10/15/2025
Superintendent’s Summary – October 14, 2025
The October School Board meeting opened with Abingdon Elementary’s Fiona Cupp leading the Pledge of Allegiance. Fiona is a fifth-grade student and serves as an Anchored for Life team leader. Her confidence and leadership set a positive tone for the evening.
Recognitions
The Board recognized two outstanding seniors this month.
Emerson Dutton serves as the Yearbook Editor, assists teachers, and has played soccer for twelve years.
Ava Hutton is an AP Biology student, distance runner, and Beta Club leader who represents academic excellence and character.
The October Community Volunteer of the Month is Jennifer Smith, who has served as the PTO Treasurer for the past three years and continues to be a dedicated advocate for our schools.
The September Volunteer of the Month is Ms. Patricia Walker of Abingdon Elementary. She supports before and after school programs through her work with the Boys and Girls Club, collaborates with Coastal Church, and is known for being a kind and positive presence in the school community.
Accent on Academics
Abingdon Elementary’s Mr. DeWitt and Ms. Brush, along with their students, shared how math is something students do, not something they just talk about. Through number lines, movement, and hands-on problem solving, students demonstrated their understanding of positive and negative numbers, multi-step addition, and multiplication. This presentation reflected the high level of engagement that leads to success in Gloucester County Public Schools. It is no surprise that by fifth grade, Gloucester ranks second in mathematics out of 131 school districts in Virginia.
Disability Awareness Month
October is Disability Awareness Month. Gloucester was recognized by the Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitation Services as one of only two districts in the Commonwealth for outstanding pre-employment and transition services. Students explored how drones are used in industry, practiced welding at Rappahannock Community College, and learned about opportunities in the culinary field. We extend our gratitude to Mr. Matt Luther and DARS for their continued partnership and support of workforce development for all students.
Student Voice
Erik Waters, the Student School Board Representative, shared feedback from Gloucester High School students. District staff received these suggestions and are initiating the needed improvements to strengthen communication, enhance student experience, and continue building a culture where every student voice is heard and valued.
Public Comment
During public comment, we heard heartfelt input about bullying. Gloucester County Public Schools remains fully committed to improving our processes and ensuring every concern is addressed with care and consistency. Accountability is part of the process and GCPS remains committed to investigate every claim to ensure families and staff have the information needed for both accountability and healing from these traumatic experiences. We will continue to strengthen prevention efforts, engage families, and support staff so that every student feels loved, valued, and a true sense of belonging in every school.
Strategic Updates
The Board received several strategic updates focused on workforce readiness, academic achievement, operational readiness, and mental health and well-being.
Dr. Amy Stamm, Chief Human Resources Officer, presented the results of the Virginia Working Conditions Survey. The data showed improvement in overall climate and satisfaction since 2023, with more than 300 employees and 1,000 students reporting a stronger sense of belonging and positivity.
Dr. Stefan Mygas and Dr. Stamm presented student achievement results, highlighting the highest graduation rate in the history of Gloucester County Public Schools. For the first time, Gloucester is ranked first in Region 3, making it the top-performing district along Virginia’s eastern corridor, from the York River to Northern Virginia.
The class size report showed that GCPS continues to maintain small class sizes, even with enrollment decreasing by approximately 82 students.
Workforce Readiness
Dr. Mygas also shared updates on the expansion of workforce readiness and career and technical education programs, including Automotive Technology, Culinary Arts, Criminal Justice, Cybersecurity, Construction, Emergency Medical Technician, Certified Nursing Assistant, Patient Care Technician, and Unmanned Aircraft Systems. Gloucester High School continues to grow as a hub for hands-on learning and workforce preparation.
The School Board and the superintendent discussed the possible creation of a working group to explore additional programs in Plumbing, Electrical, HVAC, and Welding. These programs would allow Gloucester students to gain valuable trade skills right here in their community.
Graduation Venue Exploration
The School Board authorized the superintendent to explore the use of William and Mary Hall as a possible venue for the Class of 2026 commencement. More than eighty percent of survey respondents expressed a preference for an indoor venue outside of Gloucester. Based on feedback from the Class of 2025 ceremony, staff will explore both Friday evening and Sunday afternoon options and report findings at the next meeting.
Anti-Bullying Resolution
The Board approved an Anti-Bullying Resolution in recognition of October as Anti-Bullying Month.
Revised SOL Cut Scores
Superintendent Dr. Vladu presented information on the Virginia Board of Education’s revised SOL cut scores. This four-year delayed implementation increases the level of rigor and raises passing thresholds to better reflect mastery of standards. The changes will have implications for instruction, assessment, and grading practices beginning this school year. Additional information will be shared at the Joint School Board meeting next Tuesday.
Closing Remarks
We thank the public for their continued support and the School Board for its leadership, which is driving Gloucester County Public Schools to unprecedented levels of performance. Together, we are building a community of excellence where every student can learn, grow, and thrive.