Nearly 400 Virginia school board members, educators, governing officials, attorneys, and legislators, including Mathews County Superintendent of Schools Nancy B. Welch, assistant superintendent Lesley Hunley, Thomas Hunter Middle School principal Laurel Byrd and school board members John Persinger and Ginger Richards, attended the Virginia School Boards Association 30th annual Conference on Education in Richmond on Tuesday.

The purpose of the conference was to offer participants the opportunity to learn about successful educational practices occurring throughout the state.

Participants had the opportunity to attend their choice of more than 40 mini-workshops on topics such as personnel, finance, career and technical education, curriculum and instruction, partnerships, school/community relations, school law, STEM education, and virtual/blended learning. The presenters included educators from state and local levels, university and college professors, business representatives, and attor...