The Henry County School Board met on December 5 to honor outstanding teachers, approve a new legislative agenda, and finalize updates to the district’s cell phone policy. Teachers of the Year from each school were celebrated during the meeting, with the top three — District Teacher of the Year and two runners up, receiving a special reward.
“We believe education is the foundation of our community, and we’re proud to recognize and reward our exceptional educators and provide special prizes for the top winners,” Barry Nelson, and Autos By Nelson, said. “In celebration of their dedication, the Henry County Public Schools District Teacher of the Year and the two runners-up were each handed the keys to a brand-new Ford Mustang Mach-E, the first-ever rally-inspired electric vehicle by Ford. Perfect for outdoor adventures or the daily drive to school, they’ll enjoy this incredible vehicle for three months. Congratulations to Meadow View Elementary School’s Carl Scales (2nd Runner-Up), Axton Elementary School’s Amanda Chaney (1st Runner-Up), and Bassett High School’s Joshua Doss, the District Teacher of the Year.”
“We’ve got to make school fun again,” Nelson added, emphasizing the importance of supporting educators.
Educators selected as Teacher of the Year from individual schools are:
Elementary Schools— Amanda Chaney (Axton), Sarah Reed (Campbell Court), Leah Lagesse (Drewry Mason), Sarah McCormick (G.W. Carver), Carl Scales (Meadow View), Taylor Walker (Mount Olivet), Jennifer Adkins (Rich Acres), Rachel Harrison (Sanville), and Kelley Bennett (Stanleytown);
Middle and High Schools— Page Belcher (Fieldale-Collinsville Middle), Alisha Britton (Laurel Park Middle), Joshua Doss (Bassett High), Mart Barrett (Magna Vista High), and Anna Rakes (Center for Community Learning).
An intermission allowed the top three winners to view their new vehicles.
Cell Phone Policy Finalized
The board also finalized revisions to the JFC-R Standards of Student Conduct, clarifying cell phone use restrictions. The new policy prohibits cell phone use during the entire school day, including lunch and transitions between classes.
“‘Bell-to-bell’ does include lunch and time in between classes,” said Superintendent Amy Blake-Lewis. The policy updates also addressed outdated terms like “beepers.”
Exceptions to the ban may be granted through 504 or IEP plans. “That decision is made by the IEP team in conjunction with the Director of Student Services and the designee of the Superintendent,” Blake-Lewis explained.
Disciplinary actions for violations will escalate gradually. First-time offenders will participate in an educational module, with more severe penalties, such as in-school suspension, reserved for repeated violations. Out-of-school suspension is a last-resort consequence.
“There are two strands of consequences,” Blake-Lewis said. Noncompliant students could face interventions, including meetings with parents and counselors. Parents of compliant students may be asked to retrieve confiscated phones.
Student board member Bryson Bateman voiced concerns about the new policy. “Realistically, I think the policy we have now is pretty effective,” Bateman said, questioning the removal of limited phone usage during lunch and transitions. He also expressed concern about the severity of penalties, saying, “The penalties for this are quite severe.”
Blake-Lewis countered with examples from districts already implementing similar policies. “It was a ‘delight,’” she said, noting that students in those districts appeared more engaged and collaborative. “Several superintendents said that they see students bringing card games and board games out at lunch and using that time to really engage with each other.”
Legislative Agenda and Other Actions
The board approved a new legislative agenda focusing on teacher recruitment and retention, competitive salaries, school safety, accountability, accreditation, and governance. Recommendations from the Evergreen Salary Study were also adopted, along with the calendar for the 2025–2026 school year.
In other matters, the board also recognized achievements from students and staff, including:
*Bassett High School and Magna Vista High School volleyball players.
*Bassett High School boys’ cross country runners.
*Winners of the district’s holiday card contest.
*Virginia School Boards Association honorees.
