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16 May 2005 Longwood and Powhatan County Public Schools officially establish Longwood Powhatan Center
Longwood University and the Powhatan County Public Schools have formalized a partnership in which Longwood graduate courses will be offered at Powhatan High School. In a ceremony May 11 at Powhatan High School, Longwood President Dr. Patricia Cormier and Dr. Margaret Meara, superintendent of the Powhatan schools, signed an agreement officially establishing the Longwood Powhatan Center. Eight graduate courses will be offered there this summer, most in a two- or three-week schedule, beginning June 20. Longwood began partnering with the Powhatan schools about four years ago to provide professional development in reading for teachers in that school division. Dr. Barbara Chesler, now associate dean of Longwood's College of Education and Human Services, who then directed the Literacy and Culture (Reading Specialist) program, led many of those classes and worked closely with Powhatan school officials to identify and meet the professional development needs of teachers and administrators. "This is what a true partnership is all about," Dr. Cormier said just before signing the agreement in the library of Powhatan High School. "Longwood has a 50-year legacy in teacher education, and this will only enhance that. I think we do a very good job of preparing our teachers, and you will help us do an even better job. When you teach graduate courses, the teachers get as much out of those classes as they give; it is truly a rich and challenging environment." "We're very excited about this endeavor, which will open up a lot of opportunities," said Dr. Meara. "We welcome you with open arms." Courses will be taught this summer at the Longwood Powhatan Center from the programs of Literacy and Culture, Special Education, Educational Leadership, and Elementary Education, as well as foundational courses for initial teacher licensure for those with a bachelor's degree but not a teacher's license. Additional courses are scheduled year-round in evenings and on weekends. More programs and courses will be added as demand dictates. The ceremony in the library at Powhatan High School was also attended by four other Longwood representatives: Kathy Worster, vice president for administration and finance, Dr. Judy Johnson, interim dean of the College of Education and Human Services, Dr. Chesler and Dr. Sue McCullough, dean of Graduate Studies. "We make a good team, and we've already enjoyed working together," Dr. McCullough said of the partnership. Powhatan school officials besides Dr. Meara who attended were Sandy Lynch, assistant superintendent for secondary instruction and gifted education, Paul Imig, assistant superintendent for business and finance operations, and Rick Cole, principal of Powhatan High School. "The sky's the limit," Lynch said of the partnership. Dr. Cormier noted the Powhatan schools' quality - their students are ranked 5th in the state at the division level on the End-of-Course SOL reading scores, and all five schools received full SOL accreditation for the 2004-2005 school year - and the attractive, spacious high school, which opened in the fall of 2003. "The Powhatan school rankings and SAT scores are very high, and this is just a magnificent building," she said. "I believe in these kinds of learning environments, which send the message to students: 'You matter.'" Powhatan High School is on Judes Ferry Road just off U.S. 60, about eight miles west of Route 288. "This is an easily accessible location for residents of Powhatan and the greater Richmond area," Dr. McCullough said. The two-story, $37 million facility, which won two statewide awards and a regional award in architectural design competition, has the capacity for 1,500 students, nearly 300 more than its current enrollment. For more information on courses at the Longwood Powhatan Center, phone Longwood's Graduate Studies office at (434) 395-2707 or visit: www.longwood.edu/graduatestudies |
