| Dear #RPSStrong Family,
Tonight's updates:
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RPS at the White House! – Our own Chief Engagement Officer, Dr. Shadae Harris, presented at the White House today about how RPS has dramatically reduced chronic absenteeism! This is a testament to the hard work of our Engagement Office, our schools, and, of course, our families. In case you missed it, you can stream her presentation on YouTube. Well done, Dr. Harris!
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Early College Academy Graduates – Please join me in congratulating our Early College Academy students who received their associate's degree yesterday from Reynolds Community College – before even graduating high school! Simply incredible!
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- Manuel Dacosta Randolph, Armstrong HS
- Erickson Hernandez, Franklin Military Academy
- Connie Whitaker, Franklin Military Academy
- Annette Gomez, Huguenot HS
- Malia Harris, Huguenot HS
- Qasim Jafari-Busuulwa, Huguenot HS
- Leslie Marin Arellano, Huguenot HS
- Clint Rampersad, Huguenot HS
- Cherish Bell, Open HS
- Chandler Holeman, Open HS
- Alexander Kremsreiter, Open HS
- Kimarah Massey, Open HS
- Sanaya Blake, Richmond Community HS
- Jacqueline Dobbins, Richmond Community HS
- Breona Herbert, Richmond Community HS
- Justin Jimenez, Richmond Community HS
- Jonathan Keel, Richmond Community HS
- Malon Pernell, Richmond Community HS
- Deniyah Robinson, Richmond Community HS
- Ahmaria Rufus, Richmond Community HS
- Luis Saravia-Cerritos, Richmond Community HS
- Odyssey Williford, Richmond Community HS
- Keyanna Fleming, Thomas Jefferson HS
- Ya'Nina Gonzalez, Thomas Jefferson HS
- Maiqole Hill, Thomas Jefferson HS
- Nadine Nijimbere, Thomas Jefferson HS
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CTE Honors – This past Friday, the RPS Career and Technical Education Department hosted a recognition ceremony to honor students and teachers who have gone above and beyond during the 2023-24 school year. Over 100 RPS teachers, students, central office staff, parents, CTE advisory board members, and community partners gathered to recognize the following teachers and students:
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- New CTE Teacher of the Year - Katherine Brown, Richmond High School for the Arts
- Middle School CTE Teacher of the Year - Javie Williams, River City Middle School
- High School CTE Teacher of the Year - Charlotte Hayer, Richmond Community High School
- Middle School CTSO Advisor of the Year - Bianca Parker, Franklin Military Academy
- High School CTSO Advisor of the Year - Raquel Carter, Richmond High School for the Arts
- High School CTSO Student of the Year - Janiya Jones, John Marshall High School
- DECA CTSO Student of the Year - Janiya Jones, John Marshall High School
- FBLA CTSO Student of the Year - Cor'Tavious Kelly, Richmond High School for the Arts
- FCCLA CTSO Student of the Year - Kaileigh Wilson-Pryor, John Marshall High School
- FFA CTSO Student of the Year - La'daysia Hart, Thomas Jefferson High School
- HOSA CTSO Student of the Year - Ashaney Smith, Richmond High School for the Arts
- SkillsUSA CTSO Student of the Year - Jacob Cisneros-Ramirez, Richmond High School for the Arts
- TSA CTSO Student of the Year - Carlos Melendez-Linares, Franklin Military Academy
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Liftoff to Kindergarten – Transitions are never easy, especially for little ones. Help your child navigate the first day of school with Kindergarten Boot Camp at the Main, Broad Rock, and North Ave Libraries this May, June and July!
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Youth Program Finder – NextUp, in partnership with the City of Richmond's Positive Youth Development Initiative, has updated their Youth Program Finder to help families find enrichment and learning opportunities all summer long. Make sure to check it out!
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With great appreciation,
Jason
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Shout-Outs – Please help us continue to inspire and uplift the RPS community by submitting shout-outs to shoutouts@rvaschools.net. Entries can be submitted in Spanish or English!
- Shout-out to Mr. Stevenson for all his growth and dedication to our students as an exceptional ed teacher at Albert Hill. Because of his incredible work, he was able to get 100% of his SPED students to pass or meet their growth goal on the Algebra 1 SOL. He embodies all the qualities that we want in our teachers. He is an amazing asset to the math department and we are so lucky to have him.
- A special shout-out to both Kyle Kimbrell and Jatain McLane at Albert Hill for stepping in to support our 8th graders to pass their Civics SOL – from tutoring at Calhoun, teaching the class full time, holding study groups, getting material together, and getting kids hyped about the assessment. Their enthusiasm truly made a difference for the students' confidence. They have worked so hard through coaching to build meaningful relationships with our students and it is paying off. They both want our kids to be successful and it shows everyday.
- I would like to give a shout-out to Mrs. Jessica Coltrain, 5th grade teacher at Cardinal Elementary School. Mrs. Coltrain came to us with a wealth of knowledge that she has shared throughout the entire year. She is ready and willing to jump in and help out wherever needed, both for teachers and students. Mrs. Coltrain has an unquenchable spirit that has helped her do her best for each one of her students every day. We are lucky to have you on our team. Thank you for all you've done this year!
- Thank you to our admin team, Mr. Goins, Mr. West, and Bellevue's PTA for making Teacher Appreciation extra special! Feeling the love!
- The dedication exhibited by Bellevue teachers and staff towards students and families is truly remarkable! Your tireless efforts play a crucial role in shaping the minds and hearts of future leaders. We are immensely grateful for your commitment to excellence and for consistently going above and beyond. Your passion and care are truly transformative within our East End community. Thank you for all you do!
- Big shout-out to the facilities team members who have been working to install the kilns in the district, especially Mr. Scott Hicks. Their hard work and problem solving is so appreciated by the Fine Arts team!! Thank you!!
- I would like to shout-out Overby-Sheppard Elementary School's 3-5 grade teachers for their hard work, dedication, and drive with pushing students to the top with SOL testing. They have worked tirelessly for this moment and the scores are showing it! These teachers are some of the best, and they deserve more than just a message! You all are endlessly appreciated.
- Shout out to Mr. Ryan Bennett for being so supportive and making my son's transition to Lois Harrison Jones very smooth and welcoming. Since day one you showed a positive attitude and your performance and dedication are remarkable!
- Shout out to Daria Randolph. I admire and appreciate your exceptional teaching abilities. Thank you for creating an inclusive space where all students can thrive. You have a unique gift and I am really appreciative of having you a part of my son's world!
- Shout out to Principal Nick LeReche. You are an awesome principal! Thank you for your support and all that you do!
- A special shout-out to Sheila Cotman, Cardinal's testing coordinator. She's doing an incredible job managing all aspects of SOL testing at the largest elementary school in RPS!
- A big shout-out to Munford's awesome reading coach, Katie Baughan, who is an invaluable resource. Daily, she is there for both students and staff with her growth mindset, unmatched work ethic, and extensive professional knowledge. She goes the extra mile, assisting others in ways that extend beyond her coaching role. She is a tireless advocate for literacy for all and never stops thinking about what's best for students. Ms. Baughan is such an asset to our school!
- Congratulations and job well done to the 5th graders (rising 6th graders) at Overby-Sheppard ES for a stellar performance in improving their Science SOL scores!! I am so very proud of each and every one of them because they put in the work, showed up to school, and committed to the learning process. Outstanding kudos to their fearless and amazing leaders in Science/STEM – Mrs. Tia Daniels and Ms. Tara McCrone. True instructional leaders with a passion for teaching and instilling a love of exploration and inquiry for all learners. Thank you so much for leading the charge and committing to this very important work. You are appreciated beyond measure!
- Special shout-out goes to Dr. Marquita Jones, ICC at Linwood Holton ES, for her unwavering commitment to ensure quality instruction and compliance are a package deal for the Exceptional Education team. Dr. Jones's positive energy, attention to detail, and thoughtful insight and engagement with others does not go unnoticed. She's never afraid to ask the tough questions or seek assistance when needed. She is a strong mentor of support for her colleagues and it is my pleasure to serve with her in the field of special education. Keep shining, Dr. Jones!
- I would like to give a huge shout-out to Ms. Grygiel and Mr. Lombardi at Mary Munford Elementary. They have stepped up to plan lessons, put together resources, and support my long-term sub while I have been out. They create an environment for our 5th grade students that demonstrates a community of care and are willing to jump in and help any student in the grade level and school. Thank you for consistently demonstrating what it means to be a part of a supportive team.
- A shout-out to Ms. Kelly Crowder at Carver Elementary who ensured that all the 4th grade students from Renaud's class and after-school received a review packet to prepare for their VA Studies SOL!! Ms. Crowder goes above & beyond to ensure her students are successful and can bring up their scores!!
- Shout-out to Mr. Jackson at Southampton Elementary for keeping the kids engaged with interesting subjects. These activities are often the highlight of my child’s day! We appreciate you so much!
- I'd like to give a big shout-out to the Young Kings and Queens In Action at Martin Luther King Middle School for another outstanding year! A special salute to the Young Kings who started in the program with Mr. Shepsu and Mr. Moore three years ago as six graders and now will be moving on to high school. Thanks to Mrs. Dabney, principal, for her unwavering support, Ms. Scott, Ms. Shaw (Young Queens), and all of the Jegna (staff & volunteers) who participate with both groups this school year.
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| Reminders from Previous RPS Directs
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| Three Ways to Pre-K – We're thrilled to offer preschool for eligible 3 and 4-year olds living in Richmond, along with three convenient ways to apply. Don't delay – spaces fill up quickly, and we don't want your child to miss out on this valuable opportunity! To begin your child's preschool registration, just visit our website.
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| RPS Poster Campaign – Looking for a cool end-of-year gift for an RPS teacher or graduate? We've got you covered! We turned our school map t-shirts into 24" x 36" posters and they look amazing! Pick one up at the RPS Love Store today.
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| #TeachWithLove at RPS – We're thrilled to offer signing bonuses of up to $7,000 for new hires starting in the fall! If you or someone you know is interested in joining the RPS team, please take a moment to visit our website to browse open positions. For more information, please email talentoffice@rvaschools.net.
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