Year!

I’ve had the good fortune of attending several of our schools’ holiday celebrations over the last couple of weeks. From the Cardinal orchestra to the Dancing Classrooms final competition, each performance has been such an inspiration and filled me with so much joy.

Unfortunately, for some of our students and families, the holidays are a difficult time. Money may be tight, which means few, if any, presents under the tree. For others, just having a stable place to rest one’s head at night would be the greatest gift of all.

It was a day like any other, or so she thought. When Oak Grove-Bellemeade Elementary Reading Interventionist Rebecca McCray walked through the doors to continue her day, she couldn’t have been more surprised as she was greeted by colleagues, students, and family with the news that she had been named the 2025 RPS Teacher of the Year. Read more about Ms. McCray and this joyous occasion in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Oak Grove-Bellemeade Elementary (OGBM) reading interventionist Rebecca McCray had no idea that she might be Richmond’s 2025 Teacher of the Year — that is, until she saw a WTVR car outside of the school Friday morning.

“I’d counted myself out,” she says, still in shock at the win. “But that’s the moment it really began to sink in.”  

When called with the news, though, Oak Grove-Bellemeade principal LaToya Draper’s first words were, “I knew it was her year!” With a small team of co-conspirators, Principal Draper arranged to have Ms. McCray start her morning leading a professional development at Blackwell, so that her family, Superintendent Kamras, OGBM partners, the Bellemeade Community Center drumline (comprised of the school’s students), and all the school’s students could form a surprise assembly celebrating Ms. McCray.

Dear RPS Family,

I am absolutely thrilled to share with all of you that Ms. Rebecca McCray, a reading interventionist at Oak Grove-Bellemeade Elementary, has been selected as the 2025 Richmond Public Schools Teacher of the Year!

We bid a heartfelt farewell to Yuko and Mariyo — who joined us for two weeks from Saitama, Japan — with a memorable dinner at Elephant Thai. Their visit, part of our sister city teacher exchange, strengthened our program, fostered meaningful connections, and deepened our partnership with the Richmond Sister Cities Commission. We’re grateful for the bonds formed and look forward to future collaborations. Safe travels, Yuko and Mariyo

Mrs. Slade’s passion for supporting students with disabilities started close to home. “When a family member was diagnosed with autism, my career path shifted,” she shares. “I wanted to help students realize their worth and potential. Success is achievable—sometimes, it just takes a different path.” Her mission as an educator is clear: to show every student that their dreams matter and that they have a place in the workforce.

The first week of December marks Inclusive Schools Week, a time to celebrate the diversity of our schools and communities. At Richmond Public Schools, we are committed to creating a learning environment where every student can thrive.

We believe that all students, regardless of their abilities or backgrounds, deserve access to high-quality education. This commitment is reflected in our strategic plan and our daily practices

Tonight, Armstrong, Huguenot, and TeeJay head to the VHSL Region Semifinals. Let’s put that RPS pride on display!  Tickets must be purchased online at the links above. RPS ID is no longer valid during playoff games. Only VHSL State passes and State School Board passes will be honored.

Note: Due to weather, the Armstrong vs. Kettle Run game will now be played at Liberty High School, 6300 Independence Ave. Bealton, VA.

Leaves are changing, and the air has a bite to it, which can only mean one thing — the season of teacher-caregiver conferences is upon us. Last week, high schools and middle schools hosted their fall conferences; this Thursday, the remainder of our schools will.

At this point in the school year, caregivers and teachers are beginning to form a strong sense of what’s going well and where extra collaboration is needed. It’s time to start addressing academic, behavioral, or well-being concerns as a team to ensure a successful year.

Ms. Lisa Perkinson, dance teacher at Dogwood Middle, has won the 2024 R.E.B. Award for Teaching Excellence. Ms. Perkinson, who holds a BA in dance from James Madison University and an MFA in dance from Sarah Lawrence College, has been a powerhouse at Dogwood for the past nine years. She founded the Dogwood Dance Company and continues to positively impact the lives of students through arts integration and creative expression.

Every student knows the excitement and anxiety of starting high school — and every high-school administrator across Richmond understands this potent mix of emotions. All our schools work to ease the middle- to high school journey for students. At Richmond Community High School (RCHS), one of three selective-admissions schools in RPS, that process is led by school counselor Ms. Bernita Williams. Throughout the year, she crafts a thoughtful, welcoming experience that helps incoming students feel prepared on day one

I love algebra. There, I said it. Feels good to get that out in the open! That’s probably why I taught middle school math and why I can’t resist a good algebra joke. To wit: Why can’t you ever trust an algebra teacher holding graph paper? They might be plotting something!

When I came to RPS, I was deeply disappointed — angry, if I’m being honest — to learn that we didn’t offer algebra at every middle school. When I dug a little deeper, it became clear that there was a pattern based on race and economic status: Algebra was only offered where there were large concentrations of white students and middle/upper-income students. When I talk about “structural inequity,” that’s what I mean.

Seven — seven! — RPS schools have been awarded Exemplar School Recognition by the Virginia Board of Education. Franklin Military Academy received the Highest Achievement Award and Albert Hill Middle, Broad Rock Elementary, Chimborazo Elementary, Huguenot High, MLK Jr. Middle, and Richmond High School for the Arts received Continuous Improvement awards. Read more about this outstanding achievement.

When most students are asked to describe an apple, they’ll visualize it on the tray in school, in a bowl at home, or in a pyramid at the grocery store. Rarely will they picture it on a tree, on a farm, miles away. But thanks to the efforts of our Nutrition Services team and a special partnership with Lulus Local Foods, a food cooperative connecting Virginia farmers to families, students across the Division are not only enjoying farm-fresh fruits and vegetables—they're learning about the farmers who grew them and the journey from farm to table.

I remember that afternoon as if it were yesterday. Jay, a student in my seventh grade math class in Washington, DC, asked if he could talk with me after class. He was typically very quiet so I was excited for the chance to connect. But all he wanted to ask was, “Could you take me home after school?” This was a surprising question because I knew he lived just up the hill behind the school. I learned that he was now living with his grandmother across town because his mother — who had been struggling with addiction — had finally taken the courageous step of checking into a rehab clinic.

Yesterday, Armstrong High School hosted the inaugural Henry L. Marsh Mayoral Forum, the only entirely student-run mayoral debate. All five  candidates joined a conversation moderated by Armstrong AP Government students Renecia Allen and Zion Lundy, in front of an audience of their peers as well as elementary- and middle-school scholars from across the East End. Read all about why the students believed this was important for their fellow students.

Every adult can remember the sinking feeling of being in a classroom, reading out loud, and coming across a new word or sound that they don’t know. While these frustrations are an inevitable part of learning to read, it can be an unnerving, intimidating, and sometimes defeating feeling.

This morning, I’d like to return to my obsession with literacy. In case you missed it, the School Board formally adopted our new strategic plan at our last meeting, and its very first action is called Passion4Reading: a moonshot effort to do everything humanly possible to ensure our students are reading proficiently and joyfully by the end of third grade.

How will we get there? First and foremost, we need to ground everything we do in what the research says about how children learn to read. A helpful visual for this comes from Dr. Hollis Scarborough, who studies dyslexia and other reading-related topics. In the reading world, the visual is known as Scarborough’s Reading Rope (below).

This year, RPS had a record number of schools accredited, and we are leading the state in increases in accreditation. While we know changes to our rating system are ahead, we know nothing is changing in terms of our continued commitment to excellence. Learn more in this story from WRIC 8.

At tonight’s School Board meeting, one of the agenda items is about state accreditation. As I’ve shared previously, last year we added four more fully accredited schools, bringing our two-year increase to eight. Until last week, I didn’t know how the rest of the state fared. Well, I’m proud to share that our two-year gains surpass every other school division in Virginia. Furthermore, while we added eight accredited schools over the last two years, the state lost 75. I don’t share this data to critique other divisions — everyone is working incredibly hard. Rather, I share it to demonstrate that RPS’ success is truly remarkable. We should all be proud!

Since its founding more than eight years ago, the RPS Teacher Store has served as a vital resource for educators across the Division. "It started as an easy way to take donations from the community and get them into the hands of teachers," shares Dr. Stefanie Ramsey, RPS’ coordinator of athletics and activities, who leads the store's efforts. It’s grown into so much more.

My apologies for the delay in RPS Direct; I was out of commission with a cold. Feeling much better now!

As I foreshadowed a few weeks ago, we have some great news about our graduation rate. The VDOE officially posted the data on Friday so now I can spread the word: our graduation rate is UP 6 percentage points! Nearly every subgroup and nearly every high school saw increases. Here are some highlights:

• Armstrong High School – Up 8.3%

• Huguenot High School – Up 2.6%

• John Marshall High School – Up 4.3%

• Richmond High School for the Arts – Up 14.8%

• Hispanic/Latino Students – Up 16%

Moving to a new city is an intimidating change, no matter your age — and it’s even more challenging when you don’t speak the language. Pilar Morfin, an Enrollment Specialist at the RPS Welcome Center, knows this, so she always has an extra-large smile. “I don't know if it comes naturally, if it’s because I was a teacher, or if I'm just a kid at heart, but I'm pretty bubbly.”

Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 through October 15, which makes this week’s message the perfect opportunity to celebrate our Hispanic and Latino students. First, some data. Did you know that RPS is now 26% Hispanic? Most of our Latino students live and go to school in the 8th and 9th districts, and many are recent immigrants from Central and South America.

At RPS, safety and security are our top priorities. And over the last several years, we’ve made investments to underscore that commitment: Upgraded infrastructure, like metal detectors, security cameras, and online safety systems; new policies, such as our clear-backpack guidance; more people, like the dozens of counselors, nurses, and social workers that we’ve added to our buildings. 

Ever since the horrific school shooting in Georgia, we’ve seen an uptick in the number of social media postings and Gaggle alerts (which we get when certain key terms are written using our Chromebooks) about potential threats in our schools. I want the RPS community to know that we investigate every single one of these cases and refer the most serious ones to the Richmond Police Department.

Every Wednesday following a Richmond City School Board meeting, we’ll include a brief recap of the meeting in Wednesday’s edition of RPS Direct. This recap will include student and staff celebrations, our monthly proclamations, and items that either were presented for Board vote, or are now open for community input.

You’ll have to forgive me, but I’m going to nerd out about reading today. “Wait,” you might be thinking, “Weren’t you a math teacher?” Indeed, I was. And I have the math jokes to prove it. (As I shared with some J.L. Francis students last week: Which shape works the hardest? The TRY-angle.

I hope you had a chance to enjoy the beautiful weather yesterday, and got some rest over the long holiday weekend. This morning, I’ll be at Cardinal ES to welcome students back to school. Please join me in thanking the RPS Operations Team, our contractor partners, and, of course, the Cardinal staff for pulling together to get the school back in shape in, well, lightning speed! 

When Thomas Jefferson’s principal Crystal Potee learned that TeeJay had become the second accredited comprehensive high school in Richmond Public Schools, she started “crying, laughing, praising God,” she says. It was in late July, and the pride she felt for her students and team bubbled over.

What a fabulous first week! I had the pleasure of visiting about a dozen schools and I was so impressed with how smoothly everything went. That didn’t happen by chance. Our school-based and Central Office teams have been hard at work all summer long, planning and rehearsing, to make sure we hit the ground running. Other than a few normal hiccups here and there, last week was an incredible success with lots of big smiles from students and staff.

The first day of school brings high energy, excitement, and sometimes a few tears — but those feelings are especially big in preschool. For many children, the first day of preschool is also the first time they spend a full day away from family. Often, caregivers tear up more than their kids.

Dear RPS Family, Welcome back! This morning I’m filled with so much gratitude — for our incredible teachers and staff, our families and community supporters, and most of all, our students. I’m blessed to have the opportunity to meet so many of our young people, and I forget sometimes that not everyone in Richmond has the same privilege. RPS students are brilliant, creative, passionate, curious, wise, hard-working, resilient, and hilarious. I get up every morning — and this morning, in particular — brimming with optimism about RPS because of the 22,000 students we serve. We’re far from perfect, but we’re undoubtedly on the rise (see the last paragraph) because of them!