In The News

NNPS leader named Regional Superintendent of the Year

(April 27, 2011) - Dr. Ashby C. Kilgore, Superintendent of Newport News Public Schools, has been named Region II Superintendent of the Year for 2011. Kilgore was selected for this honor by her peers representing 15 school districts in southeastern Virginia including Tidewater, the Eastern Shore, and the Peninsula.

Under her leadership, student achievement has increased and Newport News Public Schools has earned national recognition for technology and dropout prevention. All Newport News schools earned full accreditation for the first time in 2009 and sustained the designation in 2010.

After learning of the honor, Kilgore stated, “I am honored by this award. It is a privilege to serve the students, staff and Newport News community, and to work together to chart our future.”

Kilgore’s Agenda for Public Education has advanced smart, safe schools by building a foundation of high expectations, rigorous content, and persistent support for students and teachers. Through 21st century learning and the district’s Career Pathways program, students at all levels are moving beyond the minimum standards and becoming college, career and citizen-ready.

Kilgore has launched new initiatives to advance the school district:

• Creating and implementing the Agenda for Public Education to guide the district’s future and evaluate results for students
• Developing and implementing the Career Pathways program to prepare all students for career opportunities through interrelated courses, and extra-curricular, and service learning experiences
• Initiating extensive curriculum realignment to ensure inclusion of 21st century skills and tools
• Creating 21st century classrooms by equipping all rooms with interactive white boards, wireless technologies, and online learning and videoconferencing capabilities; and building new science labs  
• Developing a comprehensive district-wide youth development initiative to assist students in growing their skills in leadership, citizenship and teamwork   
• Establishing an aggressive dropout prevention and recovery agenda. Over 1,050 students who had dropped out have returned and have received or are on track to earn a high school diploma or GED
• Implementing a graduation coach model to provide mentorship, coaching and encouragement to identified high school students to keep them on track to graduate

During her tenure, Kilgore has also guided the district’s efforts in increasing the academic performance of students:

• Literacy and mathematics scores on Standards of Learning tests at all grade levels have increased
• SOL achievement performance gaps in literacy and mathematics have narrowed between white and black students at all levels
• The four-year graduation rate has increased almost 4%; and the dropout rate has decreased nearly 3%

In May 2007, following a national search, Kilgore was appointed superintendent – the first woman ever to lead the 30,000-student school district. She has over 35 years of experience in public education as a teacher, principal, college professor and deputy superintendent. Kilgore began her career as a government teacher in Hampton City Schools and later served as a principal in Hampton and in Newport News.