Buckingham, VA – On Wednesday, January 30, 2025, Governor Glenn Youngkin held an educational press conference alongside Dr. Lisa Coons, Virginia’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, highlighting six school divisions across the state for their leadership in transformative education initiatives. Buckingham County Public Schools (BCPS) was honored for its fearless commitment to individualized learning and school improvement on behalf of students.
Superintendent Dr. John Keeler was featured as a speaker during the briefing, where he highlighted the division’s progress, strategic use of data, and dedication to ensuring all students receive high-quality instruction tailored to their needs. Buckingham County was proudly referred to as the ‘Maseratis’ of school divisions for its bold approach to personalized learning, instructional innovation, and unwavering focus on student success.
Buckingham County Public Schools has been a leader in Governor Youngkin’s All In Virginia grant initiative, a funding effort that provided many rural communities the opportunity to facilitate new instructional initiatives and strengthen academic outcomes. While this funding has accelerated progress, BCPS’s foundational work in the Science of Reading began years prior, ensuring that structured literacy instruction was already a core component of early learning. The division’s commitment to evidence-based practices positioned it to fully leverage the opportunities provided by the grant.
BCPS has embraced innovative, data-driven strategies across all grade levels:
Buckingham Primary School continued its commitment to learning by implementing after-school instructional support led by certified teachers, ensuring students recover lost instructional time effectively.
Buckingham Elementary Schools were early adopters of the Zearn math platform, leading the county to be featured in a statewide follow-up video showcasing best practices in education.
Buckingham Middle School was recognized for its strategic integration of the Lexia and Zearn learning platforms and its transition to an embedded acceleration and enrichment block, ensuring all students receive targeted instruction tailored to their learning needs.
Buckingham High School utilized funding to support after-school attendance recovery initiatives by providing targeted academic assistance and structured support to help students stay on track and meet their learning goals.
To further highlight Buckingham County’s innovative educational approach, Dr. Coons and Dr. Jeremy Raley, Chief of Staff for the Virginia Department of Education, visited the county to witness firsthand the division’s dedication to data-driven decision-making, targeted literacy efforts, and student-centered instruction from Pre-K through 12th grade.
Buckingham County Public Schools is proud of its ongoing commitment to excellence as a rural division dedicated to student success. The division extends a heartfelt thank you to the countless administrators, teachers, staff members, parents, school board members, county supervisors, community leaders, and state officials who work tirelessly to ensure that every child in Buckingham County receives a high-quality education.
This recognition is a testament to the collaborative efforts of our educators and stakeholders, all of whom play a vital role in shaping the future of our students. Together, we are proving that Buckingham County Public Schools continue to be Slated for Success.
To view the recording of Dr. Keeler's speech, please click here.