Welcome back to Extra Credit, a weekly roundup of education-related news from across Southwest and Southside Virginia.
Have a story idea, tip or think there’s something I missed? Email me at meghan@cardinalnews.org.
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Students learn to fly at Virginia Tech drone adventure camp
More than 40 middle school students will learn to fly drones at Virginia Tech’s Imagination Drone Camp this week.
The camp, now in its fifth year, gives students the opportunity to build and fly drones and even earn a Federal Aviation Administration Recreational UAS Safety Test, or TRUST, certificate.
Owen Puckett of Forest attended the inaugural camp in 2022.
“It was fun,” Owen said in a news release from Virginia Tech. “I wasn’t the best at flying it, but I felt a lot of joy when I made something from my own hands that I was able to use.”
Now 16, Puckett is a backyard drone enthusiast and aspiring engineer who will begin attending Lynchburg Regional Governor’s STEM Academy this fall.
For many middle schoolers, the drone camp is their first experience on a university campus, eating at dining halls and sleeping in residence halls, in addition to getting experience with cutting-edge technology.
“I hope that the attendees this year make new friends at camp,” Owen said. “I hope that they can learn new things that they like and new things about themselves. I hope overall they have a really good experience.”
The camp is offered as part of the Virginia Tech Center for Engineering Excellence and Discovery’s Imagination series and the university’s Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership. It runs through Friday.
Education outcomes worsen for Virginia children
Last week, my colleague Emily Schabacker reported that Virginia ranks among the top 20 states across all major measures of child well-being according to an annual report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. But while the state ranks high, education outcomes have worsened for Virginia kids.
Every year, the KIDS COUNT Data Book evaluates states on 16 indicators across four areas: economic well-being, education, health, and family and community factors.
While health outcomes, such as the number of children without insurance or children and teens who are overweight or obese, have remained stable or even improved for Virginia kids, education outcomes have not.
More than half (55%) of 3- and 4-year-olds in Virginia aren’t in school compared to 54% nationally, and 69% of Virginia fourth graders are not proficient in reading — one indicator of future educational success.
The majority of eighth graders (71%) are also not proficient in math, a jump of almost 10 points since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year marked the first time states received a composite score in addition to rankings. Virginia earned an overall score of 661 out of 1,000, well above the national score of 547. But from 2019 to 2024, Virginia’s education score fell by 170 points, a larger drop than national trends.
While worsening education outcomes are not new, especially since school was disrupted for students during the pandemic, some Virginia leaders say the state’s drop underscores the need for investment in education and children’s economic well-being.
“We know children and families need a solid foundation: stable housing, fully funded schools, nutritious food, meaningful relationships and opportunities to learn, play and grow. Policies that meet these needs are smart investments, fostering long-term gains like employment and economic growth,” Rachael Deane, chief executive officer for Voices for Virginia’s Children, said in a statement.
Voices for Virginia’s Children is the state’s KIDS COUNT partner organization. The group plans to advocate for related policy initiatives during the 2027 General Assembly session.
“The release of index scores this year is game-changing, as it allows us to make a stronger case to policymakers that the time is now for additional investments in education and economic justice in Virginia. This could look like expanding the child tax credit and implementing a fair share tax, which would generate billions of dollars to invest in public schools and early childhood, without increasing the financial burden on working families,” Liz Nigro, director of research for Voices for Virginia’s Children, said in a statement.
Learn more about Virginia’s rankings in the 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book here.
Lynchburg names new principals
Three Lynchburg public schools will start the 2026-27 school year with new principals.
The Lynchburg City School Board approved the hirings last week.
Laura Morrison-Hussein has been named principal of Perrymont Elementary and Jeremy Hutchinson has been named principal of Hutcherson Academy, which serves pre-K students.
Susan Badger will serve as interim principal of E.C. Glass High School. The division announced on June 10 that April Goff, who recently served as principal of Southern Wake Academy in North Carolina, had been hired to helm E.C. Glass, but a day later announced that she had withdrawn her name. Badger has worked at Glass since 2023 and previously worked in administration for Danville and Franklin County public schools.
Morrison-Hussein joins Lynchburg after serving in senior leading roles with the Department of Defense Education Activity, which serves the children of military families across the world, including as a principal at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, according to a news release.
Hutchinson joins the division from Amherst County Public Schools.
All three new principals will start on July 1.
Emory & Henry launches new online MBA program
This fall, students who are interested in obtaining a Master of Business Administration degree but need some flexibility will have a new opportunity at Emory & Henry University.
The university is launching a fully online MBA program starting this fall. The accelerated program is designed for working professionals and can be completed in 12 months.
“While we have offered an MBA for the past four years, we’re thrilled to now offer our MBA entirely online,” Jo Lobertini, dean of online learning for the university, said in a statement. “The online MBA provides flexibility for working adults who can complete their degree from anywhere.”
The new program comes as colleges and universities across Virginia and the country expand online and distance learning offerings, in part to meet students where they are, as the same schools see changes in enrollment trends.
Learn more about the online MBA program here.
Bluefield University to offer first doctoral degree programs
Bluefield University will soon offer its first doctoral degree programs — in education and business administration.
The 103-year-old university recently won approval from its accreditor, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, to offer the programs in what school officials are calling “a historic move.”
“This approval represents a historic milestone in the life of Bluefield University,” President Steve Peterson said in a statement. “Achieving a higher level of accreditation and launching our first doctoral programs reflects the strength of our faculty, the dedication of our staff, and our unwavering commitment to academic excellence. The Doctor of Education and Doctor of Business Administration will expand opportunities for students while strengthening our ability to serve the workforce and communities of Appalachia and beyond.”
The university already offers more than 50 academic programs, including master’s degree programs in education, business administration, nursing and counseling.
Bluefield University serves more than 1,300 students and has seen an increase in enrollment in recent years, even as some small colleges and universities across the country are seeing declines.
Peterson praised the university’s ongoing growth last year.
“We believe people can live, learn, and serve in Appalachia. Our programs are helping students stay close to home while preparing for impactful careers in the region and beyond,” he said in a news release at the time.
