Tommy Wright: Mecklenburg native appointed to board

Tommy WrightGovernor Youngkin announced two major additions to his administration last week, a new member of the Board of Education and a new Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Lisa Coons, currently the Chief Academic Officer for the Tennessee Department of Education, will be the new Superintendent of Public Instruction. Lisa Coons has overseen Tennessee’s response to pandemic learning loss, and the results have been remarkable.

Under Lisa Coons, Tennessee launched a universal reading screening program coupled with universal tutoring and phonics-based learning.

Programs contain significant parental involvement, plus free K-8 learning camps to raise the number of instructional hours students get each year.

Tennessee also introduced a “Grow Your Own” program to bring teachers into the profession via an apprenticeship program.

The results speak for themselves, as students have caught up faster than in almost any other state.

Democrats were quick to attack Coons for the crime of being from Tennessee, which has lagged in education in the past.

No Democrats, however, could find any programmatic or occupational reasons to oppose Coons.

Governor Youngkin also appointed Dale Sturdifen to serve on the Board of Education, filling the seat vacated when Democrats rejected Indian immigrant Suparna Dutta for alleged “white supremacy.”

Sturdifen is a former VSP special agent, a retired Marine, and a former chair of the Mecklenburg County School Board.

He currently serves as a field director for 5th District Congressman Bob Good (R-Lynchburg).

Every Virginian deserves to live in a safe community. Republicans are focused on making that happen.

I have strongly advocated to the administrations that Southside, Virginia does not have enough representation around the Commonwealth. Governor Youngkin wants to make sure all voices and Virginias get a chance to sit in a chair at the table. I look forward to working with both Mrs. Lisa Coons and Mr. Dale Sturdifen to improve the quality of our Commonwealth.

Del. Tommy Wright can be reached via email at DelTWright@House.Virginia.gov or (804) 698-1061.

SportsPlus

Business

School construction sales tax proposal vetoed by governor

Community Calendar

Lunenburg Health Service offers ‘a history of hope’

Lifestyle Main

Free RAM Clinic opens Saturday and runs all weekend

Church & Community

Community Theatre coming: Calendar for the week of March 28

High School

Lunenburg United Futbol Club launches their spring season

Business

Comprehensive Plan: Where are the county’s growth corridors?

Local

Victoria residents may see discolored water today. Here’s why.

Local

Some regional food banks struggle with federal program cuts

Columns

Tommy Wright: What’s changing with the Department of Education

Church & Community

Freedom Fund set for Tonight: Calendar for the week of March 22

Lifestyle Main

Comprehensive Plan: Victoria Railroad Park plans move forward

Education

Lunenburg Schools hand out latest Eagle Awards

Lifestyle Main

Charles Dunavant still finds joy training horses, 52 years later

Local

Annual Meridian donation split to help public safety, community

Local

Social Services deals with increasing needs in Lunenburg County

Lifestyle Main

Comprehensive Plan: What is missing in Lunenburg County?

Local

24-hour patrol change leads to request from Lunenburg sheriff

Lifestyle Main

Dawn Conrad honors, represents her community through quilting

Business

Comprehensive Plan: Education drives recruitment, businesses

Business

Kenbridge town staff deal with business license concerns

Local

After fire, Kenbridge officials remind residents of grass ordinance

Business

Comprehensive Plan: Residents detail what they want changed

Local

Dispatch News Briefs: Portions of Plank Road will close this month

Church & Community

Treasures on the Shelves: Women’s History takes center stage