Dr. Jonathan Russ recognized as a Virginia School Superintendent of the Year

Recognition of 133 Virginia Public School Division Superintendents as Superintendents of the Year for 2020-21

WHEREAS, in order to ensure the health and safety of all Virginians, schools across the Commonwealth closed on March 13, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and most have provided virtual instruction since then as in-person teaching and learning evolved; and

 WHEREAS, individual school divisions retained the autonomy to decide whether or not new instruction would continue and the format in which the instruction would be presented; and WHEREAS, stable and consistent leadership by local school division superintendents has been vital in serving children through this pandemic; and

 WHEREAS, school division superintendents are responsible for the health, safety, welfare and education of each child while creating school cultures, even within a pandemic, that serve all children, regardless of their circumstances;

WHEREAS, public school division superintendents utilized guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, Virginia Department of Health, Virginia Department of Education, local health departments and local case data in fulfilling leadership responsibilities in their communities like no other time in their careers; and

 WHEREAS, local school division superintendents worked collaboratively with their school boards, educators, parents and community stakeholders in providing technology, resources, curriculum content, emotional support and meals to children during the pandemic; and 

WHEREAS, traditionally VASS Superintendents of the Year have been selected via a diverse panel of education associations after reviewing an individual superintendent’s ability to demonstrate leadership for learning, communication, professionalism and community involvement; and

 WHEREAS, all 133 Virginia public school division superintendents have extraordinarily exhibited these qualities while leading their school divisions and communities during the 2020-21 school year; and 

WHEREAS, the VASS Board of Directors agreed on January 7, 2021 to suspend the traditional selection process of determining a single superintendent of the year and unanimously agreed to recognize and honor all Virginia public school division superintendents as Superintendents of the Year for 2020-21; and 

WHEREAS, VASS is appreciative of the Virginia School Boards Association supporting this resolution and the honor provided to each division superintendent by having his/her respective School Board present this resolution to the superintendent to be recognized within the community for which he/she serves and leads. 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Botetourt County School Board does hereby recognize Dr. Jonathan D. Russ as a Virginia Superintendent of the Year for 2020-21, as designated by the Virginia Association of School Superintendents (VASS). ADOPTED this 10th day of June, 2021.