Darrell Jenkins: 1. Equity- Providing a quality education with opportunities and high expectations for ALL students that prepare them for individual success.
2. Teachers- Attract, support and maintain the best teachers for the students of Henrico County Public Schools.
3. Finances- Make sure the funding to Henrico County Public Schools is being spent without waste and is focused on providing the best resources and facilities for the students of Henrico County Public Schools.
Darrell Jenkins: We must move past teaching to the tests in relation to the Standard of Learning tests and be sure we are teaching thoroughly and effectively using research-based strategies that provide the foundations needed to be successful at the next level. This will help address the achievement gap along with increasing our mentorship programs and partnerships with business and community leaders.
Research shows the most important factor in student success is good teaching. Along with competitive benefit packages we must provide the support our educators need to provide a quality education for all our students.
As school board members we must ask the tough questions in regards to the finances of our school system to insure funding is directed to our most critical needs. This should include evaluating our technology funding to be sure we are spending these funds in the most effective ways, including the infrastructure needed to support 21st Century technology.
Darrell Jenkins: Experience- As a teacher, coach and administrator for over 30 years in Henrico County Public Schools, I have taught over 4,000 students. As Director of Student Activities, I have managed major finances of the school, worked with the budgeting process and served on the design teams for capital improvements including the building of new schools. As a parent of two HCPS graduates, I understand the importance of parental involvement, encourage it, and will work hard to foster an environment which supports it in all our schools.
Darrell Jenkins: As a school board member with no taxing authority, I recognize the importance of a good working relationship with the Board of Supervisors. Henrico County has a proud tradition of low taxes and our responsibility is to insure the funding provided to the school system is spent wisely and waste is eliminated. These are tough budget times and fiscal responsibility is a must. Funds must be spent with impact on the success of our students and teachers as the top priority.
Darrell Jenkins: Based on recent reports showing students are graduating not prepared for the next level, the time has come to take a serious look at other options such as the Common Core Standards. With 44 of 50 states adopting these standards, the best researchers, textbook companies and assessment tools will focus their attention on these standards and resources for the Virginia Standards of Learning will be more costly and less available which in turn will adversely affect the students of Henrico County and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Beverly Cocke: I believe the most critical issue facing our school system today is closing the achievement gap. Today, 36% of our students are economically disadvantaged – 1 out of every 3 students in Henrico lives in a household at or below the poverty line. This is huge and we as a school system must be proactive in helping all children graduate and become self sustaining adults. This is not just an investment in their future, but in Henrico's future as well. Our second challege will be addressing budget reductions, while not reducing classroom instruction or teacher positions. Our third challenge is to insure that all schools provide quality education and have the resources they need to do so.
Beverly Cocke: We need to be smart with our money and put our resources into our highest need schools. For example, quality pre-kindergarten programs show a dramatic reduction in students repeating grades or needing special instruction. This saves money in the long run. Also, we need to encourage more private-public partnerships with community businesses. Such partnerships help increase opportunities for our students and have worked well for us in the schools where I volunteer. In addition, after school programs can really help students in classroom achievement, as the students are more engaged & excited to come to school. These programs can make an impact on our student drop out rate. During these tough economic times, it is more important than ever that the School Board involves and listens to parents, teachers, students and the community. As your School Board member, I will be accessible through the internet, phone or in person and promise a 24 hour response time when at all possible. I’m already talking with parents, students, & teachers in our schools weekly and I would continue this practice to all schools that have Brookland district students attending (not just those schools sitting inside the Brookland district boundaries).
Beverly Cocke: Residents of the Brookland district should elect me as their School Board member for my dedication, experience & leadership. My experience in our schools span 16 years and I have a daughter still in the school system. I am in our schools every week - I am a substitute teacher, PTA/PTSA President 3 times, Girl Scout Leader, and Chairman of the Henrico Historic Preservation Advisory Comm. I have worked with HCPS as a member of the county-wide 2010 Redistricting Project and in iniatiating the return of Henrico County History being taught in our elementary schools. I have worked with many teachers, administrators, and parents in providing successful programs for our children in several Brookland district schools. And for the past six years, I have been building a network of community bussinesses who partner with our schools. Such partnerships can benefit both our schools and communities.
Beverly Cocke: As taxpayers it is our money Henrico County spends on its schools. In fact 54% of Henrico County's budget goes to education. We all want the best possible education for our students, but we must do so in a cost effective manner. Given the likelihood of more painful budget cuts, it is more important than ever that School Board members work closely with the community - we must work together to find the best ways to put our children first.
Beverly Cocke: Our current School Board has made great strides in the areas of communication and accountability that I would like to see continue. However, I would like to see our School Board sharpen its "customer servcice skills" when talking with parents. Parents and schools need to work together for each individual student to reach their highest potential.
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Campaign Address:
Friends for Darrell Jenkins
10204 Acworth Drive
Glen Allen, VA 23060
Campaign phone:
(804) 672-6932
Campaign Email:
hermcoach@aol.com
Phone (direct):
(804) 672-6932
Incumbent?:
No
Age:
55
Career:
Retired educator with 30 years service in Henrico County Public Schools
Current participant in the HCPS Post Retirement Earnings Program
Current member of the Virginia High School League Coaches Education Committee
Campaign Address:
11409 Sethwarner drive
Glen Allen, Va 23059
Campaign phone:
(804) 262-3280
Campaign Email:
Bev@Bev4Brookland.com
Phone (direct):
(804) 262-3280
Incumbent?:
no
Age:
47
Career:
Community volunteer, mother & substitute teacher
Biographical Information
