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Superintendent highlights student achievements and Workforce Readiness Month at school board meeting
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Steven Mayhew and staff summarized student successes — JROTC honors, a regional spelling bee winner, arts and scholarship recognitions — and staff outlined Workforce Readiness Month activities and upcoming career fairs for students.
Superintendent Dr. Steven Mayhew used the April 14 school board meeting to highlight student and program achievements across the division and to thank staff for organizing the annual Student Leaders Forum.
Dr. Mayhew reported that three JROTC programs (Dan River, Gretna and Tunstall) earned the gold star award after a federal inspection and were designated honor units with distinction. He noted multiple student recognitions: Layla Barrett (eighth grade at Chatham Middle School) won a regional spelling bee and will compete at the Scripps National Spelling Bee; Dan River and Tunstall student groups raised $2,400 for the Danville-Pittsylvania Cancer Society; and students placed in regional VSBA art and scholarship contests.
At the meeting, the board also heard from student speaker Kayla Hamlet of Tunstall High School on the character word of the month, "caring." Hamlet said, "Caring can be defined as feeling or showing concern for or kindness to others," and urged listeners to show empathy and practical acts of care in daily life.
Ms. Barbara Brooks presented an overview of the Virginia School Boards Association's 2026 Workforce Readiness Month activities for the division. She described a March 25 CTE-based career fair at Chatham High School that connected juniors and seniors with area employers across CTE program areas and announced an April 22 career fair at the PCTC for skilled and professional careers. Brooks said CTE teachers have been provided a VSBA toolkit for classroom activities and that April 16 will be Workforce Readiness Day in the division.
Mr. Bowles summarized the Student Leaders Forum held March 25, describing team-building activities, student-led conversations with division leaders about the high school course selection guide, scheduling, College of Averett partnership, cell phone and dress-code policies, bullying, athletics and mental health supports. Dr. Mayhew said staff intend to consider student feedback for future improvements.
The board applauded student presenters and recognized staff who supported the events. The superintendent closed with reminders about upcoming division events, including a plant sale at the Career and Tech Center and the retirees luncheon.
