A monthly podcast brought to you by the Virginia School Boards Association. Hosted by Executive Director Gina Patterson, this podcast will discuss matters pertinent to school board members in Virginia.
Virginia School Boards Association
In this episode, host Gina Patterson, Executive Director of the VSBA, is joined by Clarke County Public Schools' Superintendent Dr. Rick Bolling, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Cathy Seal, and Work-Based Learning Coordinator Shaine Coleman, to discuss Clarke County's "JumpStart" Program.
In this episode, host Gina Patterson, Executive Director of the VSBA, explores how Cognia supports schools and divisions in their continuous improvement efforts. Gina is joined by Dr. Myra Sawyers, Director of the Mid-Atlantic Region for Cognia, and Dr. Angela Hairston, Superintendent of Danville Public Schools, to discuss the accreditation process, assessment tools, and professional learning opportunities Cognia offers.
In this episode, VSBA Executive Director Gina Patterson is joined by Dr. Michael Thornton, a retired Virginia Superintendent and one of the lead instructors for the VSBA Fiscal Governance Cohort. During the episode, Gina and Dr. Thornton discuss the importance of fiscal governance in school divisions and the upcoming VSBA Fiscal Governance Cohort starting in March 2025.
In this episode, VSBA Executive Director Gina Patterson is joined by VSBA President Dr. JoWanda Rollins-Fells for a discussion on VSBA School Board Appreciation Month. During the episode, Gina and Dr. Rollins-Fells discuss the importance of School Board Appreciation Month as well as the 2025 VSBA President's Initiative, Champions for Impact.
In this episode, Executive Director Gina Patterson is joined by Dr. Brandie Lee, student and family engagement coordinator at Petersburg City Public Schools. Gina and Dr. Lee discuss Petersburg's transformative Community Builders program, which has significantly increased community engagement by fostering connections between parents, students, and local resources.
In this episode of the VSBA School Board News Podcast, Gina Patterson welcomes Dr. Phil Gore, a leading voice in school board governance and leadership. Dr. Gore discusses the importance of strong board relationships, his book, Improving School Board Effectiveness, and an upcoming webinar series hosted by the VSBA that is designed to help school boards drive student success. Tune in for actionable insights and expert advice!
In this episode, VSBA Executive Director Gina Patterson is joined by Mike Rezac, Member Experience Manager at VAcorp. During the episode, Gina and Mike discuss VAcorp's Cyber Risk Services and how they can help school divisions that experience cyber incidents like ransomware attacks and business email compromises.
In this episode, VSBA Executive Director Gina Patterson is joined by Rodney Jordan, VSBA Task Force on Students and Schools in Challenging Environments Co-Chair and Douglas Brown, VSBA At-Large Member and Task Force Member for Students and Schools in Challenging Environments. During the episode, Gina and guests discuss JLARC's 2023 study on Virginia's K-12 Funding Formula and how school divisions can take advantage of VSBA's Take Your Legislator to School Month in November to discuss this important topic with local state officials. A link to the study can be found here: https://jlarc.virginia.gov/landing-2023-virginias-k-12-funding-formula.asp
Listen to Episode 66 of the Virginia School Board News Podcast. In this episode, VSBA Executive Director Gina Patterson is joined by Doug Straley, Virginia's 2024 Superintendent of the Year. Gina and Doug talk more about Doug's administrative journey in education and how he has made his own impact in Louisa County Public Schools.
Listen to Episode 65 of the Virginia School Board News Podcast. In this episode, VSBA Executive Director Gina Patterson is joined by Avanti Yamamoto, Virginia's 2025 Teacher of the Year. Gina and Avanti talk more about Avanti's journey to becoming a teacher and her innovative teaching methods, and the challenges she's faced as a mathematics teacher.
Listen to Episode 64 of the Virginia School Board News Podcast. In this episode, VSBA Executive Director Gina Patterson is joined by Craig Maddox, Supervisor of Career and Technical Education, ITRTs, and Library/Media for Amherst County Public Schools. Gina and Craig discuss Amherst's exciting initiative, the “Amherst Express Mobile Lab for Exploring Career Pathways.”
Listen to Episode 61 of the Virginia School Board News Podcast. In this episode, VSBA Executive Director Gina Patterson is joined by Barbara Hunter, Executive Director at the National School Public Relations Association. Gina and Barbara discuss tips to help school board members effectively communicate with the media.
Listen to Episode 60 of the Virginia School Board News Podcast. In this episode, VSBA Executive Director Gina Patterson is joined by Hampton City Public Schools Chief of Staff and Deputy Superintendent, Dr. John Caggiano, and their Chief Academic Officer, Dr. James Harris. Gina and guests discuss the rewriting of Hampton City Schools' curriculum and how their new approach on education has impacted the engagement of their students.
VSBA Executive Director Gina Patterson interviews Kathleen Beane, Michael Lake, and Amy McClure. They discuss School Board Appreciation Month and their experiences as school board members.
VSBA Executive Director Gina Patterson interviews 2023 VSBA President David Woordard. They discuss his start in serving on the school board in Tazewell County, the VSBA mission, and his hopes for the future as VSBA president.
In this episode of the VSBA School Board News, executive director Gina Patterson is joined by VSBA President Janet Turner-Giles, Past-President Rodney Jordan, and President-Elect Teddy Martin. Together they reflect on their first years serving as school board members and discuss advice for those considering a run for school board office.
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