Suffolk Public School District

9 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 12 SUFFOLK PUBL IC SCHOOL DISTRICT collaborated to initiate the Aspiring Leadership Cohort. This partnership is designed with a singular focus: to prepare SPS educators for leadership roles within the city’s school division. The SPS leadership, specifically Superintendent Dr. John B. Gordon III and Chief of Schools Dr. Stenette Byrd III, have been instrumental in tailoring this program to the needs of their school district. Dr. Maggie Barber, Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Assessment in the DCEPS, highlights that “This program is a true collaboration that bridges the knowledge and expertise of both Suffolk Public Schools and ODU, and that responds to the specific context and priorities of Suffolk.” Participants in this program are professionals being groomed for significant roles, such as principals, assistant principals, lead teachers, and instructional coaches. The program’s structure allows for an in- depth understanding of the educational landscape, empowering participants with the skills and knowledge to lead effectively in their respective roles. This emphasis on career opportunity is something that students also get to experience, as the district maintains a strong relationship with Camp Community College to allow students the chance to take dual enrollment courses to earn accreditation towards an Associate’s Degree. Innovative instructional programs are taken a step further with a dedicated specialty center for students at Lakeland High School—The Center for Performing or Production Arts. Here, students can pursue dual enrollment credits that focus more on the production side of the fine performing arts. “We’re trying to show the kids that you can actually make more money behind the camera than you can in front of the camera,” Dr. Gordon explains. The center was inspired by the success of an early partnership the district had