And so it begins!

A new school year is upon us and our students will be entering our buildings Tuesday with hopes, fears, challenges and the promise of bright futures. I know you are as excited as I am to see our hallways and classrooms filled with eager young faces and minds ready to be opened to a world of knowledge.

There is a lot to be excited about! After all, education is the most powerful of professions. Regardless of your role in this school division, you have the power to make a difference in the lives of children.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to speak with many of you during school visits and at division events. Time and again, I am reminded of what a great school division this is and of the caliber of people who come together each and every day to teach and nurture our students. I am in awe of your passion for the profession and your dedication to the children of Virginia Beach. You truly are difference makers.

During my visits you’ve heard me say what my hopes are for our students this year, but I believe they are important enough to bear repeating. The three things I want for all children in this city are:

1. For them to come to school and be cared for. That means that they are safe, well fed and know that someone has their best interests at heart.
2. For them to learn something new every single day, whether they want to or not. That means they are being challenged and that no one is letting them slide by without learning.
3. And, I want them to be loved. I want you to love our students enough to say, “I won’t accept anything less than your very best because I care about your future”.

I believe that what we do is important, but how we do it makes all the difference in the world. We must focus on building relationships and doing everything in our power to make them successful if we are going to be the premier school division in this nation. Most importantly, we must ensure that excellent instruction is happening in every classroom, every day for every child.

I am excited about that work ahead of us, as I know we have the right team in place all across the division to make this happen.

Today it is more difficult than ever to be in education. We face challenges that educators 30, 20 or even 10 years ago could not have imagined. And yet you stay dedicated at a time when the rhetoric around public education is as harmful and negative and divisive as it has ever been. For that I thank you, because this also is a time when our students, our city and our nation need you more than ever.

As I continue to visit schools this year, I look forward to seeing the amazing work you do to shape our students’ futures. I am eager to get to know you all and to work together to chart the course for this exceptional division. Let’s make the 2014-2015 school year a great one!

Dr. Aaron C. Spence