News and Announcements

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Your financial well-being is essential to your ability to confidently perform your duties as a Superintendent and to help maintain a high-quality life. VASS members are eligible for a variety of important financial planning services at reduced rates, including two complimentary hours of financial consultation paid by VASS through a special arrangement with VASS Partner TCG, a HUB International Company (TCG). This benefit is only available to VASS members and those who are named a Superintendent!

VASS partners with the Donovan Group to offer around-the-clock urgent and crisis communication services to public schools and divisions throughout Virginia.
To access these services, please call the hotline number at (804) 567-7075 or email VAcrisis@donovan-group.com.

Join Dr. Matt Burns to learn how to navigate a Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) focusing on literacy instruction. Drawing from his extensive research and experience, Dr. Burns will look at effective Tier 1 instructional practices and how they integrate within an MTSS framework. Participants will learn about the critical role of universal screening, progress monitoring, and data-driven decision-making in identifying and supporting students at risk for reading difficulties. This session will equip educators with practical tools and knowledge to effectively implement MTSS in their schools and improve student literacy outcomes.

Are you thinking about everything that’s been added to our administrative leaders’ and teachers’ plates to implement the new K-12 Math and English Language Arts this coming year? Want to be sure your staff are dotting all the i’s and crossing all their t’s to be sure your learners are learning what they need? Thinking about how to be sure that assessments you use are calibrated to the new standards?  

VASS staff and VASS legal counsel Micah Schwartz hosted a membership-only Just in Time webinar to discuss implications of new Title IX regulations on school divisions that go into effect on August 1. Micah shares background, updates, and practical advice for dealing with changes. You can view the recording and resources here.

View the webinar here.

View the power point here.  

This year we are proud to have continued to provide the excellent service VASS members have been accustomed to receiving for many years. Whether you have just begun your journey as a Virginia superintendent, are a retiring superintendent, or are somewhere in between, we hope you know that the VASS team is honored to support you through all the challenges and successes of your important leadership role. Take a look at this 2023-2024 VASS Year in Review to see all that we accomplished together this year! 

Nearly 400 attendees were present to celebrate the announcement of this year’s Virginia Superintendent of the Year, Mr. Doug Straley.

Mr. Straley, Superintendent of Louisa County Public Schools, was presented with the award during the Virginia Association of School Superintendents (VASS) Awards Luncheon today, Monday, April 22, in Roanoke. VASS officers and presidents of several major state education organizations participated in the selection process.

“Doug's recent honor as Virginia Superintendent of the Year truly reflects his outstanding leadership,” says VASS President and Brunswick County Superintendent Kristy Somerville-Midgette. “From my perspective, his innovative methods and genuine connection with the Louisa County Public Schools community have always been inspiring. Doug's relentless advocacy for every student's needs and his servant leadership have left a lasting impression on me and many others. His innovative approach has brought about positive changes across our state. Doug's commitment to improving our educational system is both admirable and deeply personal.”

VASS is pleased to announce the appointment of our new VASS President for the 2024-2025 year: Dr. Keith Perrigan. Dr. Perrigan was unanimously selected by the VASS Board and membership during the annual meeting at the Spring Conference. He has served as VASS President Elect and VASS Secretary/Treasurer for the past two years. Dr. Perrigan is the superintendent in Washington County.

While the past few years have challenged school divisions in Virginia as perhaps no other time in recent memory, we have seen our school divisions and schools rise to the occasion. We acknowledge and are appreciative of the significant financial support provided to schools from local, state and federal governments. Thus, as we endeavor to set the VASS 2023-24 Legislative Platform, there are several items in terms of actions involving state government that will have a direct impact on K12 education in Virginia. On Monday, October 30, 2023, the VASS Membership voted to approve these 2023-2024 VASS Legislative Prioroties. 

July 10, 2023
For Immediate Release
Contact: Gina G. Patterson, VSBA Executive Director, gina@vsba.org
Dr. Scott Brabrand, VASS Executive Director, s.brabrand@vassonline.org

The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission released its report on Virginia’s K-12 Public Education Funding Formula today at a commission meeting in Richmond. This study was a directive passed in the 2021 session of the Virginia General Assembly which asked the commission to provide an accurate assessment of the costs to implement the Standards of Quality.