Back to School Q&A with Superintendent Cromer + Back to School photos

Floyd County Public Schools (FCPS) kicked their year off on Wednesday, Aug. 12. Floyd Times had the opportunity to talk with the Superintendent of Floyd County Public Schools, Dr. Jessica Cromer this week ahead of the school year to speak about back to school preparation.

Cromer is in her 22nd year with FCPS, starting as a teacher and moving into leadership roles thereafter. As superintendent, she oversees the day-to-day operations as well as leading the school system in academics, finances, personnel, and community relations. Cromer and her family are also residents of Floyd County.

Q: In your opinion how does Floyd County Public Schools stand out from surrounding areas? What makes it unique?

I think the biggest thing that sets Floyd County apart is the strength of our relationships. We’re a small division, and that gives us an opportunity to know our students and families really well. Our teachers and staff know their students as individuals, not just as names on a roster.

We also have a really strong sense of community ownership of our schools. Businesses, families, community organizations and local government are willing to partner with us because they understand that the success of our schools is connected to the success of Floyd County.

I think we have a unique combination of small-town community and big-picture thinking. We’re willing to try new things and look beyond our geographic boundaries for opportunities for our students. Being a small, rural division doesn’t mean we have to think small.

Q: Your school year starts this week, what types of activities or preparation have you done for your administration and faculty for each of the schools?

We’ve spent a lot of time this summer making sure our leaders and staff are prepared not just for the logistics of opening school, but for the work we want to accomplish together this year.

Our professional learning has been very intentional. We recently held TEACHFest, our division-wide professional learning event, with more than 32 sessions led by educators and partners. We’ve also spent time with our school leaders looking at instructional priorities, student support, school culture and how we can continue to improve as a division.

Our theme this year is connected to our broader mission of “Building a Better Future, Together.” We’ve been using a construction theme to remind ourselves that improvement doesn’t happen all at once; it happens when we have a strong blueprint, the right tools and people willing to do the work together.

Of course, there’s also a tremendous amount of behind-the-scenes preparation (facilities, transportation, technology, safety, staffing, schedules and curriculum) but the most important preparation is making sure our adults are ready to welcome students and create a strong start to the year.

Q: When it comes to preparation, what types of plans do you make for students prior to the year starting in order to make it successful?

Our goal is to make sure we’re thinking about the whole student before students ever walk through the door. That means preparing academically, but also thinking about relationships, behavior, attendance, mental health and belonging.

We’ve continued developing our FCPS Student Support Framework, which gives our schools a more consistent way to identify student needs and match those needs with appropriate support. We’re also looking closely at our academic data so teachers can begin the year with a clear understanding of where students are and what they need next.

But there’s also something very simple that I think matters tremendously: we want every student to feel known, welcomed and valued when they walk through the door. A successful school year starts with that sense of belonging.

Q: Every year we learn and grow. Are there any pivots you made this year based on last year to make this one run smoothly?

Absolutely. I think one of the most important things we can do as educators is be willing to say, “What did we learn, and what should we do differently?”

One area we’re continuing to strengthen is our approach to student support. We’ve been working toward greater consistency across our schools in how we respond to academic, behavioral, attendance and other student needs.

We’re also continuing to refine our professional learning based on what teachers tell us they need. We don’t want professional development simply because it’s on a calendar; we want it to be useful and connected to the actual work happening in classrooms.

And we’re continuing to look closely at communication. In a small community, relationships matter, and we want our communication with families and staff to be timely, transparent and consistent.

Q: How does technology play a role in Floyd County Schools day to day? 

Technology is simply part of the learning environment now. Our students and teachers use technology every day for instruction, communication, research, collaboration, and access to resources.

At the same time, we’re trying to be thoughtful about technology. We don’t want technology just for technology’s sake. The question should always be, “Does this improve the learning experience or create an opportunity that students wouldn’t otherwise have?”

Artificial intelligence is also becoming an important part of that conversation. We established an AI Task Force this year to help us develop thoughtful guidance for students, staff and families. We want our students to understand how to use these emerging tools responsibly while also developing the critical thinking skills they need to navigate an increasingly technological world.

Q: Is there anything you’re excited about for students this year? Anything new for them on the horizon?

There is a lot to be excited about. One of the things I’m particularly excited about is our continued work around career-connected learning. Through our partnership with Transcend’s Rural Career Connected Collaborative, we’re thinking differently about how students connect what they’re learning in school to their future.

We’re also continuing to build opportunities through our Career and Collaboration Development Center and our CTE programs, including Building Trades, Engineering and Robotics. I love seeing students realize that what they are learning in school can connect directly to something they may want to do as a career.

We also want students to have opportunities to explore, create, solve problems and discover what they’re good at. Success doesn’t look exactly the same for every student, and our job is to help each one find a pathway forward.

Q: Does the school system have any special events for the kids that they might look forward to this year?

Each of our schools has its own traditions and events throughout the year, and those are a really important part of the school experience. We’ll have school celebrations, athletic events, arts and music activities, field trips, career experiences, and a variety of opportunities for students and families to come together.

One of the things I love about Floyd is that our schools are community gathering places. Whether it’s a football game, a concert, a student showcase or an elementary school event, there’s a real sense that these experiences belong to the entire community, not just to the students who attend that particular school.

Q: Does the school system have any new partnerships happening this year that you’re excited to see happen?

We’re fortunate to have so many strong community partners, and we’re continuing to build those relationships.

Our work with Transcend is a great example because it connects us with other rural school divisions around the country while helping us rethink career-connected learning here in Floyd.

For me, the most exciting partnerships are the ones where students get authentic experiences, not just someone coming in to talk to them, but students actually getting to see, experience, and participate in what opportunities exist beyond high school.

Q: Anything else to add about the upcoming year? 

I think the biggest thing I would say is that we’re really excited to welcome our students back.

There’s always a lot of work that happens behind the scenes to get a school division ready for a new year, but ultimately, none of it matters without our students. We want this to be a year where students feel challenged, supported, and excited to come to school.

I’m incredibly proud of our teachers and staff. They care deeply about our kids, and they work incredibly hard to give them opportunities to succeed.

Photos of students were submitted via Floyd Times' Facebook. Like and follow to submit your own photos the next time the opportunity arises!