With the sudden resignation of Virginia’s superintendent of public instruction Lisa Coons on Friday amid the changes to education on the federal level, some school leaders are questioning the future of public education in the commonwealth.
“The last thing we need is a (state) Department of Education in flux while we’ve got all of this going on on the federal level,” said Krista Barton-Arnold, executive director for the Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals, who was surprised and disappointed by Coons’ exit. “Educators around the nation are feeling anxious about the future of public education and now with Dr. Coons, we have even more reason to be anxious.”
Barton-Arnold said the association worked “closely” and “collaboratively” with Coons, who championed efforts to support new principals and to keep principals informed of department changes through “lunch and learn” events explaining curriculum changes and measures to hold schools accountable for student success.
Though questions linger in the wake of Coons’ departure, Gov. Glenn Youngkin and the education department are moving forward with a plan that includes Chief Deputy Secretary of Education Emily Anne Gullickson serving as the acting state superintendent.
Coons was Youngkin’s second appointment to the role in the past four years, replacing former superintendent Jillian Balow, to help Virginia address low student proficiency ratings in math and reading and continue Youngkin’s directive of “restoring excellence” in Virginia’s public schools.
Gullickson will continue Coons’ work serving as the secretary of the Board of Education.
“Governor Youngkin deeply values Dr. Coons’ dedication to Virginia’s students, parents, and educators,” Youngkin spokesman Rob Damschen said. “As the administration moves forward with its education agenda, we are confident that Acting Superintendent Gullickson, with her experience in the Youngkin administration and her background as a teacher and advocate for students, will lead a seamless transition.”
The Richmond Times-Dispatch, which was first to report the resignation, noted that Coons’ resignation comes after the department missed several deadlines for reports to the state legislature and failed to publish teaching materials for the new history and social science standards, which set Virginia’s expectations for K-12 student learning in those areas.
The board, along with Coons, also worked to enhance special education regulations and practices, after a number of complaints were filed with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, prompting a federal investigation.
During her tenure, the board also overhauled the standards of learning, reduced regulatory barriers, approved new laboratory schools, enhanced the public charter school review process and lowered the vacancy rate of teachers. The Mercury reached out to the education department to learn more about the impetus of Coons’ exit.
Coons said serving as superintendent has been an “incredible privilege” in an announcement to the agency sent through Chief of Staff Jeremy Raley on Friday.
“It has been my great honor to serve the students, families, and educators of Virginia in my time leading the Department of Education under Governor Youngkin,” said Coons in the message. “After careful consideration, I have decided to pursue new professional opportunities, and I wish Governor Youngkin and his administration the best.”
Board of Education President Grace Creasey, also a Youngkin appointee, accepted Coons’ resignation and thanked her for her service.
“A great deal has been accomplished under Dr. Coons’ leadership,” Creasey wrote, but did not specify any examples.
Creasey wrote that Gullickson brings “experience, deep knowledge, commitment, and passion” to the superintendent’s role and promised the board would work with her to facilitate “a swift and seamless transition.”
Keith Perrigan, president of the Virginia Association of School Superintendents, thanked Coons for her work.
“She has been visible in every region in the commonwealth highlighting excellence in our public schools and her passion for literacy is only matched by her love for students. We wish her well as she pursues new professional opportunities.”
The governor appoints the superintendent of public instruction after consultation with the board and other leaders, which is subject to confirmation by the legislature and lasts for the governor’s term, according to state law. Vacancies are filled through the same process.
The only specific requirement in state law is that the superintendent must be an “experienced educator.”
If the governor appoints a new superintendent, he must make the decision before the end of his term, which ends at the end of the year.
The General Assembly is expected to meet in April for the reconvened session to finalize the state budget and in January for the regular session.
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Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Samantha Willis for questions: info@virginiamercury.com.
www.youtube.com – 13News Now – 2025-04-19 06:29:35
SUMMARY: This Saturday morning brings a beautiful weekend, especially for Easter celebrations, with highs in the upper 80s. Southwest breezes, gusting to 25 miles per hour, push temperatures well above average, starting in the upper 50s to middle 60s. Expect mostly sunny skies and warm conditions, ideal for beach outings, despite chilly water temperatures. Easter Sunday will start mild, but a backdoor cold front will cause temperatures to drop in the afternoon with increasing cloud cover and potential rain. Multiple rounds of rain are forecasted for the upcoming week, with temperatures returning to seasonal averages by the latter part of the week.
Despite a front dropping through the area Sunday, it will be a nice weekend in Hampton Roads.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-18 11:38:00
(The Center Square) – Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earles-Sears accuses her Democratic opponent for governor, Abigail Spanberger of hiding a trust; Spanberger says it only holds her home—and ethics experts say she may not have needed to report it.
The Dispute centers on a home Spanberger and her husband placed in a trust in 2017, which her campaign says produced no income and was legally exempt from disclosure.
With both women vying to become Virginia’s first female governor, the accusation has quickly turned into a fight over ethics, transparency and what voters expect from their candidates.
“Members of Congress do not need to report assets from a non-income producing trust where they are an administrator that does not receive income or have any beneficial interest in the trust,” said Delaney Marsco, ethics director at the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center.
“Personal residences that do not earn income are not required to be disclosed,” a campaign spokesperson said, “so Abigail did not disclose her family’s only home—as doing so would make their home address publicly available.”
They added that when the home was placed in a trust, “Abigail filed her disclosures in accordance with House ethics rules, which do not require her to disclose her role as a trustee of a living trust holding only her family’s home.”
Earle-Sears has publicly slammed Spanberger on social media, accusing her of “dodging tough questions” and “hiding a $900,000 trust fund.”
“She’s a typical politician,” Earle-Sears wrote in apost on X, questioning whether Virginians can trust Spanberger if she’s “willing to lie about this.”
The Earle-Sears campaign did not respond to a request for comment beyond public posts.
The accusation signals an early campaign strategy from Earle-Sears, who has so far leaned into sharp, combative messaging to define Spanberger as the race for the governor’s mansion heats up.
Under House ethics rules, members of Congressare not requiredto disclose personal residences or non-income-producing assets held in a trust as long as they receive no financial benefit. They must report liabilities such as mortgages and disclose trustee roles only if the position involves an organization or generates income.
Virginia requires statewide candidates to file a Statement of Economic Interests, but similar to federal rules, personal residencesare typically exemptif they don’t produce income. The state form focuses on business ties, investments and income sources—leaving out non-commercial trusts like the one Spanberger’s team says holds her home.
www.youtube.com – 13News Now – 2025-04-18 06:11:37
SUMMARY: The weather forecast for the upcoming days shows temperatures above average, with highs reaching 79°F today and possibly 86°F tomorrow. Sunday will remain warm with temperatures in the upper 70s, but a backdoor front may cause a slight afternoon cool down. Easter Sunday will see dry conditions in the morning but potential severe storms in the Midwest. Monday will be mild, but showers and storms are expected Tuesday through Thursday. By Friday, conditions should improve, with temperatures in the upper 70s to low 80s as the week ends. Skies will be mostly clear today, with light winds from the south.
