Erika Ogedegbe - Leesburg District - Loudoun County School Board

09/27/2023

If you were lucky enough to hear the reports from all three Student School Board Representatives at last night's Board Meeting, you were likely moved, invigorated, and inspired by the impressions they shared, the initiatives they're supporting, and the accomplishments they highlighted. These three young ladies made it clear why LCPS is a top-notch school system.

Alba Ventura-Martinez, representing William Obediah Robey High School, received a standing ovation after her remarks last night. She shared how she has met challenges, overcome fears, and focused on her goals, with such grace and authenticity:
https://twitter.com/RobeyHighSchool/status/1707020845611159703/photo/1

When the Meeting video is available, I encourage you to watch all three Student School Board Representatives' presentations to help motivate you through the second half of this week - and beyond!

https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/loudoun/Board.nsf/Public

Congratulations, Johana, on your standing ovation at last night's school board meeting! You shared your story with dignity, grace, and vulnerability. We are so proud of you! 🐾

09/27/2023

I'm pleased to share this feature highlighting two amazing Leesburg District high schools! Great job, student-athletes 🏃🏽🏅

"Cross country teams representing Tuscarora, Loudoun County and Loudoun Valley high schools each raced to top-five team finishes at the 2023 Oatlands Invitational on Sept. 22 in Leesburg."

Cross country teams representing Tuscarora, Loudoun County and Loudoun Valley high schools each raced to top-five team finishes at the 2023 Oatlands Invitational on Sept. 22 in Leesburg.

09/27/2023

At last night's School Board Meeting, LCPS was proud to unveil updated branding and a new logo, centered on the LCPS commitment to “Engage. Empower. Enrich.”

This new branding was largely influenced by the 2023 Design Challenge, launched in March 2023, giving students the opportunity to showcase their talents and visions. Their graphic designs incorporated LCPS core values, and top designs were presented to the School Board in June. This summer, a panel of marketing experts was able to consider these submissions and finalize the new design.
It was exciting to see submissions from all the students and watch that progress coalesce into the new logo. I'm excited about the process that got us here.

The LCPS website and social media are already reflecting the updates; be on the lookout for further rollouts to come!

https://www.lcps.org/brand

09/26/2023

The Loudoun County School Board will hold a meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 26, at the Loudoun County Public Schools Administrative Offices, 21000 Education Court, Ashburn. For details: https://lcps.pub/3ZprNgN

09/25/2023

09/25/2023

The next Loudoun County School Board meeting (fourth Tuesday) will take place tomorrow, September 26, 2023, at the LCPS Administration Building.

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09/22/2023

The LCPS's Adult Education GED Math Workshop Begins October 31.

In this weekly workshop, students will build their mathematical skills through the practice of basic operations, number sense, and fundamental algebra concepts. At the end of the workshop, students should be ready for Spring 2024 GED Prep classes.

This course will have 4 in-person sessions: Tuesdays (10/31, 11/7, 11/14, 11/28 -- no class 11/21), 6:30-8:30 pm, at Park View High School in Sterling.

Register at https://www.lcps.org/adulted

09/22/2023

📅 Student holiday:
LCPS students do NOT have school on Monday, Sept. 25.

Wishing a peaceful and meaningful day to those who will observe Yom Kippur 🕯
https://www.lcps.org/Page/247996

09/22/2023

All 16 eligible Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) high schools are ranked in the annual U.S. News Best High Schools report 🎉🎉

Schools were ranked on the following six factors:
🏫 College Readiness
🏫 State Assessment Proficiency
🏫 State Assessment Performance
🏫 Underserved Student Performance
🏫 College Curriculum Breadth
🏫 Graduation Rate

Read more about those factors at https://lcps.pub/48oi8uH

All 16 eligible LCPS high schools are ranked in the annual U.S. News Best High Schools report. Read more: https://lcps.pub/48oi8uH

09/21/2023

Loudoun Education Alliance of Families (LEAF) is an advisory group voice for parents to elevate educational concerns and provide feedback to the Board on current or proposed policies or issues facing the School Board. This is one of the Committee Chair positions that I currently hold.

Three Leesburg District schools are still in need of LEAF representatives: Frederick Douglass Elementary School, Frances Hazel Reid Elementary School, and Tuscarora High School. If you are a parent of a student at one of these three schools and are interested in participating, please reach out to your school's PTA/SO.

Thank you!

More info about LEAF:

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09/20/2023

This month's Second Tuesday School Board Meeting was our first with Dr. Aaron Spence in his official capacity as Superintendent. At that meeting, Dr. Spence introduced his entry plan, One LCPS: Forward Together.

Based on the Spring 2023 survey of parents, students, staff, and the community, his plan focuses on communication, equity, safety, and employee retention with six major objectives.

Visit https://www.lcps.org/Page/252543 for details.

You can join a Listening Session with Dr. Spence at one of several opportunities throughout the school year. The first will take place at Broad Run High School this evening!
For the full calendar, visit https://www.lcps.org/suptcls

📷: Loudoun County Public Schools - Dr. Aaron Spence's One LCPS: Forward Together Entry Plan

09/20/2023

Megan Tucker, the dean of curriculum, STEAM teacher, gifted teacher, and instructional facilitator for technology at Leesburg District's Hillsboro Charter Academy, was recently named the A. Scott Crossfield Aerospace Educator of the Year by the National Aviation Hall of Fame.

Awesome job, Dean Tucker! 🎉🎉🚀🚀

Congrats to Megan Tucker, the dean of curriculum, STEAM teacher, gifted teacher and instructional facilitator for technology at Hillsboro Charter Academy, for being named the A. Scott Crossfield Aerospace Educator of the Year by the National Aviation Hall of Fame. Read more: https://lcps.pub/3E8gf7A

09/19/2023

Eighty-two Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) students are among the 16,000 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists in the 69th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
Well done, students! Congratulations on this amazing achievement! 🎉🎉🎉

Congrats to the LCPS students who are among the 16,000 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists in the 69th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. For a list of names: https://lcps.pub/3t6FqVN

09/19/2023

📣 Attention LCPS high school students 📣
- If you are 17 years old and will be 18 at the next general election, you can register in advance AND vote in any intervening primary or special election!
Visit www.elections.virginia.gov/registration/how-to-register/ to learn more ✅

The Department of Elections envisions an electoral process that is trustworthy and accountable at all levels and engages Virginia’s diverse citizenry in the most fundamental right: the right to vote.

09/18/2023

Today, when classes are in session, we celebrate Constitution Day to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787.

09/18/2023

LCPS policies are reviewed every five years per the Code of Virginia § 22.1-253.13:7. During this process, we will be asking for input from several of our advisory committees, stakeholder groups, and the community at large.
When policies are up for review, you'll find access to a Feedback Form at https://www.lcps.org/policyreview

👉🏻 Currently, Policy 7712 - Sick Leave is under review, with a deadline of 9/21/23 for feedback.
Policy 7712 includes language that reflects the current practice of using sick time for bereavement leave. I have shared my belief that this is not sufficient or appropriate. We should have separate Bereavement Leave available for employees who have experienced loss. Establishing this new leave category will be one of my priorities for the upcoming budget cycle.

While School Board Committees review and appreciate feedback provided, this does not guarantee that all feedback will be included in the final policy.

📷https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/loudoun/Board.nsf/files/CUJH5G46D074/$file/Acting%20Superintendent's%20Report%20to%20School%20Board%208.08.23.pdf

09/18/2023

LCPS is pleased to offer these free online resources to assist parents and caregivers in developing strategies to support their child’s mental health.

Visit https://www.lcps.org/Page/247889 for links to ParentGuidance.org, My Life is Worth Living, and the Ryan Bartel Foundation.

***depreventionawarenessmonth

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09/15/2023

Mark your calendars for the 2023 Parent Resource Fair!
📅 Wed., 10/11, 6pm-8pm
🏢 LCPS Administration Building

Attend info sessions and learn about resources available through LCPS and the Loudoun Community!

09/15/2023

Inova Health System is proud to support the Loudoun County community by providing every Loudoun County Public School (LCPS) high school student-athlete with a baseline concussion test for the 2023-24 school year.

As a parent of student-athletes who sustained concussions, having this baseline assessment is so impactful. I am really appreciative of this partnership and of the work the Inova Concussion Program has done. We know through research how important this assessment program is.

📅 The entire community is invited to attend a webinar on concussions aimed at all middle and high school-aged athletes and their families on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023. Details for Concussion Program and webinar:

We are committed to keeping all student-athletes safe! As the fall sports season kicks off, LCPS, in partnership with Inova (Inova Health System), will provide every high school student-athlete with a baseline concussion test for the 2023-24 school year. Learn more about this program: https://lcps.pub/44CQHdG

09/15/2023

Today, the Loudoun County Circuit Court ruled that a redacted copy of the Blankingship & Keith report on the 2021 sexual assaults was to be released to the public.

I voted against releasing the report, when we voted as a School Board last February, in the interest of minor student privacy. In particular, I wanted -- and still very much want -- to allow space for the victims' healing journeys.

These are not my stories to tell. The details, the suffering, the courage, and the way forward all belong to the minor student victims. But we must comply with the court order to release the report.

Last fall, shortly after I joined the School Board, as we worked on enacting policy change in response to the Special Grand Jury report, I reached out to LAWS Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services to initiate an expanded partnership to address the issue more proactively through prevention. This work with LAWS will have a lasting positive impact on our community.

My wishes and focus will remain on our school community, and most importantly, for respect and healing for the victims.

09/14/2023

At this week's School Board Meeting, we were able to recognize several Loudoun County student athletes for their Spring 2023 VHSL State Championship achievements. In the Leesburg District, this included two teams representing Tuscarora High School:

Girls Track & Field and Girls Soccer 👟⚽

https://www.loudountimes.com/sports/tuscarora-sweeps-top-honors-on-vhsl-class-4-soccer-team/article_780ecdb4-0f66-11ee-a63d-0324d1aabfb2.html

Congratulations, Huskies! 🥇

The full list of Spring Champs:
🏆 Independence High School, VHSL Class 5 Girls Soccer State Champions
🏆 Riverside High School, VHSL Class 5 Boys Lacrosse State Champions
🏆 Tuscarora High School, VHSL Class 4 Girls Track & Field and Girls Soccer State Champions
🏆 Woodgrove High School, VHSL Class 5 Softball State Champions

Tuscarora High School senior Mia Serna is the Player of the Year on the 2023 Virginia High School League Class 4 all-state girls' soccer team.

09/14/2023

The first of Superintendent Spence's Community Listening Sessions will take place at Broad Run High School next week. Get the full schedule, including sessions within the Leesburg District, at:

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09/13/2023

During this week’s school board meeting, I presented updates to Policy 7030, Staff Time Schedules, which had been discussed and revised in the Human Resources and Talent Development Committee starting last May.

For background, the intent of the policy is to establish expectations related to schedules and working hours for teachers and other school staff. Typical schedules must account for educational time when students are on-site, as well as planning, grading, and other duties beyond student school days, while remaining in compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

While it is reasonable to anticipate that staff meetings and team development, for example, may call for additional working hours, as the Chair of the HRTD Committee, I want to ensure that teachers, staff, and supervisory staff are aware that these additional hours should only occur occasionally.

But what does "occasionally" mean?

This was a topic of discussion at last night's School Board Meeting and in the HRTD committee meetings in May, June, and August.

We want to be clear that "occasionally" is synonymous with "infrequent" and "not regular." Boundaries and expectations should be explicit for both admin and staff.

Chief Human Resources Officer Ms. Lisa Boland and the HRTD Team are working on draft guidance for principals to help define "occasionally," including examples for their reference. HRTD will also communicate this guidance to staff to ensure broad awareness.

Policy 7030 will come back for discussion and action during the next full board meeting on September 26th.

09/13/2023

Learn more about the AWS Think Big Space, an educational lab accessible to students throughout the county, grounded in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) disciplines at the Leesburg District's own J. L. Simpson Middle School:

LCPS, in collaboration with Amazon Web Services and LEF, celebrated its AWS Think Big Space today. Housed in JL Simpson, the innovative learning space helps students and staff cultivate interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM). Read more: https://lcps.pub/3PAS1cL

09/11/2023

Never forget.

09/11/2023

The next Loudoun County School Board meeting (second Tuesday) will take place tomorrow, September 12, 2023, at the LCPS Administration Building.

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09/10/2023

Today is World Su***de Prevention Day, and September is National Su***de Prevention Awareness Month. See the attached proclamation to learn how youth su***de affects Loudoun County and why we are recognizing Su***de Prevention Awareness Month in Loudoun County Public Schools.

📷: LCPS

If you or someone you know needs help, please find mental health information and resources at https://www.lcps.org/Page/220727

09/08/2023

Middle schoolers and high school freshmen: interested in the law-making process and everyday work of legislators through firsthand experience? Consider attending the Page Program information session, 9/13/23, 6:30pm at the LCPS Administration Building.

RSVP at tinyurl.com/PageRSVP

09/08/2023

With SchooLinks, students and families can:
🎒 Access career interest, strength, and mindset surveys
🎒 Explore 2-year and 4-year colleges as well as take virtual reality college campus tours
🎒 Search for scholarships and learn about financial aid
🎒 Explore traditional, emerging, and military career fields and internship/volunteer opportunities
..and so much more!

Get details for middle school and high school students: https://www.lcps.org/schoolinks

Look for info about elementary students later this fall!

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09/07/2023

09/07/2023

Roll call! If you knew that September is , raise your hand! 🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏾‍♂️

"Students who attend school regularly have been shown to achieve at higher levels than students who do not have regular attendance." Put simply, if you're missing school, then you're missing out! Routine bedtimes and morning alarms can help the entire household stay on track each day. You can also set yourselves up for smoother school day mornings by preparing clothes, lunches, and school supplies the night before.

Medical conditions, stress, and anxiety can interrupt that school attendance routine. Teachers, guidance counselors, and school psychologists may be able to help you and your child sort through these issues, as well as your family's physician.

Of course, not all absences can be avoided, and you should contact your child's school via Absentee Email or Absentee Phone Number when needed.

You can learn about the importance of regular school attendance at the LCPS webpage "Attendance Resources":

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09/07/2023

📝 Loudoun County Public Schools will offer AP exams during the College Board's 2024 exam administration window May 6-17, 2024.

📝 Students must register for their AP exam(s) by November 3, 2023, by indicating their choice within the College Board's online portal (MyAP)

📝 For more details about the Spring 2024 AP Exam Schedule, visit:

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09/07/2023

LCPS will continue to make adjustments to school bus routes and times to address bus crowding and pick-up/arrival times where possible.

Be sure to regularly check ParentVUE (https://portal.lcps.org/PXP2_Login.aspx - "Student Information") and/or Stopfinder (https://www.lcps.org/cms/lib/VA01000195/Centricity/domain/24676/2022/Stopfinder-Peachjar-ENGLISH.pdf) before each school day to check for updates.

The Transportation Division may send emails as well, so please check your spam or junk folders, too.

09/06/2023

On Tuesday, September 26th, you can attend a virtual information session about the STEM programs offered at The Academies of Loudoun 🔬💻🌉➕
6pm (Spanish and English)
7pm (Arabic and English)

Visit lcps.org/Page/241167 for details

09/06/2023

Join the LCPS Office of Student Mental Health Services for a film screening and panel discussion of "Our Turn to Talk," focusing on mental health and growing up:
🎞 Thur. 9/28
🎞 7pm - 9pm
🎞 Briar Woods HS, Ashburn
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=780734867184378&set=a.520709809853553

09/05/2023

Be heat-safe this week, Leesburg District!
Several schools are adjusting activity and sports schedules, including cancelations and postponements. Be on the lookout for announcements from your schools, and again, please stay safe!

06/01/2023

Last week I was proud to be among those on the board who passed the Pride Month proclamation (4/2/1/2 with Beatty and Polifco opposed, Morse abstaining and Corbo and Reaser absent for the vote).

Le***an, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Q***r (LGBTQ) Pride Month is celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan.

Ensuring our schools are safe and welcoming for all of our students and staff is critical. Without being seen, safe and welcome we can’t expect our students and staff to thrive.

We know statistically LGBTQIA youth who are not safe or seen have proportionally higher rates of experiencing homelessness, depression, self harm and death by su***de.

This proclamation is an annual acknowledgment of our support for our LGBTQIA students, staff, friends, family and community members to show up fully and authentically with pride every day.


Loudoun County Public Schools

06/01/2023

CONGRATULATIONS to the Heritage High School Class of 2023!!!

What an honor it was this evening to join in congratulating the latest graduating class! And even more special as I watched administrators from their elementary and middle schools smile (and tear up a bit) as they recognized their former students.

And finally from the class valedictorian, graduation address and principal:

- Persistence and dedication are the key to success
- We not only survived we thrived as a result of our determination and collaboration
- Put aside fears and proceed with confidence
- Strive to be curious
- Give more than you take
- Find good trouble
- Always be you and be well
- You will always be part of the pride !

05/31/2023

This evening I had the pleasure of attending the rededication of the Douglass Community Center playground in Leesburg. My family has enjoyed the playground and the facilities at Douglas for the past 20 years. We heard from leadership in the Loudoun Parks and Rec department, Supervisor Kristen Umstattd, and Chair Phyllis J. Randall before the ribbon was cut and the playground was filled with children as they had the first opportunity to play on this amazing new playground which celebrates and embraces the global impact and contributions that African-Americans have made in American history. 

05/25/2023

Earlier in the year I had the pleasure of meeting with a group of students participating in a program with Loudoun County Magazine who were working on producing a Loudoun guidebook. The students, who did everything including concept development, graphic design, writing and photography did a phenomenal job and last night I joined them with their talented mentor and editor Jessica Monte for their end of year celebration and book signing. The book is being sold locally in bookstores too!