The Virginia School Boards Association has released its 22nd annual VSBA Showcases for Success directory, highlighting successful K-12 programs in Virginia’s public schools. Petersburg City Public Schools is one of 45 school divisions to have programs featured in the directory. The full directory is available at www.vsba.org/showcases. The Petersburg City Public Schools programs included are:
- Petersburg Teacher Supply Closet – The Petersburg Teacher Supply Closet is a free store for Petersburg teachers.
They can visit the store to select items they need in their classrooms ¾ and it’s all free! Donations of new and gently used items keep the store shelves stocked with paper, pencils, art supplies, scissors, clipboards, glue and much more. The store opened in October 2017 as a way to support teachers and students. Teachers love being able to select supplies needed in their classrooms. Many of them say that visiting the store is just like Christmas! Housed in one of Petersburg’s eight schools, the store is open 3-6 p.m. two afternoons a month. The store is sponsored by the Petersburg Chamber of Commerce, staffed by the Deltas and supported by multiple community groups and individuals. - Transforming Learning With Technology – To achieve its mission of developing 21st-century citizens able to
effectively collaborate, communicate and innovate, Petersburg City Public Schools is expanding the use of technology. Starting in the fall of 2017, students in grades 5-9 receive Chromebooks and students in grades 10-12 receive laptops to use during the school day and to take home so that learning can continue anytime, anywhere. Students will have access to digital textbooks, online resources, open educational resources and teacher-created content. Also, all Petersburg teachers now have laptops, which they have not had before. Technology alone will not improve academic achievement, but when used as a part of a comprehensive school improvement approach it will empower students to take a greater role in their own learning and will provide equity in access to quality instructional resources.
