Local Government, Civic Affairs and Education

Roanoke County school officials say a rapidly-developing series of events prevented them from issuing a timely message to parents regarding this morning’s shelter in place precautions at all county schools. Spokesperson Chuck Lionberger says they were preparing to do just that — until county police ordered full lockdowns at Cave Spring Elementary and Middle Schools:

All this followed concerns regarding a man reported to be driving around with a gun this morning after being involved in a family dispute at a Buck Mountain Road home. He was later taken into custody, and all school security measures were then lifted. It was not immediately clear what charges, if any, the man will face.

ROANOKE COUNTY SCHOOLS STATEMENT:

“On the morning of Sept. 6, at around 7:20 a.m., the Roanoke County Police Department asked us to place schools on a shelter in place as a precaution due to a report of a suspicious person armed with a weapon in the southwest portion of Roanoke County. As a further precaution, we decided to place all schools on a shelter in place because this person’s whereabouts was unknown. A shelter in place means students remain inside the building and continue the school day. This alert occurred during the normal arrival time for students, which created difficulties and confusion for students arriving at school.

“As we were working to make sure students were safe and secure while entering the building and gathering accurate information to send a message to parents, we received a report at 8:11 a.m. that the police department had placed Cave Spring Elementary and Cave Spring Middle schools on a full lockdown. Immediately we began to implement our emergency protocols to protect students at these schools. At that point, the safety of the students and staff at these schools was our top priority. About an hour later, we were notified that the police had apprehended the suspicious individual. Once we received the all clear from the police department, the police lifted the lockdowns at Cave Spring Elementary and Cave Spring Middle schools and we lifted the shelter in place at all other schools. We sent messages to parents that all incidents (lockdown and shelter in place) had been cleared. During this entire situation, all students were safe and secure and we thank our staff for professionally handling this situation.

“As with every such emergency incident, we assessed what worked, what didn’t work and modify our processes as needed. Ideally, we would have sent a message to parents about the initial shelter in place and lockdown. Our focus was on the safety of our students and attempting to process accurate information in an evolving situation.

“In any emergency situation, the safety of our students and staff is our top concern and we will continue to take appropriate actions out of an abundance of precaution. We believe that communicating with parents is important and we will continue to work to keep parents informed with accurate information as quickly as possible.

“We want to express our sincere appreciation to the Roanoke County Police Department for their swift response and detailed attention to keeping our schools safe and secure.”

A residential development proposal in Salem off Upland Drive could bring as many as 150 housing units to the former “Simms Farm” property. Its drawn so much opposition (for its size) from neighbors that the Planning Commission hearing was postponed a month until next Wednesday night (Sept 11, 7pm) and moved to the Salem Civic Center in anticipation of a large turnout. The proposed plan shows a mix of town homes and detached houses. Many of those opposed display “responsible development” signs in their front yard. There are not many undeveloped large parcels left in the City of Salem.

Andrea Johnson (Salem City Schools photo)

The Virginia Department of Education has named a Salem High School teacher the region’s teacher of the year. It means Andrea Johnson is one of eight regional winners now in the running for Virginia teacher of the year. Johnson teaches English to Salem High seniors.

NEWS RELEASE: — Eight teachers today learned of their selection as 2020 Virginia Regional Teachers of the Year during surprise classroom visits, school assemblies and announcements.

First Lady Pamela Northam — a former elementary and high school teacher — was on hand in Loudoun County for the Region 4 announcement; Secretary of Education Atif Qarni — a former middle school and adult education teacher — participated in the Region 3 announcement in Northumberland County; and Superintendent of Public Instruction James Lane was in Mecklenburg County for the Region 8 announcement.

“We can never do enough to celebrate the commonwealth’s outstanding teachers and the passion they bring to preparing young Virginians for success in school and beyond,” Northam said. “All of the educators selected today as 2020 Virginia Regional Teachers of the Year are recognized by their colleagues and school divisions as the best of the best.”

“We ask a lot of our teachers and the eight outstanding educators honored this morning represent the thousands of teachers in Virginia’s public schools who deliver every day by making a difference in the lives of their students and communities,” Qarni said. “Each of them is an ambassador for the teaching profession and the commonwealth’s public schools.”

“Our 2020 Virginia Regional Teachers of the Year represent different content areas and grade levels but they are all dedicated to providing challenging instruction that meets the needs of all of their students, regardless of background,” Lane said. “They are experts in the content they teach and in creating engaging activities, projects and assessments that incorporate the Five C’s: critical thinking, creative thinking, communication, collaboration and citizenship.”

The eight 2020 Virginia Regional Teachers of the Year announced today are as follows:

· Gregory Patrick Lyndaker, an Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Psychology teacher at Henrico High in Henrico County (Region 1)

· Rachel Kathryn Thompson, an International Baccalaureate World Language Spanish and Advanced Placement Capstone Seminar teacher at Princess Anne High School in Virginia Beach (Region 2)

· Latasha Marlene Lee, a choral music teacher at Northumberland Middle and Northumberland High in Northumberland County (Region 3)

· Jennifer Renee Rodgers, an Advanced Placement United States and Comparative Government and Politics, Academic Government, Modern International Relations, and Global Social Issues teacher at Dominion High in Loudoun County (Region 4)

· Amy Marie Mallow, a second-grade teacher at Huddleston Elementary in Bedford County (Region 5)

· Andrea Carson Johnson, a 12th-grade English and English 12 College Preparatory teacher at Salem High in Salem (Region 6)

· Sarah Lea Deel, a science teacher at Marion Senior High in Smyth County (Region 7)

· Michelle Rae Howell, a special education teacher at LaCrosse Elementary in Mecklenburg County (Region 8)

The teachers were selected from among candidates nominated by school divisions in each of the state’s eight superintendents regions. The candidates submitted portfolios highlighting their accomplishments, educational philosophies and community activities.

A panel, including classroom teachers, representatives of professional and educational associations, and the business community reviewed the portfolios and selected the eight regional teachers of the year. Next month, the panel will interview each of the eight regional teachers to select the 2020 Virginia Teacher of the Year. The decision will be announced on Monday, October 7 during a ceremony at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond.

The 2020 Virginia Teacher of the Year will be the commonwealth’s nominee in the National Teacher of the Year Program. The recognition is given by the Council of Chief State School Officers and program partners. Three previous Virginia teachers — B. Philip Bigler, the 1998 Virginia Teacher of the Year, Mary V. Bicouvaris, the 1989 Virginia Teacher of the Year, and Rodney A. Robinson, the 2019 Virginia Teacher of the Year — went on to be named National Teachers of the Year.

VWCC food pantry/G Marrano photos

A survey of incoming students who qualify for free tuition under the “C-CAP” program at Virginia Western found that almost 20 percent said they were “food insecure.” That’s when VWCC decided to establish a co-op food pantry at its student life center – which is free to ALL students at the school on the honor system – take only what you need if you can’t really afford to purchase it.  Lori Baker is the Dean of Student Services – she said at a ribbon cutting this morning for a new student Co-op they first tried to address those needs through faculty and staff donations:

 

MGN

Roanoke City mayor Sherman Lea said at this afternoon’s City Council meeting that he was not informed about the Norfolk Southern layoffs at the East End and Shaffers Crossing shops before those employees got pink slips this morning. Roanoke City manager Bob Cowell says there may be one small silver lining:

Cowell pegged the number of layoffs at 133 and says the city will work with the union in trying to find jobs for those skilled employees being laid off.

Rick Morrison and Cheryl Cobbs – Community Solutions Center/FASWVA photo)

The former Roanoke City police captain credited with getting the Community Solutions Center on Melrose Avenue off the ground has officially moved on from overseeing that operation. Now he looks back as WFIR’s Gene Marrano reports: