Superintendent Dr. Amy Griffin has been named Region 8 Superintendent of the Year by the Virginia Association of School Superintendents (VASS). Region 8 is one of eight districts in the Commonwealth of Virginia and includes 12 school divisions in southside Virginia.

According to a press release, “Dr. Griffin has served as superintendent of Cumberland County Public School since 2010. Prior to the superintendency, she has served as assistant superintendent, director of curriculum and instruction, elementary principal in Cumberland and as special education director, pre-kindergarten coordinator, and kindergarten teacher in Nottoway County Public Schools. She has been in public education for 28 years.”

“Dr. Griffin is on the board of directors for VASCD, the Virginia Math and Science Coalition, Farmville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Cumberland Woman’s Club. She also serves on the Virginia Credit Union Advisory Council and the VASS Professional Development committee.”

The release notes that, “Dr. Griffin prides herself on being an advocate for children of small, rural school divisions with limited resources, such as Cumberland and other Region 8 school divisions. Along with the Coalfield Coalition and the Small Rural School Divisions Coalition members, she advocated for equity in resources. She also understands the importance of partnerships and has collaborated with partners from other school divisions, businesses, institutions, and organizations locally, statewide, and nationally to ensure that students in Cumberland have quality learning experiences and opportunities as other students around the nation.”

“Currently Dr. Griffin is advocating for improved instructional and assessment practices that move from rote memorization to deeper learning that will teach students how to effectively communicate, collaborate, think critically and be creative, as well as be good citizens and lifelong learners. She has pushed for less standardized multiple choice testing and more performance assessments at the state level, understanding that changes in assessment will lead to more engaging instructional practices.

The release concludes by noting Dr. Griffin states that she is honored to be representing Region 8 and humbled to be recognized by her colleagues in this manner.