VIRGINIA BEACH – Aaron Spence, the superintendent for Virginia Beach public schools, has been named “Region II Superintendent of the Year” by the Virginia Association of School Superintendents.
Spence was selected from a pool of 16 division superintendents comprising Region II, which includes Norfolk, Newport News, Hampton and Chesapeake.
The honor solidifies Spence’s eligibility for the 2018 Virginia Superintendent of the Year.
“I’m humbled to receive this honor on behalf of the division and the great work we are doing together for the children of Virginia Beach,” Spence said in a news release on Friday. “We are all committed to ensuring that every child is supported and challenged every day to achieve a high standard of academic performance and growth to reach his or her full potential.”
As the city’s superintendent since June 2014, Spence has led the implementation of Compass to 2020, the launch of the Digital Learning Anchor School initiative and helped to create the Entrepreneurship and Business Academy at Kempsville High School.
According to the release, Spence has also developed expanded partnerships with community organizations, businesses and the armed services. Working with the United States Navy, Spence enabled all 5,000 fifth-grade students in a STEM interactive learning experience at last year’s Oceana Air Show.
“Dr. Spence is passionate about public education and providing all students with the best possible opportunities,” said Beverly Anderson, chairwoman of the Virginia Beach School Board. “We are so pleased that his fellow superintendents have recognized his outstanding leadership and service to our schools. Our Board is proud to support him as together we lead the way for Virginia Beach to become the premier school division in the nation.
