Latest News

School Principals Week, February 5-11, 2012

VASSP Board of Directors has taken an official position to oppose the teacher and principal contract and evaluation bill at the Virginia General Assembly. (Click)

House Bill No. 576  Teacher and principal contract and evaluation bill. Makes several changes to the processes by which teachers and certain administrators are evaluated and retained, including the replacement of continuing contract status with annual contract status for teachers and principals; a mandatory, two-year probationary status for teachers and principals; allowing termination of annual contracts for just cause; requiring that annual evaluations of teachers, principals, and superintendents include student academic progress as a significant factor; and requiring that force-reduction measures consider performance rather than seniority. The bill also defines the standard 10-month contract as 200 days, of which a minimum must be 180 days of instructional time. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2013. (Click)

Senate Bill No. 438 (companion for HB 576). (Click) 

Principal Evaluation Guidelines Up for Second Review & Passage by Virginia Board of Education on February 23, 2012. Guidelines go into effect July 1, 2013. (Click)

Teacher Evaluation Guidelines Adopted by the Virginia Board of Education, April 28, 2011.  Guidelines go into effect July 1, 2012.

(Click)

Research Synthesis of Virginia Principal Evaluation Competencies and Standards

Details about the October 19, 2011 meeting are at this link:      VASSP Bulletin, November 2011

2011 administrator of the year winners honored        Photo by LifeTouch  (L-R) VASSP President Carolyn Bernard, MS Principal of  the Year Jerry Campbell, Assistant Principal of the Year Dr. Sandi Brown, HS Principal of the Year Dr. Ginger Minshew, State Superintendent Dr. Pat Wright, NASSP Executive Director JoAnn Bartoletti, and VASSP Executive Director Dr. Randy Barrack.

2011 administrator of the year winners were honored by VASSP and Herff Jones during an evening ceremony at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts on Oct. 27 in Richmond. The ceremony recognized the winners’ dedication and contributions to their schools, students, and professional education, and included the presentation of a ring specifically made for this award by Herff Jones. This was the third Celebration for Leadership event.  The administrators were recognized for the prestigious awards during the Virginia Middle and High School Principals Conference & Exposition last June. The principals also attended a celebration ceremony in Washington, D.C., sponsored by National Association of Secondary School Principals and MetLife for all state winners in the nation. The assistant principal of the year will be attending a Celebration for Leadership event in Washington the first part of next year.

Outstanding Principal Awards Application

Track 2012 Legislation Online

For news as it happens, visit PRINCIPAL INSIGHT Edulog.

LEADERS LEADING LEADERS.  Become a VASSP Board Candidate.  Elections will be held on June 27, 2012. (Election Pack)

Job Link: www.teachvirginia.org

VASSP/NASSP Member Legal Assistance (Click)

VASSP's newest board members

Michael Davidson, principal, Marion Senior High School, Smyth Division, and Abe Jeffers, principal, R.E. Lee High School, Fairfax County Division, are the newest members of the VASSP Board of Directors. They attended a VASSP Board Orientation program on December 7 & 8, 2011. Davidson is the Region 7 Director and Jeffers is the Region 4 Director.

VASSP Region 6 holds meeting with state legislators

Educators and Legislators from across the Roanoke Valley and Southwest Virginia met Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at a luncheon co-hosted by Delegate Greg Habeeb and Region 6 members of the Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals.

“This meeting was incredibly successful,” said Delegate Habeeb. “It was a great opportunity for educators and legislators to cultivate the personal relationships we need in order to better communicate about the challenges facing Virginia’s education system. I look forward to more of these meetings in the future and want to thank all of those who participated.”

The meeting included educators from eight school divisions and State Senators John Edwards and Ralph Smith, Delegates Greg Habeeb and Charles Poindexter and Delegates-Elect Joseph Yost, Chris Head and Nick Rush.

“It was encouraging to see so many legislators willing to take time out of their busy schedules to spend time building relationships with those of us who are "in the trenches" working to meet the needs of young people,” said VASSP Region 6 Director Scott Habeeb. “I hope that the conversations started today will grow into productive and positive relationships that will better enable our representatives in Richmond to meet the specific needs of the young people in our region.”

A delegation from VASSP's leadership held a policy discussion with Governor McDonnell on September 28, 2010.  Click to view the priorities and position statements shared with the Governor.

Meeting with the Governor were David Ellena, Secretary of Education Robinson, Dr. Carol Robinson, Dr. Richard Turner,    Dr. Randy Barrack, State Superintendent Wright, (Governor McDonnell) Dr. Robert Bracey, III, Donald Vale, Carolyn Bernard, Dr. Brian Matney, Larry Lenz, and Janice Koslowski. [Photos courtesy of the Governor's Office, Michaele White, photographer.  For additional photos visit the Governor's Web site at www.governor.virginia.gov]

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Speaking at the 2009 Annual Conference were candidates for governor, Republican Bob McDonnell and Democrat Creigh Deeds.  Photos below show former VASSP President Dr. Carol Robinson and VASSP Region 2 Director Carolyn Bernard with Bob McDonnell and VASSP President-elect Kevin Bezy with Creigh Deeds.