Henrico School Board honors 22 HCPS programs with national awards; students and staff highlighted

Henrico County School Board members opened their Nov. 13, 2025, meeting by recognizing a slate of award-winning programs across the division and hearing a student musical performance.

An HCPS presenter told the board that 22 division programs earned honors from the National Association of Counties and state associations, and that Henrico ‘‘has the most award recipients in the Commonwealth of Virginia for the twentieth consecutive year.’’ The ceremony grouped recognitions across innovation, career and technical education (CTE), family and community engagement, and student mental-health supports.

Christopher Mosley, education specialist for performing arts, introduced a Holman Middle School ensemble and their director, Lizzie Williamson, asking attendees to stand for the Star-Spangled Banner and a second selection honoring veterans. "My name is Christopher Mosley. I am the education specialist for performing arts," Mosley said as he introduced the performance.

Crystal Metzger, principal of Knuckles Farm Elementary School, introduced student members of her flag team who led the board in the pledge. "I am Crystal Metzger, the proud principal of Knuckles Farm Elementary, and I'm excited to have members of our flag team here with us this evening to be able to say the pledge of allegiance to kick off the school board meeting," she said.

Among program highlights, HCPS described a rapid expansion of its robotics offerings—from 2 pilot programs to more than 40 participating schools serving grades 2–8—and credited the initiative with advancing STEM education and critical life skills. The division also cited its ACE Career Education Center collaborations, entrepreneurship events that drew more than 1,500 visitors and generated nearly $40,000 to support CTE programs, and a specialization cohort program offering year-long professional learning with a permanent 4.8% salary increase for completers.

The presenter also described divisionwide mental-health and wellness efforts to expand on-campus clinical services, teletherapy, referral pathways and staff licensure support, calling the strategy "a model for other communities and school divisions." HCPS named multiple staff and school leaders who accepted awards for those programs.

The recognitions closed with a note about a newly launched esports program that HCPS said is connecting students and community while reinforcing math and critical-thinking skills; a division official accepted the plaque on the district's behalf.

The meeting proceeded after the recognitions to later agenda items and proclamations.