Chesterfield County Public Schools -

County libraries will forgive fines Sept. 12-16

Are fines keeping you from fully accessing everything the Chesterfield Public Library has to offer? Read Away Your Fines! Stop by any Chesterfield County library Sept. 12-16, read for 30 minutes and tell a staff member about what you read. It’s that simple, so don't let fines hold you back any longer. This opportunity is open to anyone with an overdue fine with the Chesterfield Public Library. Find your nearest location via this webpage.

Students: Your presence matters

This is Attendance Awareness Month, and we want students to know that their presence matters. When students are in school, they help create a vibrant and complete learning environment. Chesterfield County Public Schools is here to support families and ensure every student is able to show up ready to learn in class.

Registration is open for free PSAT and SAT prep sessions

The PSAT Academy is free and open to Chesterfield County Public Schools high school students who want to prepare for the PSAT exam that high schools administer for free each October. Register here for the Sept. 23-26 PSAT Academy. Registration closes Sept. 18.

The SAT Academy is free and available to Chesterfield County Public Schools high school students who want to prepare for college entrance exams. While there is no cost for the academy, students must purchase this study guide from the store or online site of their choice: Princeton Review Digital SAT Premium Prep, 2025 (ISBN 9780593517529). Register here for the Sept. 23-26 SAT Academy. Registration closes Sept. 18.

More information is available on this webpage.

Partnership with police department

Chesterfield County Public Schools and the Chesterfield County Police Department have a close connection, working as partners to protect students and school staff members. A memorandum of understanding, which is updated regularly, provides a framework for the partnership. The Chesterfield County School Board invites public comment on an updated memorandum of understanding.

• To read the draft updated memorandum, click this link or copy the url and paste it into your browser: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LPF2X_l5E4aZPXf7CYW3NLk2W0-XVZdD/view
• Email comments to ccpsinfo@ccpsnet.net before Aug. 4.

Award-winning teachers

Congratulations to CCPS world language Teachers of the Year:

• Jane Baskerville Excellence in Teaching Award: Tessa Wilkey, German teacher at Manchester High
• Jane Crouch-Rieder Excellence in Teaching Award: Amira Moncada-Ossorio, Spanish and heritage teacher at Midlothian High
• Exceptional World Language Leader Award: Kelly Burleson, Latin teacher and world languages department leader at Manchester Middle
• Novice Teacher Award: Nic Barker, Spanish teacher at Clover Hill High

Outstanding teachers

Congratulations to CCPS Visual Arts Teachers of the Year:

• Elementary Visual Art Educator of the Year: Bridget Hendricks of Old Hundred Elementary
• Middle School Visual Art Educator of the Year: Lydia Walters of Elizabeth Davis Middle
• High School Visual Art Educator of the Year: Vicki Kirtley of Clover Hill High

You’re the tops!

Congratulations to CCPS Performing Arts Teachers of the Year:

• Performing Arts Leadership Award: Rob Ellis, Cosby High theater teacher and department chair for the fine and performing arts
• Performing Arts Novice Teacher Award: John Donnell, first-year teacher of band and music technology at James River High
• Performing Arts Unsung Hero Award: Emily Oyan, Bird High band teacher
• Performing Arts Teachers of the Year (two winners): Connor Thompson, guitar teacher at Elizabeth Davis Middle; and Joanna Chocklett, dance teacher at Thomas Dale High

School bus road-e-o

CCPS bus drivers gathered June 3 for a road-e-o, a friendly competition to demonstrate skills needed to safely transport students. The road-e-o included spotting safety problems and navigating an obstacle course. Some school system leaders also tried driving a bus (accompanied by an experienced trainer). School Board Chair Dot Heffron, Chief of Operations Josh Davis and Transportation Director Calvin Frye only knocked over a few cones on the obstacle course!

Retrieve your student’s medication June 3-4 Parents and guardians must pick up their children’s medications from the school clinic, but the medications must be available for student use through the last day of school on May 31. All remaining student medications, including over-the-counter medications, may be picked up from the school clinic during normal school hours June 3-4. After 4 p.m. June 4, all leftover medications will be packed and turned over to the Chesterfield County Police Department for disposal. Once medications are packed for police collection, they cannot be retrieved so it is important for parents to pick up medications on time. Late pickups are not permitted, and medications cannot be stored at the school during the summer. All medications must be picked up even if your student will attend summer school. At the beginning of summer school, parents will need to provide children’s medication to the summer school coordinator at your child’s summer site. Please contact your child’s school nurse to request a copy of the medication order for all medications being administered during summer school.

CCPS Outstanding Teachers of the Gifted

Congratulations to CCPS Outstanding Teachers of the Gifted:

• Mary Precopio of Greenfield Elementary is the CCPS Elementary Outstanding Teacher of the Gifted. A teacher of the gifted for 30 years, she excels at providing an engaging and authentic learning experience for her students while also allowing them to feel safe and supported both socially and emotionally.
• Christina Owens of Midlothian Middle is the CCPS Secondary Outstanding Teacher of the Gifted. As chair of the Science Department Chair, she leads not only her students through challenging conversations, but also her colleagues. She is invested in supporting students and teachers as they develop as lifelong learners who willingly accept challenges.

Student job fair High school seniors connected with employers to find short- and long-term jobs during the third annual student job fair organized by Chesterfield County Public Schools. More than 95 employers were on-site.

Spring Into Wellness on April 29

Families are invited to a mental health resource fair organized by Chesterfield County Public Schools. Spring Into Wellness will take place 4:30-7:30 p.m. April 29 at CTC@Hull (13900 Hull Street Road). Registration is required for this free event. In addition to more than 30 wellness vendors, speakers will cover these topics: Motivation and goal setting for tweens and teens; Understanding your child’s nature for happier parenting; and College prep and student wellness. Register at https://bit.ly/48EpdGM.

Today’s the last day to suggest new school name

The new west area middle school needs a name! Chesterfield County Public Schools broke ground in August 2023 on the district’s 13th middle school. The Chesterfield County School Board is seeking the community’s input in naming the new school. Chesterfield County residents are invited to suggest names via bit.ly/WAMSname no later than Feb. 28.

Youth gambling is topic of March 6 Coffee & Conversation

A virtual Coffee & Conversation discussion will focus on youth gambling and gaming. The Family and Community Engagement Office of Chesterfield County Public Schools will host the free webinar 1-2 p.m. March 6, and a representative of Chesterfield Mental Health Prevention Services will be the featured speaker. Click here to register and to see upcoming Coffee & Conversation topics.

Students who want to become teachers have until March 15 to apply for Mirror Me

Family connections run deep in Chesterfield County Public Schools, and Mirror Me is part of that because it supports students who want to return to Chesterfield classrooms as teachers. Chesterfield values a diverse teacher workforce, and Mirror Me seeks to identify and hire more teachers who mirror our student population.

Through Mirror Me, CCPS high school juniors and seniors can enroll in dual-enrollment courses at no cost, will be connected with a mentor teacher and during college will receive financial support. In addition to CCPS juniors and seniors, Mirror Me is open to Virginia Commonwealth University and Virginia State University students interested in becoming teachers. When Mirror Me participants graduate from VCU or VSU with a teaching degree, they receive priority hiring with Chesterfield County Public Schools.

To take advantage of Mirror Me opportunities, students must apply by March 15. Details about Mirror Me are online, including the application form in English, in Spanish and in four other languages. Email any questions to Dr. Carmen Waterford, coordinator of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Veterinary science program to expand

Monacan High and the Health Professions and Therapies Specialty Center will house a new veterinary science program that will open to students in 2026.

Veterinary science is currently offered at both campuses of the Chesterfield Career and Technical Center, but both sites consistently have long waiting lists. Adding a third site will help Chesterfield County Public Schools meet student demand, which in turn will help meet marketplace demand in this growing field. Each veterinary science program enrolls 40 students each school year.

A $500,000 grant that the Chesterfield Education Foundation received from the Community Foundation will initially fund the program expansion. The four-year grant will cover planning, renovation of an existing classroom, setup and curriculum preparation.

Work where you make a big difference

Chesterfield County Public Schools is hiring for summer programs and for critical needs areas. Questions? Call 804-748-1984 or email careers@ccpsnet.net.

• Teachers in critical needs areas

Chesterfield County Public Schools is holding a virtual job fair seeking teachers in critical needs areas. Highly qualified candidates in these areas are encouraged to apply by Feb. 28 to be considered for an interview: library, math, chemistry, biology, earth and space science, middle school science, special education, ESL, English, language arts, reading specialists and elementary education.

• Summer jobs

Chesterfield County Public Schools is hiring for hundreds of summer school jobs. Summer school will run June 24-July 18 (Monday-Thursday). This flyer offers details about summer jobs. If you are interested, go to bit.ly/CCPSjobs to apply for:

• District supervisors
• Summer school principals
• Building liaisons
• PK-12 teachers (general and special education, ESL, substitutes) and extended day teachers (PE, music, art, world language, STEAM)
• Librarians
• Counselors
• Testing coordinators
• Instructional aides (general and special education)
• Secretaries
• Nurses (RNs and LPNs)
• Clinic assistants
• Security monitors
• Transportation
• Food services

Families can now apply for prekindergarten, CCPSOnline and Chesterfield Virtual School

• Prekindergarten serves 4-year-olds with the greatest need, helping them prepare for kindergarten. Applications are being accepted now for the 2024-25 school year. This webpage has details and links to the application form in English and in Spanish. A limited number of prekindergarten spots are available at these sites:
  • Chester Early Childhood Learning Academy serving Bellwood, Bensley, Beulah, Marguerite Christian, Curtis, Ecoff, Enon, Gates, Harrowgate, Salem Church, Elizabeth Scott and Wells elementary schools
  • Bon Air, Davis, Chalkley, Crenshaw, Crestwood, Ettrick, Evergreen, Falling Creek, Greenfield, Hening, Hopkins, Jacobs Road, Matoaca, Providence and Reams Road elementary schools


• CCPSOnline classes are open to students in grades 9-12. With learning available 24/7 in a no-bells, no-limits virtual environment, the flexibility of CCPSOnline classes can help high school students create the schedule they want. Act now to take advantage of this Chesterfield County Public Schools opportunity:
  • CCPSOnline registration for summer 2024 and for the 2024-25 school year is open through April 28, and the website offers details including registration form.
  • Students and parents are invited to a virtual info session about CCPSOnline at 6:30 p.m. March 4; click this link to join the discussion. Also, students can talk to their school counselor about how CCPSOnline may fit into their schedule.


• Chesterfield Virtual School is open for Chesterfield County students in grades K-8. As Virginia’s first virtual school, the Chesterfield Virtual School provides the opportunity to learn with teachers from across the country and students from all over Chesterfield County. The Chesterfield Virtual School works for students who are self-sufficient and self-driven. School days begin at 7:45 a.m. with morning meetings. Before students are dismissed for the day at 2:15 p.m., teachers cover all core academic subjects. After-school clubs offer additional connections for students. The Chesterfield Virtual School also offers gifted instruction, honors classes, special education and ESL.
  • Enrollment for new students is open through April 28, and the school website offers details including registration form.
  • Students and parents are invited to a virtual info session about Chesterfield Virtual School on Feb. 21 at 8:30 a.m. or at 1:30 p.m. To join one of the informal sessions, go to meet.google.com and enter cvsinterestmeeting as the code.

Budget process continues Through this video message, Superintendent Mervin B. Daugherty encourages families to advocate for state funding for schools by reaching out to state legislators. Find out who your legislators are by clicking here.
The School Board will meet to adopt the FY 2025 budget at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 22 in the Public Meeting Room (10001 Iron Bridge Road). The meeting will be livestreamed and shown live on Comcast channel 98 and Verizon channel 28.
Dr. Daugherty proposed the budget on Jan. 23. You can view that presentation here; watch a video of the School Board work session here; and review budget details here. The $913.7 million budget reflects commitment to continued educational excellence and addresses three sets of priorities:

• Compensation and required increases: Providing a 4% salary increase to employees and allowing for increased costs for services and state-mandated increases
• Maintaining service levels: Continuing the quality education and support services our community values
• Additional needs: Addressing other needed items for schools based on final state revenue numbers

Upcoming dates -

• Chesterfield County schools and school offices will be closed Feb. 19.
• March 5 is an asynchronous learning day, which means students learn from home.
• Student calendars are available online.