Hampton City Schools highlights new administrators, awards and 2025–26 kickoff
6438750 · September 4, 2025
Summary
The school board recognized new administrators, honored teachers of the year, recognized a state track champion, and touted a Forbes employer ranking and back-to-school kickoff.
The Hampton City School Board used its Sept. 3 meeting to introduce newly hired and promoted administrators, present division awards, and recap back-to-school activities that launched the 2025–26 school year.
Administrators introduced included principals and assistant principals across elementary and secondary schools and several newly named central-office leaders. Superintendent Raymond Haynes and staff named principals such as Damien Collins (Bridal Elementary) and Jared Monroe (Eaton Fundamental Middle School) and central-office appointees including Mary Hollifield, elementary English language arts curriculum leader, and April Fry, assistant director of special education.
The board highlighted a back-to-school kickoff on Aug. 15 attended by more than 3,000 staff at the Boo Williams Sportsplex. Superintendent Haynes and others praised the event, which included a keynote, recognitions and a "mascot race." The division launched its third season of the HCS Talks podcast and said it welcomed more than 19,000 students for the start of the school year.
The board also recognized individual achievements: Jamar Osefel (Phoebus High School) for winning the Virginia High School League Class 4 state title in the 300-meter hurdles; Tim Cullen of the transportation department for winning the Virginia Best School Bus Technician competition; and Edwina Forrest and the Food and Nutrition Services Department for receiving the Virginia School Boards Association Food for Thought Award (after-school meal programs). The board presented certificates and commemorative coins to honorees.
In employment and recognition news, the division announced that Forbes named Hampton City Schools to its "America's Best In-State Employers 2025" list, one of four Virginia public-school divisions to receive the distinction, based on an independent employee survey. The superintendent and chair said the recognition was based on employee feedback and would be publicized with a press release and through school communications.
Finally, the board recognized its 2025–26 teachers of the year: Stacy Ann Facey (Lindsay Middle School, bridal school teacher of the year), Ashley Winfield (Phoebus High School, high school teacher of the year) and Shontae Jackson (Bassett Elementary School, elementary and division teacher of the year). Each honoree received a plaque and division recognition.
No formal board decisions were made as part of the recognitions beyond presenting certificates and announcements.
