VSBA: School Board News

In episode 85 of the VSBA School Board News Podcast, VSBA Executive Director Gina Patterson is joined by Superintendent Doug Straley, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Justin Grigg, and physical education teacher Jenny Fisher as they share how Louisa County Public Schools developed it's innovative swim lesson program. They discuss how the initiative uses community partnerships to provide students with essential water safety skills, build confidence, and create meaningful, hands-on learning experiences that extend beyond the classroom.

This episode highlights how Prince William County Public Schools is preparing students for high-demand careers through its Aviation Maintenance Pathway. Gina Patterson is joined by Dr. Sarah Martin, Director of Career and Technical Education, to discuss how the hands-on program introduces students to aircraft inspection, maintenance, and aviation systems while aligning with Federal Aviation Administration standards. Learn how industry partnerships, real-world learning experiences, and career-focused pathways are helping students take flight toward future opportunities in the aviation and aerospace industries.

In this special episode of VSBA: School Board News, host Gina Patterson is joined by Stacie Reiter and Samantha Baker from Sodexo to celebrate VSBA Equity in Education Month. They discuss how Sodexo supports equitable learning environments through school nutrition, facilities management, and community partnerships, sharing real-world examples of how schools can remove barriers and ensure all students have access to the resources they need to succeed.

In this special episode of the VSBA: School Board News Podcast, host Gina Patterson is joined by Task Force Co-Chairs Douglas Brown and Dr. Jason Van Heukelum to recognize VSBA Equity in Education Month. They discuss the importance of advancing equity across Virginia, share local examples of impact, and offer practical ways school divisions can support students facing barriers to success. A special thank you to Sodexo for sponsoring VSBA's 2026 Equity in Education Month.

In this episode of the VSBA School Board News Podcast, Executive Director Gina Patterson is joined by VSBA President-Elect Joe Kilgore and VSBA Eastern Region Chair Veda Frazier, to discuss the importance of VSBA School Board Appreciation Month. Kilgore and Frazier also discuss their personal journeys as school board members on their respective school boards.

In this episode of the VSBA School Board News Podcast, Executive Director Gina Patterson is joined by Ernesto Hernandez, Regional Sales Director for BuyBoard, to discuss how the national purchasing cooperative helps school divisions save time, ensure compliance, and maximize resources. Learn how BuyBoard works, what sets it apart from traditional procurement methods, and how Virginia school boards and division leaders can use cooperative purchasing to support both educational and operational needs.

In this special episode of the VSBA School Board News Podcast, Executive Director Gina Patterson talks with Jenny Nichols, the 2025-2026 VSBA President and school board member from Washington County Public Schools. President Nichols shares her journey in public education and introduces her presidential theme, "Rooted in Public Education." Together, they explore what it means for school boards to stay grounded in their communities while fostering growth and innovation across Virginia. Join the conversation by sharing your story on social media using #RootedinPublicEd and celebrate how we're all growing together through the power of public education.

In this episode, host Gina Patterson is joined by Bridget Adams from Newport News Public Schools. They discuss how the division promotes kindness, respect, and safety through its bullying prevention initiatives during VSBA Bullying Prevention Month and throughout the year.

On this episode of the VSBA School Board News Podcast, we spotlight Radford City Public Schools' Books for Bobcats – a book bus bringing the joy of reading to students and families! Tune in to hear how the program started and the impact it made this summer.

In this episode, Executive Director Gina Patterson is joined by Mike Rezac, Member Experience Manager with VAcorp, to discuss the importance of student accident coverage. From everyday injuries to unexpected emergencies, learn how VAcorp helps school divisions across Virginia protect students and provide peace of mind for communities.

In Episode 75, Gina Patterson is joined by Samantha Bosserman to discuss the relaunch of VSBA's School Board U. Tune in to learn how this revamped professional development resource supports school board members through six key learning strands, flexible session options, and three certificate tracks tailored for continuous growth and effective governance.

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.