Chesterfield County Public Schools -

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.

Apply by Feb. 28 for virtual hiring fair - 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. Questions? Call 804-748-1984 or email careers@ccpsnet.net.

Career and Technical Education Month

February is Career and Technical Education Month, which makes this a great month to celebrate work-based learning in Chesterfield County Public Schools. This video shows how students are supported throughout grades K-12.

A virtual Coffee & Conversation discussion will focus on intellectual disabilities. The Family and Community Engagement Office of Chesterfield County Public Schools will host the free webinar 1-2 p.m. Feb. 28, and a representative of Chesterfield Mental Health will be the featured speaker. Click here to register and to see upcoming Coffee & Conversation topics.

Outstanding School Counselors of the Year

Each year, Chesterfield County Public Schools recognizes outstanding school counselors who go above and beyond in order to maximize student success and promote access and opportunity for all students. Congratulations to these top school counselor leaders who are all in for all students:

• Outstanding First Year Counselor of the Year: Shenell Tolson (Harrowgate Elementary and Elizabeth Scott Elementary) and Ashlene Jones (Robious Middle)
• Outstanding Elementary School Counselor of the Year: Maria Bediako (Crestwood Elementary)
• Outstanding Middle School Counselor of the Year: Balsorah Lynch (Carver Middle)
• Outstanding High School Counselor of the Year: Merel Williams (Cosby High)

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.

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.

Parents can create list of books their student cannot check out

Chesterfield County Public Schools continues to be at the forefront of ensuring that parents and guardians have transparency about school library books.

The district recently added a feature to the online catalog for school libraries that offers another avenue for families to be involved in what their children read. Starting now, parents can create a list of books that their student will not be allowed to check out. (This new feature is in addition to existing opportunities for parents that provide online access to their student’s school library accounts and the ability to opt in to receive an email when their student checks out a book.)

Follow these steps to take advantage of this new method of overseeing what your child can check out from the school library:

• Look up your public access catalog login ID by going to ParentVUE using a web browser on a computer or mobile device (not using the mobile app). In ParentVUE, go to My Account to find Adult ID#. (Contact your school if you need help accessing your ParentVUE account.) Your public access catalog login ID is your ParentVUE adult ID number with G added to the front. For example, if your ParentVUE adult ID number is 123456, then G123456 is your public access catalog ID.
• Select your child’s campus on the school system’s library catalog page.
• Click My Account on the left side of the screen.
• You will be prompted for a library card number and PIN. Your library card number is your ParentVUE ID number with G added to the front. Your PIN is the last four digits of your ParentVUE ID number.
• Add books you do not want your student to be able to check out to a prohibited resource list. This document provides details about how to build a prohibited resource list for your student.

See how we surprised our Teachers of the Year!

Each year, Chesterfield County Public Schools leaders notify the top three Teachers of the Year of their selection by sweeping into their classrooms with balloons, banners and big excitement. This video shows the moments that this year's honorees heard the good news. Congratulations to the Teachers of the Year from every Chesterfield County school!

Budget is moving toward Feb. 22 vote

Public meetings offer opportunities to learn about the proposed FY 2025 budget and speak up about your priorities. Budget work sessions and public hearings are livestreamed at http://chesterfieldschoolsva.swagit.com/live/ and shown on Comcast channel 98 and Verizon channel 28. Here are remaining dates:

• A budget town hall will take place at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at Midlothian Middle (13501 Midlothian Turnpike), which is in the Midlothian District.
• On Feb. 13 in the Public Meeting Room, the School Board will hold a third work session on the budget at 4 p.m., then will hold a public hearing on the budget at the start of a 6:30 p.m. business meeting.
• The School Board will meet to adopt the budget at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 22 in the Public Meeting Room.

Superintendent Mervin B. 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 (including how to contact elected leaders). 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