Head Of Loudoun Schools Named To VA COVID-19 Education Work Group

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Monday that the state's COVID-19 Education Work Group is developing a plan for schools in the state to safely reopen later this year.

Members of Virginia’s COVID-19 Education Work Group include Dr. Eric Williams, superintendent of the Loudoun County Public Schools system. Williams has served as superintendent of Loudoun County's schools, which includes more than 83,000 students, since July 2014.

Along with Williams and other district superintendents, the group is composed of teachers, parents, college presidents, state agency personnel, special education advocates, museum directors, and student perspectives.

Virginia Secretary of Education Atif Qarni formed the work group and chaired its first meeting late last month. Since then, the work group has been focused on developing recommendations to align education policies throughout the state and ensure continuity of learning.

“As we begin to think about how Virginia’s education system can operate in the summer and fall, it is crucial that we have the advice of a diverse, thoughtful group of education leaders,” Qarni said Monday in a statement. “This group will use their expertise to guide our approach and help ensure that all voices are heard and all recommendations are made through the lens of equity.”

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On March 23, Northam issued a statewide order closing schools for the remainder of the academic year. The Virginia Department of Education established the Continuity for Learning Task Force consisting of more than 120 teachers, leaders and educational partners across Virginia to help school divisions develop and implement continuous learning plans in partnership with local county health departments, families, staff and local boards of education.

Virginia’s COVID-19 Education Work Group will develop recommendations on key issues schools must address before reopening and help determine how to ensure continuity of learning for Virginia students. After this guidance is developed, the work group will then focus on long-term recovery plans to include addressing learning gaps and the emotional needs of students resulting from school closures.