Superintendent’s Bio

Marcus J. Newsome, Ed.D.
Superintendent, Chesterfield County Public Schools

Marcus J. Newsome was appointed superintendent of Chesterfield County Public Schools on Oct. 1, 2006. With more than 58,000 students, Chesterfield County Public Schools is the fourth-largest school division in Virginia and among the 100 largest districts in the United States. As the school division's chief executive officer, Dr. Newsome quickly earned School Board approval for the Design for Excellence, a six-year strategic plan for comprehensive school improvement. He has overseen the implementation of a variety of creative and innovative initiatives that promote success for all students. These include a preschool readiness program; world language instruction in the elementary schools; introduction and expansion of the John Hopkins Reading Model, algebra for all students before they move into high schools, Spring Forward and Chesterfield Academy alternative education programs; the establishment of a security office and expanded use of school surveillance cameras; safety net funding; and enhanced opportunities for students to enroll in rigorous course such as Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, dual enrollment and career and technical education.

Under Dr. Newsome's leadership, Chesterfield County Public Schools continues to enjoy an excellent reputation for high performance as evidenced by numerous accomplishments: The division made adequately yearly progress under No Child Left Behind; all schools are accredited by the Virginia Department of Education; 42 schools earned the Governor's Award for Excellence in Education, Board of Education's VIP Excellence Award or Board of Education's VIP Competence to Excellence Award; and student achievement on high-stakes tests continues to exceed state averages.

Before moving to Chesterfield, Dr. Newsome served as superintendent of Newport News Public Schools, the largest school division on the Virginia Peninsula. During his tenure, the division earned national recognition and all high schools were ranked by Newsweek magazine as among America's Best High Schools. Dr. Newsome has worked for Prince George's County (Md.) Public Schools, the 17th-largest school system in the country, where he served as a regional executive director, director of student support programs, elementary school principal and middle school assistant principal. Dr. Newsome also has worked as a curriculum writer, administrative intern, dean of students, art teacher and mathematics teacher for the District of Columbia Public Schools.

He earned a doctorate in educational leadership from Bowie State University in Maryland; a doctorate in religious education from International Seminary in Plymouth, Fla.; a master's degree in administration and supervision from Bowie State University; and a bachelor's degree from Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina.

Dr. Newsome serves or has served as co-chair of Gov. Tim Kaine's Education Transition Policy Committee; chair of the Virginia Superintendents Region II Study Group; chair of the College of William and Mary School University Research Network; Harvard University Associate in Practice; Associate Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University; chair of the VCU Metropolitan Education Research Network; and co-chair of the Virginia Association of School Superintendents Legislative Committee. He is a member of the Association of American School Administrators, National Staff Development Council, National School Boards Association, Virginia School Boards Association, Virginia Association of School Superintendents and Virginia Communities In Schools Board of Directors. He is a past executive board member of United Way, Boys and Girls Clubs and Boy Scouts.

Dr. Newsome presents at national conferences and has received numerous awards, including the FBI Community Service Award, NAACP Living Legends Award and Presidential Citation from the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education. Dr. Newsome is married to a school teacher and is the father of three children.