HJ401: Commending Ashby C. Kilgore.


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 401
Commending Ashby C. Kilgore.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 2, 2018
Agreed to by the Senate, March 6, 2018

 

WHEREAS, in 2018, Ashby C. Kilgore will retire after 10 years of outstanding service as the superintendent of Newport News Public Schools and 45 total years in public education; and

WHEREAS, a native of Hampton, Ashby Kilgore received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Old Dominion University and earned her doctorate in educational administration and policy studies from The George Washington University; and

WHEREAS, Ashby Kilgore began her distinguished career in education as a high school teacher in Hampton; she later served as an assistant principal and principal at several schools before taking the reins as Woodside High School’s principal in 1996; and

WHEREAS, in 2003, Ashby Kilgore took her wide-ranging talents to the Newport News Public Schools administration, where she served as assistant superintendent of instruction; following stints as deputy superintendent and interim superintendent, she took over as superintendent in May 2007; and

WHEREAS, as Newport News Public Schools’ longest-tenured superintendent, Ashby Kilgore brought excellent vision and leadership to her role, spearheading numerous initiatives to encourage student education, development, and classroom performance; and

WHEREAS, among Ashby Kilgore’s most notable achievements is a dropout prevention program that increased the Newport News Public Schools’ graduation rate from 72.9 percent in 2008 to 93.4 percent in 2017; during that same time, dropout rates were reduced from 12 percent to 2.3 percent; and

WHEREAS, Ashby Kilgore was also responsible for launching several groundbreaking new programs such as the Summer Program for Arts, Recreation, and Knowledge (SPARK), which provides summertime enrichment activities, meals, and instruction for some 7,000 K-12 students; the Career Pathways initiative, which helps students explore career options and secure internships; and the Early College and Early Career programs, which allow high school students to get a head start on their college credits and career goals; and

WHEREAS, other key accomplishments of Ashby Kilgore’s tenure as superintendent include implementing new Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) initiatives in the school system and expanding career and technical education options; and

WHEREAS, in 2011, Ashby Kilgore’s commitment to student excellence saw her named the Virginia Region II Superintendent of the Year; her many other honors include the 2016 Urban League of Hampton Roads Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Community Leader Award in Education, and a 2012 recognition as an Old Dominion University Darden College of Education Fellow; and

WHEREAS, Ashby Kilgore has served as superintendent with great skill, integrity, and compassion; under her able leadership, Newport News Public Schools has made exceptional progress and earned wide acclaim; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Ashby C. Kilgore on her distinguished career in education and her 10 years of service as Newport News Public Schools superintendent; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Ashby C. Kilgore as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for her many career accomplishments and best wishes for a well-deserved retirement.

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 401

Offered February 27, 2018
Commending Ashby C. Kilgore.
Patrons-- Mullin; Senator: Mason

WHEREAS, in 2018, Ashby C. Kilgore will retire after 10 years of outstanding service as superintendent of Newport News Public Schools and 45 total years in public education; and

WHEREAS, a native of Hampton, Ashby Kilgore received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Old Dominion University and earned her doctorate in educational administration and policy studies from George Washington University; and

WHEREAS, Ashby Kilgore began her distinguished career in education as a high school teacher in Hampton; she later served as an assistant principal and principal at several schools before taking the reins as Woodside High School’s principal in 1996; and

WHEREAS, in 2003, Ashby Kilgore took her wide-ranging talents to the Newport News Public Schools administration, where she served as assistant superintendent of instruction; following stints as deputy superintendent and interim superintendent, she took over as superintendent in May 2007; and

WHEREAS, as Newport News Public Schools’ longest-tenured superintendent, Ashby Kilgore brought excellent vision and leadership to her role, spearheading numerous initiatives to encourage student education, development, and classroom performance; and

WHEREAS, among Ashby Kilgore’s most notable achievements is a dropout prevention program that increased the Newport News Public Schools’ graduation rate from 72.9 percent in 2008 to 93.4 percent in 2017; during that same time, dropout rates were reduced from 12 percent to 2.3 percent; and

WHEREAS, Ashby Kilgore was also responsible for launching several groundbreaking new programs such as the Summer Program for Arts, Recreation, and Knowledge (SPARK), which provides summertime enrichment activities, meals, and instruction for some 7,000 K-12 students; the Career Pathways initiative, which helps students explore career options and secure internships; and the Early College and Early Career programs, which allow high school students to get a head start on their college credits and career goals; and

WHEREAS, other key accomplishments of Ashby Kilgore’s tenure as superintendent include implementing new Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) initiatives in the school system and expanding career and technical education options; and

WHEREAS, in 2011, Ashby Kilgore’s commitment to student excellence saw her named the Virginia Region II Superintendent of the Year; her many other honors include the 2016 Urban League of Hampton Roads Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Community Leader Award in Education, and a 2012 recognition as an Old Dominion University Darden College of Education Fellow; and

WHEREAS, Ashby Kilgore has served as superintendent with great skill, integrity, and compassion; under her able leadership, Newport News Public Schools has made exceptional progress and earned wide acclaim, now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Ashby C. Kilgore on her distinguished career in education and her 10 years of service as Newport News Public Schools superintendent; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Ashby C. Kilgore as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for her many career accomplishments and best wishes for a well-deserved retirement.