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School Board Approves 2021 - 2022 Budget and Calendar
School Board Approves 2021 - 2022 Budget and Calendar
The Danville City School Board on Thursday night approved Superintendent Angela Hairston’s budget and calendar for the 2021 – 2022 school year.
The budget, which was first proposed at the April 1, 2021 meeting, invests in five key areas:
● Salary increases for all employees
● Staffing enhancements
● Five additional instructional days
● Increased wrap-around services
● After school programming
Employee raises budgeted for in FY22 and the step increase received in FY21 will equate to a 5% raise for all employees over the biennium. This budget includes a step increase plus an additional % yielding an average 3.5% increase for FY22, pending Governor Northam’s approval of the Conference Budget in April.
Staffing enhancements include the addition of certified teachers to reduce class sizes to 14-18 students; Literacy Specialists for elementary and middle schools; increased technology support for students; and increased support for Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs at Galileo and George Washington High Schools.
School will be extended by five days to address the effect of unlearned content during the pandemic. Teachers will receive a stipend of $1,500 and other qualifying employees will be paid their daily rate for the additional instructional days for the upcoming year.
In regard to wrap-around services, the budget includes additional social workers and guidance counselors.
For after school programming, the budget calls for increased opportunities for after school programming and enrichment activities by investing in and strengthening partnerships with key community partners.
The budget will be submitted to City Council by May 1, 2021.
The approved calendar for 2021-2022 includes:
● 5 additional instructional days for students
● 5 professional development days
● 10 dedicated teacher planning days throughout the school year
● One-week in October and February with a staff holiday, two workdays, and two professional development days (students are on holiday during these weeks)
● Election Day as a holiday
● The first semester exams before Winter Break
● Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday
● A full week at the end of March for Spring Break, and
● Good Friday and Easter Monday are designated as holidays.
School board meetings are held the first and third Thursdays of every month at 5:30 p.m. in the Danville Room at the School Board Office located at 341 Main Street. The meetings also stream live on YouTube at http://www.YouTube.com/user/dpslive.
Welcome to DPS!
The Danville City School Board recently approved the following administrative appointments:
Welcome to DPS!
The Danville City School Board recently approved the following administrative appointments:
· Ms. Alicia Hightower, Principal, Virtual Academy
· Mr. Kevin Bowman, Principal, G.L.H. Johnson Elementary
· Ms. LaTonya Simmons, Principal, Schoolfield Elementary
· Dr. Justin Durham, Principal, O.T. Bonner Middle School
· Mrs. Mary Ann Mitchell, Director of Curriculum
· Dr. Misti Webster Williams, Director of Leader Quality
· Ms. Judy Cox, Principal, Westwood Middle School
· Dr. Tonya Steele, Director of Professional Learning
Ms. Alicia Hightower has been employed with Danville Public Schools for eleven years. She has served as a Math Teacher at Westwood Middle School; Assistant Principal at Park Avenue Elementary School; Assistant Principal at Westwood Middle School; and most recently, Principal at Westwood Middle School. Prior to coming to Danville, Ms. Hightower served as a Math Teacher, Math Coach, School Improvement Resource Teacher, and School Improvement Specialist for Prince George’s County Public Schools in Oxon Hill, MD and as a Math Teacher for Guilford County Schools in Greensboro, NC.
Ms. Hightower received a Bachelor’s Degree in Middle Grades Education from Winston-Salem State University; a Master’s Degree in Adult Education from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University; and an Educational Leadership Endorsement from Longwood University.
Ms. Hightower will be principal of the newly formed DPS Virtual Academy, located in the former Taylor school building on Piney Forest Road. Students who selected the virtual mode of instruction for the 2021- 2022 school year will continue to learn virtually from home while all virtual instructors teach within the walls of the Virtual Academy.
Mr. Kevin Bowman has been employed with Danville Public Schools since 2017. He has served as a 3rd Grade Teacher at Schoolfield Elementary School and as an Assistant Principal at Westwood Middle School. Prior to coming to Danville, Mr. Bowman served as a Remediation Specialist and a 3rd Grade Teacher for Charlotte County Schools in Saxe, VA.
Mr. Bowman received a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science - Pre Law from Hampton University and a Master’s Degree in Education Administration from Averett University.
Ms. LaTonya Simmons has been employed with Danville Public Schools since July 2020 where she has served as Assistant Principal at Schoolfield Elementary School. Prior to coming to Danville, Ms. Simmons served as a Middle School English Teacher at Suffolk Public Schools; an Instructional Coach/Lead Turnaround Partner with Catapult and Richmond Public Schools; a Virtual English Instructor with Edgenuity, a leading provider of K–12 online curriculum and blended learning solutions; an Adult Basic Education Coordinator at Henrico County Public Schools; and an English Teacher at Newport News Public Schools.
Ms. Simmons received a Bachelor of Arts in English and Speech Communications from Old Dominion University and a Master’s Degree in School Principalship from Central Michigan University. She is doctoral student at Hampton University.
Dr. Justin Durham has served as Principal of Murphy Middle School in Augusta, GA and Assistant Principal of T.W. Josey High School in Augusta, GA. He taught 11th grade American Literature and 9th and 10th grade writing composition at Lucy Craft Laney High School and T.W. Josey High School. He also served as the FCA Advisor at Lucy Craft Laney High School and the Head Varsity Basketball Coach at both Lucy Craft Laney High School and T.W Josey High School. While at Laney the team won the Region 3AA championship and advanced to the Final Four in the state playoffs during the 2009-2010 season.
Dr. Durham received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English with a minor in Education from Paine College; a Master of Arts in Teaching and an Education Specialist Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Cambridge College; and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Capella University. While at Paine College, he also played basketball from 2002-2006 where he was a member of the 2002 SIAC Championship Team.
Mrs. Mary Ann Mitchell has had the following administrative experience: Assistant Principal and Principal of Reidsville High School in Reidsville, NC; Principal of Moss Street Elementary School in Reidsville, NC; and Administrative Intern with Fairview Elementary School in High Point, NC, the Welborn Academy of Science and Technology Middle School in High Point, NC, Dudley High School in Greensboro, NC, and Twilight High School in Greensboro, NC.
Mrs. Mitchell has also served as a Curriculum Coordinator, SES Coordinator, Induction Coordinator, and Location Controller for Fairview Elementary School in High Point, NC; a 5th Grade Math Teacher at Madison Elementary School in McLeansville, NC; a 5th Grade Teacher at Julius Foust Elementary School in Greensboro, NC; a Kindergarten and 2nd Grade Teacher at Oakwood Elementary School in Yanceyville, NC; and a 6th and 7th Grade Teacher at Anderson Elementary School in Anderson, NC.
Mrs. Mitchell received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education; a Master of Arts in Education, Reading and Secondary Education; and a Master of School Administration from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She also received an Education Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership and Cultural Foundations at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is a doctoral student at the University of North Carolina.
Dr. Misti Webster Williams has served as Senior Executive Director for Leadership and Strategy and Executive Director for Leadership and Talent Development at Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools; Executive Director for Induction and Professional Development at Guilford County Schools; Clinical Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Elementary School Principal at Guilford County Schools; Executive Director for Administration and Middle Schools Curriculum Director at Stokes County Schools; and Assistant Principal at Piney Grove Middle School at Stokes County Schools. She also has six years of experience in teaching English I, II, III, and IV to high school students.
Dr. Williams received a Bachelor of Arts in English; a Master of Science in School Administration; an Education Specialist Degree; and a Doctor of Education from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Ms. Judy Cox has served as Coordinator of Mathematics, Student Performance Data, and Gifted Services at Martinsville City Public Schools; and Principal of Albert Harris Elementary School at Martinsville City Public Schools. Ms. Cox previously held positions with Danville Public Schools - Principal of Woodberry Elementary School, Principal of W. Townes Lea Elementary School, Assistant Principal of O.T. Bonner Middle School, Grade 8 Mathematics Teacher at E.A. Gibson Middle School, and an Elementary Teacher at Forest Hills Elementary School.
Ms. Cox received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Averett University and a Masters of Education School Administration from Cambridge College. She is a doctoral student at Virginia Tech.
Dr. Tonya Steele has been employed with Danville Public Schools since 2018 as Principal of Woodrow Wilson Intermediate School. Prior to coming to Danville, she served in a number of roles at Atlanta Public Schools – International Baccalaureate Specialist, Elementary School Principal, and a Model Teacher Leader. She has also served as Instructional Support Specialist at Marietta City Schools in Marietta, GA and Teacher/Leader at Atlanta Public Schools, Fulton County Schools in Atlanta, GA, and Metropolitan Nashville Schools.
Dr. Steele received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Middle Tennessee State University; a Master of Arts in Teaching at Central Michigan University; and an Education Specialist Degree and a Doctor of Education from Kennesaw State University.
Photos
Top Row (L to R): Ms. Alicia Hightower, Mr. Kevin Bowman, Ms. LaTonya Simmons, Dr. Justin Durham
Bottom Row (L to R): Mrs. Mary Ann Mitchell, Dr. Misti Webster Williams, Ms. Judy Cox, Dr. Tonya Steele
Medicare 101 Zoom Meeting Scheduled
Medicare 101 Zoom Meeting Scheduled
Whether you are turning 65, over 65 and on group insurance, or making plans, this presentation will give you an overview of Medicare, what it covers, when to enroll, how to avoid penalties, and how retirement benefits coordinate. OneDigital will also discuss individual plans for those exploring options for other types of health coverage.
MEDICARE 101 Tuesday, April 27, 2021 ~ 4:30 p.m
Zoom Meeting Information: https://onedigital.zoom.us/j/94663112150?pwd=MEdZMCsyRU5FbHpUZ29Yc0NZN2Zodz09
Meeting ID: 946 6311 2150
Passcode: 830882
Dial by your location 877 853 5257 US Toll-free 888 475 4499 US Toll-free
Celebrate National Autism Awareness Month!
Sessions will focus on autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and screening as well as on approaches for meeting the learning needs of children
with autism in elementary education.
Celebrate National Autism Awareness Month!
Sessions will focus on autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and screening as well as on approaches for meeting the learning needs of children
with autism in elementary education.
Presenter: Office of Exceptional Children
Thursday, April 22 from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Please join us virtually here.
April 16th is National Librarian Day!
April 16th is National Librarian Day!
The library is the heart of the school. The librarian is the key to successful collaboration among the academic components of a school culture. School Librarians:
Librarians empower students with Lifelong Learning Skills
Teach students to build understanding from information
Teach students how to think and inquire
Motivate students to discover the world through reading
Teach students to be safe and responsible online
Provide social learning opportunities through collaborative research projects, use of social tools for learning and sharing, and book discussions
Nurture emotional growth
Impact student achievement
Prepare students for college and career
Thank you to all of our Librarians for all that you do for our 5,500 students!
Falcons Headed to State Championships!
Falcons Headed to State Championships!
Congratulations to the Galileo girls and boys Cross Country teams!! Both teams were champions at the Region meet this week! They brought home several individual medals as well. The Falcons are headed to the State Championships next week. Good Luck Falcons!!!
DPS is an Official PowerUser!
DPS is an Official PowerUser!
Danville Public Schools has been named an official PowerUser of the MajorClarity platform this year! Kudos on the impressive work Ms. Joyce Culley and the rest of our staff have done to ensure successful implementation, especially during a year that offered exceptional challenges. By incorporating MajorClarity's CCR tools into our curriculum, students are encouraged to take ownership of their academic experience and to prepare for a meaningful future. As a result of frequent engagement with MajorClarity software by both students and staff, DPS has been recognized for achieving the highest usage category - ‘PowerUser’ status.
This recognition means:
● At least 40-50% of all student accounts have been activated this school year (this benchmark is based on doubling the industry standard, which our research has found to be an est. activation rate of 20% for other CCR platforms)
● At least 50-60% of students have returned to their account 2x or more this school year
● High staff login rates (measured through number of students engaged per staff login). This engagement ratio must be under ASCA’s recommended caseload ratio of 250:1
MajorClarity helps ensure that every student’s education leads to a successful career outcome, whether through a liberal arts degree or jumping straight into the workforce. Students only retain 10% of what they read, but through proprietary and interactive content, MajorClarity's platform has led to a 189% increase in students building career aligned course plans of study.
On-Site Preschool Registration Offered!
On-Site Preschool Registration Offered!
In addition to registering at Grove Park or Northside preschools, stop by the following schools on April 21st or April 28th to register your child for preschool: Schoolfield, Gibson, Park Avenue, G.L.H Johnson, Forest Hills, and Woodberry. DPS will be onsite from 10:00AM - 2:00PM those days to register your child! Register Now.
Mr. Anthony Swann Visits Woodberry Elementary!
Mr. Anthony Swann Visits Woodberry Elementary!
Mr. Anthony Swann, 2021 Virginia Teacher of the Year, visited Woodberry Hills to motivate and encourage faculty and staff on the power of positive relationships with students.
Photo (L to R): Madeline Luck, Anthony Swann, Nicole Toomer
Schoolfield Jaguars "Light It Up Blue" for Autism!
Schoolfield Jaguars "Light It Up Blue" for Autism!
Virtual and in-person students and staff at Schoolfield Elementary wore blue to stand in solidarity with our fellow Jaguars! Together, we support autism awareness and inclusion! #LightItUpBlue
Photo (Top Row): Mr. Chapman, 5th grade virtual teacher; Mr. Chapman's 5th grade class; 5th grade virtual student, Tocarra Harriott
(Bottom Row): 2nd grade in-person teachers, Ms. Poole (left), Ms. Cassidy, and Ms. Shelton
HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND!
HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND!
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