Henrico expands career ladder; classified ladder draws 567 participants in first four months

Henrico County Public Schools officials on Feb. 13 updated the School Board on expanded career ladder programs that district leaders say align with the division’s Destination 2025 strategic plan and are intended to recruit, retain and reward staff.

At a work session presentation, Leslie Hughes, HCPS chief learning officer, and Dr. Tracy Weston, director of professional learning and leadership, described the growth of three ladders: the educator ladder (launched 2022), the classified employee ladder (fall 2024) and the school leader ladder (January 2025). “The career ladder aligns directly with the division’s strategic plan, Destination 2025,” Hughes said.

Hughes and Weston told the board the classified ladder has enrolled 567 unique participants in its first four months, with more than 5,035 hours of professional learning completed. Courses for classified staff run as many as 33 sessions each semester and cover topics including safety protocols, de‑escalation, trauma‑informed practices, technology efficiency and productivity book studies.

Officials described micro‑credentials as 20–30 hour competency‑based courses and specializations as cohort programs roughly 32 weeks and “99 plus” hours in scope. The presentation said participation in specializations grew from 48 in year one to 76 in year three; to date, participants in specializations have collectively earned more than 13,000 hours of professional learning and “each earning a 4.8% salary advancement,” according to the presentation materials. Hughes said specializations and micro‑credentials together account for more than 60,000 hours of voluntary professional learning.

Board members asked whether the ladder includes part‑time employees and other groups. Dr. Weston said the classified ladder has not yet been expanded to part‑time staff; the initial classified rollout included a portion of office professionals and the district is discussing next steps to include positions such as custodians and additional office staff. Weston and Hughes said the district also plans targeted expansion to harder‑to‑fill classified positions such as SSOs (student safety officers) in later iterations.

Several board members praised the online and cohort formats, noting that teachers and school leaders described being able to learn on Tuesday and implement practices on Wednesday. Board members also asked about whether external coursework or additional advanced degrees can be counted toward micro‑credential credit; Weston said staff may submit external coursework for review to determine whether it meets the district’s micro‑credential criteria.

The presentation referenced budget planning: sustaining and expanding the career ladder requires operating‑budget investment and is reflected in the superintendent’s recommended fiscal 2026 budget. Hughes thanked the board for ongoing funding and support and invited questions.

Board reaction in the work session was uniformly supportive; no formal vote or new spending authorization occurred at the Feb. 13 meeting.

The board will receive future updates as the district continues to expand participation and examine options to include additional employee groups.