Superintendent Dr. James G. Merrill assumed the superintendency of Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS), the largest school division in Hampton Roads and third largest in the state, in July 2006. Since that time his overriding mission has been to ensure that all students will graduate with the skills they need to succeed as 21st Century learners, workers, and citizens. To this end, Dr. Merrill has spearheaded the creation and implementation of Compass to 2015: a Strategic Plan for Student Success, which focuses on a single goal – all VBCPS students will be academically proficient, effective communicators and collaborators, globally aware, independent and responsible learners and citizens as well as critical and creative thinkers, innovators and problem solvers.
He has also strategically developed and sustained a three-quarter billion dollar operating budget in the face of difficult economic times as well as facilitated a long-range plan for improving school facilities. Dr. Merrill is a 35-year veteran educator. He was a Morehead scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he earned his bachelor’s degree in education in secondary English. He then earned a master’s degree in educational administration from Appalachian State University and his doctoral degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Dr. Merrill lives in Virginia Beach with his wife Elizabeth and son Barrett.
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