Fredericksburg Parent

14 The FXBG Advance • Special Issue 2025 Shortly after the Spotsylvania County School Board hired Clint Mitchell, discussions—both online and offline—often circled back to one question: Is someone with limited superintendent experience from one of Virginia's smallest school systems ready to lead one of its largest districts? According to Matt Hurt, director of the Comprehensive Instructional Program (CIP)—an initiative that has achieved notable academic gains in some of Virginia's most challenging school districts—the data sug- gests Mitchell is well-prepared. "During the 2023–24 school year," Hurt told FXBG Advance, "Colonial Beach Public Schools achieved greater improvement in stu- dent outcomes than any other division in the CIP consortium." The consortium includes 65 school divisions in Virginia, which collec- tively saw a two-point improvement over the previous year. However, Colonial Beach surpassed expectations. "Its overall pass rate improved by nearly 10 points," Hurt said. "For context, the division with the greatest gains in 2023 saw a nine-point improvement. Final state results won't be published by the Virginia Department of Education until September, but when they are, we'll better understand the significance of this improvement." This isn't the first time Mitchell has contributed to a dramatic turnaround. His work in two of Virginia's largest districts—Prince William and Fairfax—helped prepare him for his new role. In fact, State Superintendent Lisa Coons appointed Mitchell to represent Spotsylvania on two state task forces: one addressing universal school meals (Senate Bill 283) and another focusing on farm-to- school initiatives (House Bill 830 and Senate Bill 314) to incorporate locally grown produce into school nutrition programs. FXBG Advance recently interviewed Mitchell about his background, vision for Spotsylvania County Public Schools, and plans for his first 90 days. Highlights from the interview follow: FXBG ADVANCE: The Spotsylvania School Board has been known for its discord. One of your early challenges will be navigating a board divided into two opposing factions. How do you plan to move for- ward? CLINT MITCHELL: I told the board—all seven members—that if I accepted this position, we would start from ground zero. We need to begin with board governance, including training on leadership and best practices for board members. This involves ongoing training through the Virginia School Boards Association or outside consultants. We need systems, processes, and protocols that everyone agrees to and follows. Additionally, we need regular retreats away from the division to focus on our vision and mission. Without alignment at the top, everything else falls apart. Professional conduct during board meetings is essential. Preparation is key—we need clear roles in agenda-setting so that discussions are productive and not reactive. If we establish a clear vision and demonstrate unity, it sets the stage for success across the division. The board represents the district, so disunity undermines public confidence. I'll work tire- lessly to change that dynamic. FXBG ADVANCE: Do you have a plan in place to address these challenges quickly? CLINT MITCHELL: On August 1, I will introduce my 90-day plan to the division. This plan revolves around our "Core 3 Over 3" initiative: encour- aging every employee to focus on three priorities aligned with our strategic plan and execute them well over three years. The 90-day plan includes three phases: • Engagement Phase: A listening tour in each district and sur- veys to gather feedback. • Exploration Phase: Reviewing district operations and iden- tifying areas for improvement. • Evaluation Phase: Conducting a superintendent entry-plan audit with an outside consultant to assess the division's status. The findings will inform a new five-year strategic plan, supported by the data from listening sessions and the entry-plan audit. SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS PROFILE • Number of Students: 24,201 • Number of Teachers: 1,592.25 (FTE) KEY DATES • Spring Break: March 24–28 • Last Day of School: May 23 An Interview with Superintendent Clint Mitchell WRITTEN BY MARTIN DAVIS

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