School Board members are elected to a 4 year term, with one representative for each of the 7 districts in Washington County. This year 3 school board seats will be filled. In 2 years, the other 4 school board seats will be up for election. All candidates are independent, not partisan.
Campaign Phone
276-944-5107
Education
Patick Henry High School, 1980 Graduate; Ferrum Junior College, 1982 Associate of Arts Degree; Emory and Henry College, 1985 Bachelor of Arts Degree; Radford University, 1998 Masters of Science Degree, Educational Leadership
Experience
30 years' experience in public K-12 education including classroom teacher for 19 years, athletic director, coach and administrator roles of Principal and Assistant Principal. Currently serving a third term on the Washington County School Board as the board's longest tenured member.
Family
Wife Jill Holmes Henderson (1980 Patrick Henry High School Graduate) and daughter Marisa Henderson.
School funding is the responsibility of the federal, state and local governments. With those levels of funding, the School Board is responsible for developing a fiscally responsible budget. The budget must be transparent for all stakeholders. This leads to open communication between the School Board and local/state government officials.
The School Board must work to maintain the schools within the Division. This includes updating the current facilities to meet the instructional needs of the students. We have upgraded our schools by being fiscally responsible and by working with the Board of Supervisors.
WCPS faces the challenges of staffing shortages and the changing landscape of public education.
WCPS has had difficulty finding people interested in the following areas: food service, clerical, teaching positions, administrative positions, bus drivers and custodians. As a Division, we have made significant strides to increase employment interest by enhancing the employee benefit package. The intent is to make WCPS a good and financially beneficial place to work. WCPS is working to provide the best benefit package in the region.
If you are looking for employment opportunities, I encourage you to frequently review job openings on the WCPS website.
The voucher system has been used in other states to subsidize fees for private and Christian schools in the form of tax credits.
WCPS continually expands course offerings based upon student interest. This has been accomplished by increasing elective courses and by offering dual enrollment. Through this expansion along with rigorous academic standards, students gain knowledge while earning college credits to support their future education and career paths.
Currently, home-schooled and private school students are allowed to attend WCPS pending student registration and attendance. WCPS does this to be a good partner with all stakeholders.
The impact of tax credits on WCPS could become a financial concern pending the funding formula.
WCPS provides educational opportunities that promote a well-rounded graduate. This is achieved by providing a strong educational basis for the core academic areas. Based on test scores and state accountability, WCPS has been very successful in providing students a strong educational foundation.
WCPS offers students courses to expand their life skills in the areas of resilience, adaptability, technology, collaboration - all so they may work productively and effectively with others. Our elective offerings beyond the core curriculum include band, chorus, art, career & technical education, computer literacy and extracurricular activities.
With all opportunities combined, WCPS strives to produce well-rounded graduates and community members.
