Virginia Department of Education

Get to Know Our Newest Top Talent! Hannah Artiles-Stravers has been supporting students and employees through sensitive and challenging workplace concerns for 15 years. She joins VDOE as an employee relations specialist after being in a similar role with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. Hannah is grateful for the opportunity to return to her roots in education. For 10 years she ensured federal and state compliance in response to, and the prevention of, sexual violence at William & Mary and St. John’s University. Hannah is eager to engage with VDOE employees to create a workplace culture where each employee can thrive. Welcome to VDOE!

"Every child deserves a high-quality learning experience every day" "Real change in education starts with the people those systems are meant to serve" State Superintendent Jenna Conway recently shared about her experience in education, feedback from the Commonwealth Listening Tour and more through a Q & A session with Whiteboard Advisors.  Read here: https://ow.ly/GV0R50Z1FRl

Today is Decision Day! Secretary of Education Jeffery Smith along with state employees gathered to celebrate and recognize the multiple pathways chosen by Virginia's students after high school. #DecisionDay2026

VDOE's Deputy Superintendent of Innovation, Student Pathways & Opportunities, Dewayne McClary recently attended the inaugural Future Educators Academy Lab School signing day held at Germanna Community College. He offered words of support, encouragement and congratulations. Students pictured were part of the first-ever Virginia cohort to complete rigorous college coursework over the past two years and earn an associate's degree in education alongside their high school diplomas. #AcademicExcellenceVA

Get to Know Our Newest Top Talent! Rachel joins the Office of School & Community Nutrition as a School & Community Nutrition Procurement Analyst. Prior, she worked in child nutrition at the USDA Food and Nutrition Service in the School Meals Policy Division as a Presidential Management Fellow in 2023. Rachel supported the policymaking, regulatory and programmatic activities for three federal child nutrition assistance programs and the development and implementation of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.  She earned a Master of Science degree in nutrition and dietetics from Drexel University, where she conducted research on equitable school wellness policy implementation and state food policy councils. She also holds a BA in public policy and government from Dartmouth College and is a registered dietitian. Welcome to VDOE! 

Get to Know Our Newest Top Talent! Danielle Dye has joined the Office of Behavioral Health and School Safety at VDOE as a Community Schools Specialist. She began her career in 2012 with United Way of Southwest Virginia, serving as the first Smart Beginnings Program Director based in Abingdon, Virginia, and later gained healthcare experience as a physician liaison expanding services across Southwest Virginia. In 2020, Danielle returned to United Way to launch the Southwest Virginia Trauma Informed Community Network, expanding trauma-informed practices into the Virginia Community Schools Initiative and, since 2022, providing strategic oversight to schools implementing the Community Schools framework. As United Way transitioned to EO Companies, she integrated Community Schools work into the Cradle to Career Continuum and led 21 schools through the Virginia Community Schools Designation process in Fall 2025. Danielle is a strong advocate for equitable access to services and meeting the needs of all students.

Get to Know Our Newest Top Talent! Dwan Bryant comes to VDOE – Office of Childcare Health and Safety, Peninsula Region as a licensing inspector with almost 20 years of experience working in a host of childcare settings across the state of Virginia. Historically serving as a Teacher and Program Director, she has a degree in Early Childhood Development, experience with Fatherhood Initiatives, The Families and Schools Together Program, and more! Dwan is now working her DREAM job as being a licensing inspector has always been a passion of hers. She's fervently committed to and passionate about the health, safety and well-being of children.

Congratulations to VDOE's Bee Thorp who has been accepted into the Commonwealth Management Institute (CMI) this spring. CMI is a respected leadership development program through the Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute at Virginia Commonwealth University, designed to strengthen management skills, deepen self-awareness and equip public sector leaders with practical tools for navigating complex organizational challenges. As the leader of Farm to School initiatives in the Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs, Bee combines her expertise with creativity, collaboration and systems-level thinking to every endeavor. Her participation in CMI will only amplify that impact. She’ll return with fresh strategies for leading local school food systems-level change, new approaches for building cross-agency partnerships and tools that will help strengthen the team and Farm to School programs across the commonwealth.

Thank you VDOE administrative professionals for all you do to keep the department running and to serve our schools, teachers, students and families! You are appreciated! #AdministrativeProfessionalsDay

Today, Governor Spanberger "Purpled Up!" with VDOE staff and representatives from multiple state agencies who gathered to recognize and honor over 80, 000 military connected children and their families in Virginia as one of the many events during April, the Month of the Military Child. Thank you to our students and their families for your strength and sacrifices.  #PurpleUPDay #MOTMC