VCS to Hold District-Wide Parent & Family Night at LB Yancey

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-Information courtesy Vance County Schools

Save the Date! Tuesday, January 14, 2020, Vance County Schools will host District-Wide Parent and Family Night at LB Yancey Elementary School from 5:30 – 7 p.m. There will be snacks for all and childcare for those under 12.

Students will be performing, and two sessions will be offered. VCS is very excited about the sessions and hopes to see you there.

LB Yancey is located at 311 Hawkins Drive in Henderson.

Advance Academy Graduates 20 in Mid-Year Ceremony

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Press Release and photos, Vance County Schools

Advance Academy held its mid-year graduation on Wednesday, December 18, 2019, at the former Henderson Middle School Auditorium.

North Carolina Senator Erica Smith shared an inspiring message with the graduates – your future is calling! Dr. LaDonna Cooper led the Presentation of Roses, where each graduate honors someone who helped them on their journey towards their diploma.

With 20 students graduating, Principal Stephanie Ayscue proudly presented each with their diploma. The Air Force ROTC from Vance County High School assisted with the ceremony.

Vance County Schools is proud to have been part of their journey and all that each has accomplished.

For more pictures from the ceremony, please visit the Vance County Schools’ Facebook page. 

Vance Co. Middle School Assistant Principal Suspended in Second Assault Investigation

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Statement from Vance County Schools:

We, along with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, have reviewed the footage from the second incident reported to us. District officials have met with the family and offered academic support, resources, counseling and other educational setting options to the student.

Vance County Schools did suspend the assistant principal in question, pending the outcome of the investigation.

The personnel directory information is as follows:

Employee Name: Kevin Ross

Age: 48 yrs

Date of Employment: January 11, 2018

– Mr. Ross has served as an assistant principal on the secondary level since being hired.

– Currently, he is an assistant principal at Vance County Middle School.

– He is on a standard administrative contract.

– Annual Salary $71,400.

– He is currently suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.

We want to give assurance to everyone in our community that we are following all local and state policies and reviewing procedures and processes. The safety and welfare of our students is always a top priority in Vance County Schools.

Vance Co. Board of Education Urging the State to Take Action

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Information courtesy Vance County Schools

At its December 9 meeting, the Vance County Board of Education approved a resolution urging the State to take action to remit civil penalties unconstitutionally withheld from North Carolina public schools.

The North Carolina Supreme Court ruled that under Article IX, Section 7 of the NC Constitution, public schools are entitled to the clear proceeds of specific civil penalties collected by various state agencies.

The Vance County Board of Education respectfully requests the General Assembly to approve during its January 2020 session a multi-year plan to pay the remaining $729.7 million judgment for civil penalties that should have gone to public school units for school technology but were instead diverted to other purposes in violation of the North Carolina Constitution.

According to the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), in 2018-2019 only 38% of North Carolina’s 115 local school districts reported having achieved the State’s 4-year replacement goal for student devices.

More than 30% of school districts in 2018-19 reported having no resources budgeted for replacement devices.

VCS Staff Graduates From Virtual Labs ‘zSpace’ Credentialing Program

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-Information courtesy Vance County Schools

Vance County Schools recently had staff graduate from the Vance Virtual Labs credentialing program. These forward-thinking educators committed to hours of professional development and in-lab coaching to be able to engage their students in the rich VR/AR learning experiences that zSpace has to offer.

(Vance Co. Schools photo)

Vance County Schools was also included in the zSpace Mid-Atlantic Holiday Highlight (excerpt below):

Vance County Schools’ leadership continues to find opportunities to move education forward with experiences and innovative practices in all areas of their educational programs. Recently, an 8th-grade science class at Vance County Middle School spent time in the zSpace lab with instructors from North Carolina State University, working on lesson extensions in their curriculum. This innovative space was designed to facilitate collaborative opportunities with higher education and industry partners.

Vance County Middle School, STEM Early High School, and Vance County High School all emphasize disrupting the normal educational environment by empowering students with experiences that are future-focused and personalized by topic and standards. zSpace provides the level of innovation needed to achieve that mission and foster collaborative relationships with industry partners in the community.

Vance Co. Schools Holds Press Conference on Middle School Incident

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Vance County Schools held a press conference this afternoon to address the December 12 incident involving a school resource officer and a Vance County Middle School student.

In a video widely circulated on social media, a Vance County Sheriff’s Office deputy and a male student can be seen walking down the school’s hallway. The deputy then appears to turn to the student, pick him up, drop him to the ground and then repeat the process before dragging him down the hallway.

The name of the deputy and the student have not been released at this time. In a press release sent earlier today, the Vance County Sheriff’s Office stated that the deputy is no longer employed in its service.

In the press conference, VCS Superintendent Dr. Anthony Jackson addressed the community and the media by calling the incident an “unacceptable and egregious act.”

“As a school system, as an administrator, as a district, we are disappointed; as a community we are embarrassed. Most of all, we want to express our apologies to our community that this has occurred. We are better than this. This child deserved better than this. No child deserves to be treated in this manner.”

Jackson stated that the school system is providing support to the school, the student and his family and is modifying its agreement with the Vance County Sheriff’s Office in order to review all protocols and procedures.

“We’re seeking the support of the NC Center for Safer Schools,” said Jackson. “We’re going to make sure that we do what is necessary for every single child that attends a school in Vance County to do so in a safe environment without any fear of anything close to this happening.”

Vance Co. Schools Holds ‘Community to Schools’ Tour

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-Information and photos courtesy Vance County Schools

On Friday, December 13, Vance County Schools held its “Community to Schools” tour. Members from the community had an opportunity to tour Dabney Elementary School, Vance County Middle School and AdVance Academy.

This was a great opportunity for the community to see the teachers in action and the normal operations of our schools. It was a successful event that we continue to hold each year.

Vance Co. Schools to Host District-Wide Family Night Dec. 10

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-Information courtesy Vance County Schools

On Tuesday, December 10, Vance County Schools will be hosting its next District-Wide Family Night at E.M. Rollins Elementary School. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m.

There will be snacks for those who attend and child care for children under 12.

Topics will include “Engagement and Advocacy in Your Child’s Education” & “Today’s Math and Reading are Fundamental.”

“Engagement and Advocacy in Your Child’s Education” will inform parents about ways to advocate and engage with their child’s school at each grade level.

“Today’s Math and Reading are Fundamental” will educate families about current reading and math techniques to better equip parents to understand and assist students with homework.

VCS hopes to have the community attend these informative sessions.

VGCC Receives $194K Grant From Duke Energy & Piedmont Natural Gas

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-Press Release, Duke Energy

Vance-Granville Community College today announced a $194,160 investment from Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas. The funds will help connect students with hands-on training and career development opportunities.

The investment will be used to expand apprenticeships in the fields of Mechatronics, Industrial Maintenance and Welding, as part of VGCC’s “Business & Industry Connect” program. The college will be able to purchase new equipment, provide tuition supports for students and implement additional training, including the nationally-known “Tooling U-SME” program.

From Left to Right: Kenneth Wilson, Tanya Evans (district manager, Duke Energy), VGCC President Rachel Desmarais, Ken Lewis, Eddie Ferguson. (VGCC photo)

“This grant represents a huge boost to our local industry partners and to students who are looking to energize their careers,” said VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais. “We appreciate the continuing support of Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas because apprenticeships are part of VGCC’s multi-pronged approach to addressing workforce shortages so that our economy can grow.”

“We are proud to partner with Vance-Granville Community College to connect students with apprenticeship and workforce training opportunities,” said Tanya Evans, district manager, Duke Energy. “These students will help meet the growing and evolving needs of the region’s manufacturing industry.”

This grant is part of Duke Energy’s $35 million investment in North Carolina’s Community Colleges’ focus on technical education and support of business and industry. Individual community colleges could apply for funds through the North Carolina Community Foundation and the Foundation for the Carolinas.

Applications were reviewed by a committee of representatives from Duke Energy, NC Community College System and NC Department of Commerce.

NC Community College Educators Attend Regional Seminar at VGCC

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Vance-Granville Community College recently hosted a regional seminar for educators from a number of North Carolina community colleges on the subject of “active learning.” The event was presented through a partnership with the National Institute for Staff & Organizational Development (NISOD) at The University of Texas at Austin and the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE).

Earlier this year, VGCC was one of just 10 colleges across the country that were selected to host one of these credit-bearing regional seminars, which support faculty use of evidence-based teaching practices.

“It was great to see talented faculty members expanding their knowledge to enhance teaching, learning and the student experience,” remarked VGCC Vice President of Learning, Student Engagement & Success Dr. Levy Brown.

Laurie Pendleton, the Executive Director of Assessment at ACUE, served as the presenter for the training. “I really enjoyed helping faculty at Vance-Granville Community College and colleges throughout the area engage in learning to fine-tune their use of active learning strategies,” said Pendleton, a veteran teacher and professional development specialist.

Active learning is generally defined as any instructional method that engages students in the learning process, with activities that emphasize interaction, participation and critical thinking.

“It is always exciting to work with faculty who are so invested in the success of their students, and I look forward to hearing how the participants bring these research-based practices back to their students,” Pendleton added. “Vance-Granville Community College was an exceptional host, and both NISOD and ACUE appreciate their careful planning, participation and support throughout the day.”

Petra Kohlmann, Partnership Director for ACUE, also participated in the seminar at VGCC. “It was a pleasure to be with faculty at Vance-Granville Community College, as well as ACUE and NISOD colleagues, as we learned together about ways to engage students in large classes through active learning techniques,” Kohlmann said. “Being part of a ‘classroom of instructors’ is always an invigorating experience, and I look forward to more opportunities to share ACUE’s research-backed teaching practices with Vance-Granville.”

Edward J. Leach, the Executive Director of NISOD, thanked VGCC faculty and staff for their help co-hosting the event. “VGCC has raised the bar when it comes to providing an excellent learning experience for Seminar participants!” Leach said.