Superintendent / Division Membership Benefits

 The purpose of the Virginia Association of School Superintendents is to provide leadership in advocating for the needs of public school students through policy development and other appropriate action; to provide professional activities and services that enhance the leadership role of superintendents; to encourage and provide leadership that works continually to advance public education and to increase community interest in and support of improved schools; to foster an effective process of educational administration; to assist in solving challenges of organization and planning that arise as a result of the improvement process; to enhance the effectiveness of preparatory and in-service training for educational personnel; to place prime importance on the upgrading of teaching and learning and the improvement of curriculum to address the needs of the twenty-first century citizens; to insist on the provision of equal rights for all students, families, and school personnel; and to seek all other appropriate means of achieving the association’s educational and charitable goals.

 

 Member Advocacy

  • Collaboration and advocacy with state and legislative agencies including the Governor, Secretary of Education, General Assembly, State Board of Education, Department of Education, Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Virginia Municipal League, and Virginia Association of Counties.

  • Collaboration and advocacy with education association partners including the Virginia School Boards Association, Virginia Education Association, Virginia Parent Teacher Association, Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals, Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals, Virginia Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, Virginia Public Education Coalition, Virginia Association of School Business Officials, Virginia Community College System, and the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia.

  • Collaboration and advocacy with national partners including the American Association of School Superintendents (AASA) and the Association of State Executives to provide members with information and trends at the national level and to influence policies and legislation established by Congress and the U.S. Department of Education.

    Legislative Priorities

 Member Professional Development

  • Sponsor a fall conference, winter conference, and a spring conference for the membership, in either a face-to-face or virtual format, in order to inform, network, establish advocacy platforms, and to monitor the association’s operational effectiveness.

  • Sponsor 4-6 workshops throughout the school year, in a virtual or face-to-face format, to assist membership and district personnel with topics and issues pertinent to the operational requirements of local school districts.

  • Provide opportunities for the membership to participate in national events through the AASA, in order to stay abreast of current research, trends, and best practices.

  • Sponsor the Virginia Transformational Leadership Academy (VTLA), a 12-month competency-based training program designed for sitting Virginia superintendents and prospective superintendents who desire to serve as leading change agents through innovation and deeper learning in their school districts. VTLA bases its curriculum on the acquisition of leadership competencies identified in the Profile of a Virginia Leader, and is specifically designed to meet the unique challenges and opportunities of Virginia superintendents.

  • Facilitate Regional Communities of Practice to support superintendents in topics such as managing matters of local governance, recruiting and retaining educators and leaders, social and emotional support for educators and leaders, family engagement, equity, early learning, literacy, etc.

Member Benefits

  • Provide legal assistance to the membership at no cost for up to one hour each year (Micah Schwartz – Williams Mullen).

  • Provide financial planning services, including two complementary hours of financial planning and contract consultation each year paid by VASS through a special arrangement with VASS Partner TCG, a HUB International Company (TCG). To access these services, complete this short form https://pvyuja0n.paperform.co/.

    • Eligible participants include current Superintendents, interim Superintendents, and non-Superintendents currently in contract talks with a Virginia school board.

    • The topics include financial planning, tax analysis, estate planning (basic will), compensation analysis, and insurance analysis.

  • Provide urgent and crisis communication support to the membership at no cost through partnership with The Donovan Group, a communications, public relations, and marketing firm that focuses exclusively on public K-12 education. To access services 24-7, call or text 804-567-7075 or email VACrisis@Donovan-Group.com.

  • Provide educational review services to the membership in a timely manner and at a low cost, in order to assist the membership and their boards in making operational and policy decisions.

  • Provide executive coaching at no cost to new superintendents during their first year to assist with their transition into the most important educational leadership position in Virginia.

  • Partner with Virginia Association of School Business Officials to provide financial services support for members when needed, through a cadre of retired school business officials, and through jointly sponsored events for members and district financial personnel

  • Provide the membership with timely information, disseminated through the association’s structure of VASS Officers, VASS Board of Directors, and Regional Meeting Groups, as well as electronic communications. VASS staff attends all of the regional meetings and the State Superintendent’s Leadership Council Meetings in order to share relevant information and receive input on current educational issues.

  • Conduct surveys and collect data to help members make local decisions and to inform other members of current practices.

  • Maintain a database of retired educational leaders for VASS members to contact when short-term vacancies occur and an interim is desired, and to assist with Executive Coaching and Educational Service Reviews.

  • Encourage retired superintendents to continue to stay involved in public education through membership in VASS, participation in VASS events, and in the provision of services to current members.

  • Partner with businesses that can provide products and services to the membership and local school districts.

 Member Communication

VASS services are funded through four streams of revenue: membership dues, business partnerships, professional development, and educational reviews. Efforts are always in place to garner revenue from sources other than membership dues in order to support and increase the services provided to VASS members.