Hampton City Schools-Academies of Hampton hosts Ford Next Generation Superintendent and Leadership Council Annual Conference

From October 22 to October 24, 2024, Hampton City Schools-Academies of Hampton hosted the Ford Next Generation Superintendent and Leadership Council's annual conference, marking the first time a local community hosted this event. This year’s gathering welcomed over 100 educational leaders from across the Ford NGL network, spanning regions as far as Scotland and Alaska, including superintendents, senior leaders, and representatives from Ford NGL's convening organization. The conference aimed to deepen transformational practices, foster stronger connections across the network, and facilitate the exchange of best practices.

The event began with an inspiring keynote by Hampton superintendent Dr. Raymond Haynes, who highlighted Hampton City Schools' core mission and shared insights on the division’s implementation strategies. Hampton city manager Mary Bunting followed with a presentation on the city's dedication to educational investment, emphasizing the shared vision and commitment that drives local efforts.

The conference's attendees engaged in immersive experiences showcasing K-12 transformational initiatives in Hampton. Highlights included visiting the “Living Library,” a partnership with the city of Hampton that serves as a community-connected touchpoint for 8th-grade students. Student ambassadors from the Academies of Kecoughtan High School led this visit segment, while further school tours included the Academies of Bethel High School and Phoebus High School. During a special dining event, ambassadors from the Academies of Hampton High School hosted attendees, paving the way for a presentation by chief academic officer Dr. James Harris and Academies of Hampton director Veronica Hurd titled “Connecting the Dots.”

The conference concluded with dynamic roundtable discussions, where a cross-section of representatives from Hampton City Schools-Academies of Hampton led discussions on key themes, which can be seen below. 

The 2024 conference was a resounding success, underscoring the power of community involvement in transformational education and showcasing Hampton's commitment to creating meaningful, community-connected learning experiences, as One Community, One Transformation. The network was left in awe and eager to come back to learn more! 

A special thank you to everyone who is moving this transformation forward.