More than a decade after a national study found that Henrico Schools had the highest disparity nationally between the suspension rates of Black and white students, recent data shows that significant racial disparities continue to exist within the school system when it comes to school discipline and punishment. Although Black students comprise only one-third of Henrico Schools’ student population, they... READ MORE >
Staff members from Henrico Schools’ Family and Community Engagement team are visiting 12 housing communities this summer to tackle a rising problem for many school systems post-pandemic: school absences. While HCPS staffers have conducted similar community visits in past summers, they wanted to broaden their reach to all parts of the county this year with an expansive “summer tour” that... READ MORE >
After 19 years of serving as the Drama head for J.R. Tucker High School, putting on dozens of plays, musicals, and one act shows, theater teacher Lisa Dyer will be stepping down from her after school position. It was a very difficult decision to make, Dyer said, but she could not continue to justify working hundreds of hours after school... READ MORE >
The Henrico School Board approved several changes to the division’s Code of Student Conduct at a meeting June 6, which outline more specific and stricter consequences for students breaking cell phone policies. While previous consequences for cell phone violations allowed teachers and administrators to choose whether or not to confiscate the device, new changes will require devices to be confiscated... READ MORE >
The Henrico School Board will meet on June 6 for a 2:30 p.m. work session and 6:30 p.m. monthly meeting to vote on changes to sexual harassment and discrimination policies, as well as revisions to technology use policies. The changes would put Henrico Schools in line with new updates to federal Title IX policies released in April, which expand the... READ MORE >
When the new weapons scanners arrived at the front doors of Hungary Creek Middle, along with the new school security officers, some students were apprehensive, a few even looked outwardly traumatized, counselor Britt Nill said. “I noticed the kids were already terrified of the weapons scanners,” Nill said. “A lot of kids looked like they were about to cry before... READ MORE >
Energy Supply, Energy Demand, Biotech Foundations, Geospatial Technology I, and Unmanned Aircraft Systems – these are all classes that Jill Rich, a jewelry design major turned technology education instructor, now teaches at Varina High’s new specialty center. This is not Rich’s first foray into teaching; a few years ago, she began teaching family and consumer sciences at Brookland Middle after... READ MORE >
The bus had broken down. About 30 fifth graders and a few parent chaperones were stranded on the side of Interstate-81. The DVD player was broken, and after an hours-long field trip with no way back home, the kids started to cry. But fifth-grade teacher Jenny Murphy immediately sprung into action. She encouraged the teary-eyed fifth graders to keep their... READ MORE >
Each morning at the start of class, middle school teacher Alayna Tignor will play the “Affirmation Song” by Snoop Dogg and have her sixth and seventh grade students sing along. “Today is going to be an amazing day!” the students recite, some reluctantly. “My feelings matter! I get better every single day! I choose to feel happy!” Positive affirmations are... READ MORE >
Some days, third grade teacher Kari Mitchell will have a lesson all planned out, having spent hours the night before perfecting it, only to meet the blank stares of her students the next day. “If they’re looking at you like you have three heads, then you just haven’t done what you needed to do,” Mitchell said. “I think this lesson... READ MORE >
