With the E.C. Glass High School Jazz Band playing in the courtyard, new Lynchburg City Schools Superintendent Crystal Edwards danced to the music for a few moments with Heritage High School counselor Bernette Beckles on Thursday evening.
Edwards had the chance to meet dozens of LCS teachers, staff and students along with community members during the superintendent’s welcome event at Heritage High School.
“This is great to have this opportunity to reach out to people and see them in this nice, informal setting and just feel the love of the community. It’s very warm, very welcoming. I’m very honored to be here,” Edwards said.
Many people who attended the event described Edwards as personable and welcoming as well as capable of relating to a diverse group of people.
Fort Hill Community School Director of Secondary Alternative Education Cathy Viar led a group of teachers from the school — all dressed in blue shirts representing the school — to Edwards to meet her.
“It was pretty exciting [to meet Edwards]. We’re ready to see what kind of plans she has for our school district,” said Elizabeth Bonheim, a teacher at Fort Hill. “I’m in the alternative school program, so we’re really hoping that she’s able to help us with our ability to focus and bridge some of the gaps that we find in the students.”
Beverly McCloskey, who has two students at Paul Munro Elementary School and two in prekindergarten, was happy she could welcome the new leader of the division and hopes Edwards works to make LCS the “best public schools in the state of Virginia.”
The Rev. Keith Anderson, the executive director of the Student Health Center and Wellness Initiatives at Liberty University, said he hopes Edwards will build partnerships with stakeholders in the community. He also said her optimism and excitement “will bring a jolt of energy” to the division.
“We have a great district. We just have some challenges in our community, and I like the fact that she’s from outside of our area, so perhaps, she can bring some best practices she’s seen in other areas to our locale,” Anderson said.
Glass senior Maya Patterson said it was a good opportunity to meet Edwards and hopes “there can be a lot of equality in the district.”
Karl Loos, a Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School for Innovation teacher and Lynchburg Education Association president, said “things have just sort of been up in the air waiting” such as budget and scheduling decisions during the superintendent’s transition. Loos said now that Edwards is here, “we can really hit the ground running for next year.”
“I hope one of the things we can do is continue to attract great staff members and continue to provide students with a really high quality of education. I would love for our focus to be on just making our community, our city better and stronger, and that comes with solid leadership,” Loos said.
Already almost a month into serving as superintendent, Edwards said she’s “spent quality time” with all of the division’s principals, has met with community members and organizations and has “learned a lot about Lynchburg and all of the wonderful things that we do for kids.”
“I think right now what it’s about is relationships and developing those within the schools and the people in the community, and then we have to get down to the business of raising our bar of excellence for all,” Edwards said.
Liz Ramos covers K-12 education for The News & Advance. Reach her at (434) 385-5532.