Professonal Growth and Innovation at NNPS
Continuous Learning
At NNPS, growth is part of our culture. Continuous learning gives every educator the chance to explore new ideas, sharpen practice, and be inspired by colleagues. From hands-on experiences to collaborative cohorts, there’s always something new to discover.
NNPS National Board Certification Cohort
NNPS is proud to support a cohort of educators pursuing National Board Certification, the profession’s highest mark of accomplished teaching. This multi-year journey challenges teachers to reflect on their practice, strengthen content knowledge, and refine instructional strategies to better meet the needs of all students. While teachers do the deep work of learning and growth, NNPS provides ongoing support through the cohort model, monthly sessions, and one-on-one guidance. The certification process not only advances professional growth and classroom impact but also creates pathways for leadership and career advancement, helping build an even stronger school community.
NNPS is now recruiting for the next National Board Certification cohort beginning in fall 2026.Fully licensed, tenured educators who are interested in joining this professional learning journey must complete the division application by May 14.
NNPS-Old Dominion University Leadership Cohort
The NNPS Leads – Grow Your Own program is a partnership between Newport News Public Schools and Old Dominion University that develops future educational leaders through advanced study. Participants pursue either a Master’s or Education Specialist degree while gaining the knowledge, skills, and experiences essential for today’s complex leadership roles.
Our current ODU leadership cohort is in progress and scheduled to graduate in December 2026. While recruitment for a future cohort is not open at this time, NNPS remains committed to growing strong leaders from within the division to ensure every school has the leadership it needs to thrive.
NNPS-University of Virginia Reading Cohort
Twenty NNPS educators earned a Master's degree in Reading Education through the University of Virginia. Made possible through a fully funded NNPS cohort, the program provided educators with advanced training in literacy instruction while supporting the division's commitment to growing and retaining exceptional educators.
The advanced degree prepares educators for a variety of leadership and instructional roles, including serving as reading specialists who support schoolwide literacy initiatives, interventionists who provide targeted support for students, or classroom teachers who apply evidence-based literacy practices to strengthen daily instruction. Through partnerships such as this, NNPS continues to invest in the professional growth of its educators and build internal capacity to meet the diverse literacy needs of students across the division.
