Superintendent of Public Instruction

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Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons

Governor Glenn Youngkin appointed Lisa Coons as Virginia’s 27th superintendent of public instruction on March 22, 2023. Coons serves as the executive officer of the Virginia Department of Education, which is the administrative agency for the commonwealth's public schools, and as secretary of the state Board of Education.

Biography

Lisa Coons served in multiple leadership roles in K-12 education before being appointed Virginia superintendent of public instruction. She most recently served as chief academic officer for the Tennessee Department of Education, where she led all birth to grade-12 academic programming, including K-12 teaching and learning in language arts, mathematics, science, and fine arts; early childhood education; voluntary pre-K and Head Start.

Coons also worked as an executive officer of division priority schools for Metro Nashville Public Schools, executive director of instructional leadership at the Tennessee Department of Education and middle school supervisor in Sumner County, Tennessee. She holds a doctorate in education from Lipscomb University.

“I am honored that Governor Youngkin selected me to serve as Virginia’s superintendent of public instruction. The governor has set a bold academic agenda that puts students first and empowers families to help set priorities for their children. We have an opportunity in Virginia to be the country’s best state for education, and we’ll achieve that vision through partnerships with families, educators and school division leaders.”

Communication & Reports Provided by the Superintendent

Virginia Education Update Newsletter

A weekly newsletter from Dr. Coons, Superintendent of Public Instruction. Starting July 6, 2023, this newsletter will serve to replace Superintendent's Memoranda for communications to school divisions.

Superintendent's Memos

Weekly memoranda from the superintendent of public instruction are the means by which the Virginia Department of Education communicates official information to the commonwealth's school divisions.

Superintendent's Annual Report

The Superintendent's Annual Report contains educational statistics reported annually by school divisions to the Department of Education. The report includes tables on enrollment, pupil-teacher ratios, promotion, retention, graduation, dropouts, and attendance, as well as financial data and data on school division personnel.

Videos

Initial Priorities

Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons discusses her priorities for her first weeks as the commonwealth’s chief state school officer.

Serving the Commonwealth

Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons reflects on her first day as Virginia’s chief school officer, which included touring schools in New Kent County and announcing the 2024 Region 1 Teacher of the Year.

2024 Virginia Teacher of the Year

Jeffery W. Keller, a history teacher at John Handley High School in Winchester, was named the 2024 Virginia Teacher of the Year on May 18, 2023.

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