Powhatan County Public Schools had a busy day of recognizing local veterans during Veterans Day celebrations held across the county today.
The day began with a special Staff Appreciation and Veterans Day breakfast, generously provided by Providence Hill Real Estate. Staff enjoyed a free breakfast from Chick-fil-A and Maxey's, along with raffle prizes and an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the PCPS employees who have served in our nation's military.
We are grateful to Providence Hill Real Estate for treating our staff and helping us recognize the veterans who are part of our PCPS family. Thank you to all who have served!
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan
Powhatan Superintendent Beth Teigen announces retirement at end of 2026-27 school year
POWHATAN, VA – Powhatan County Public Schools Superintendent Beth Teigen has announced her plans to retire at the conclusion of the 2026-2027 school year, bringing her tenure with the division to a close on June 30, 2027.
Dr. Teigen, who joined PCPS in June 2022, said this was an extremely hard decision to make with the trajectory and success Powhatan has and will continue to have. However, one of her core values is family. The opportunity to spend more time with her husband, whose support has been especially unwavering throughout the demands of her work as superintendent, and her daughters and their families, including her five-month-old grandson, led her to this next chapter of life.
Although she has served as superintendent for the past several years, Dr. Teigen’s connection to Powhatan County goes back much further. She and her husband have called the community home for more than 14 years, and she said the opportunity to lead the school division in the community where she lives has been truly special.
“It has truly been a blessing to work in the community where I live,” Dr. Teigen said. “I only wish we had moved here sooner so our daughters could have experienced Powhatan schools.”
Dr. Teigen’s retirement will conclude a 28-year career in education, which began in 1999 after working as a chemist. After starting as a teacher at an alternative high school in Chesterfield County, she taught mathematics, helped develop the engineering program and courses, and later moved into school administration. Her career included leadership roles in Chesterfield and Henrico counties before she joined Powhatan as superintendent.
Throughout her time in education, what has remained most meaningful is the opportunity to help students discover their full potential and experience success.
“Watching learning click for a student and seeing them understand something they couldn’t grasp initially, that’s what it's all about,” she said. “Graduation is a great example of where that all comes to fruition. You see the kids walk across that stage, you hear their parents cheering for them, and everything else falls away. It is the culmination of 13 years of learning, and I love watching them achieve that success.”
During her time in Powhatan, Dr. Teigen has been proud to help expand career and workforce development readiness with new courses, honors credit, and dual enrollment options; strengthen literacy and mathematics instruction; and build trust with families through greater transparency and visibility into the learning taking place in PCPS schools. She also emphasized the importance of adapting to change and finding efficiencies while continuing to serve students well.
School Board Chair Susan Smith said welcoming Dr. Teigen to lead Powhatan County Schools was a blessing and an answered prayer.
“She has served with dignity, honesty, and a sense of fair play to all involved in the work of this school division,” Smith said. “There is a mixed bag of emotion in my heart and head as we prepare for her departure and begin the search for a new superintendent. However, I am very happy for her as she starts this new chapter.”
As she reflected on her time with the division and the quality of work happening daily, Dr. Teigen said its greatest strength is its people.
“Our employees truly care about our students and their futures, and the work they do is not easy,” she said. “There is so much change in public education, and our teachers and staff work hard every day to navigate that while continuing to do what is best for our students. This is not the work of one individual. It takes a team, from the people in our schools to those supporting them behind the scenes.”
Dr. Teigen pointed to PCPS’s five Distinguished Schools and having secondary schools that are in the top five in the region as examples of what the division’s employees accomplish every day. She noted that recognition is especially meaningful for a small division with limited resources. She hopes the division will build on that success while continuing to expand opportunities that prepare students for their futures.
Maintaining that success and continuing to provide enriching and engaging opportunities for students are among her hopes for the division’s future.
While Dr. Teigen said she is excited about retirement, she acknowledged that leaving the people who have become her school family will be bittersweet. She expressed confidence in the employees and leadership team to keep the division moving forward and said she wants to do everything she can to position PCPS for continued success.
The Powhatan County School Board will lead the search for the division’s next superintendent. Dr. Teigen said she will provide whatever support she can to her successor and remain committed to the division's success through the conclusion of the school year.
POWHATAN, VA – Powhatan County Public Schools Superintendent Beth Teigen has announced her plans to retire at the conclusion of the 2026-2027 school year, bringing her tenure with the division to a close on June 30, 2027.
Dr. Teigen, who joined PCPS in June 2022, said this was an extremely hard decision to make with the trajectory and success Powhatan has and will continue to have. However, one of her core values is family. The opportunity to spend more time with her husband, whose support has been especially unwavering throughout the demands of her work as superintendent, and her daughters and their families, including her five-month-old grandson, led her to this next chapter of life.
Although she has served as superintendent for the past several years, Dr. Teigen’s connection to Powhatan County goes back much further. She and her husband have called the community home for more than 14 years, and she said the opportunity to lead the school division in the community where she lives has been truly special.
“It has truly been a blessing to work in the community where I live,” Dr. Teigen said. “I only wish we had moved here sooner so our daughters could have experienced Powhatan schools.”
Dr. Teigen’s retirement will conclude a 28-year career in education, which began in 1999 after working as a chemist. After starting as a teacher at an alternative high school in Chesterfield County, she taught mathematics, helped develop the engineering program and courses, and later moved into school administration. Her career included leadership roles in Chesterfield and Henrico counties before she joined Powhatan as superintendent.
Throughout her time in education, what has remained most meaningful is the opportunity to help students discover their full potential and experience success.
“Watching learning click for a student and seeing them understand something they couldn’t grasp initially, that’s what it's all about,” she said. “Graduation is a great example of where that all comes to fruition. You see the kids walk across that stage, you hear their parents cheering for them, and everything else falls away. It is the culmination of 13 years of learning, and I love watching them achieve that success.”
During her time in Powhatan, Dr. Teigen has been proud to help expand career and workforce development readiness with new courses, honors credit, and dual enrollment options; strengthen literacy and mathematics instruction; and build trust with families through greater transparency and visibility into the learning taking place in PCPS schools. She also emphasized the importance of adapting to change and finding efficiencies while continuing to serve students well.
School Board Chair Susan Smith said welcoming Dr. Teigen to lead Powhatan County Schools was a blessing and an answered prayer.
“She has served with dignity, honesty, and a sense of fair play to all involved in the work of this school division,” Smith said. “There is a mixed bag of emotion in my heart and head as we prepare for her departure and begin the search for a new superintendent. However, I am very happy for her as she starts this new chapter.”
As she reflected on her time with the division and the quality of work happening daily, Dr. Teigen said its greatest strength is its people.
“Our employees truly care about our students and their futures, and the work they do is not easy,” she said. “There is so much change in public education, and our teachers and staff work hard every day to navigate that while continuing to do what is best for our students. This is not the work of one individual. It takes a team, from the people in our schools to those supporting them behind the scenes.”
Dr. Teigen pointed to PCPS’s five Distinguished Schools and having secondary schools that are in the top five in the region as examples of what the division’s employees accomplish every day. She noted that recognition is especially meaningful for a small division with limited resources. She hopes the division will build on that success while continuing to expand opportunities that prepare students for their futures.
Maintaining that success and continuing to provide enriching and engaging opportunities for students are among her hopes for the division’s future.
While Dr. Teigen said she is excited about retirement, she acknowledged that leaving the people who have become her school family will be bittersweet. She expressed confidence in the employees and leadership team to keep the division moving forward and said she wants to do everything she can to position PCPS for continued success.
The Powhatan County School Board will lead the search for the division’s next superintendent. Dr. Teigen said she will provide whatever support she can to her successor and remain committed to the division's success through the conclusion of the school year.
We are excited about two special performances happening on Veterans Day, November 11, featuring the talents of our wonderful PCPS students.
* Powhatan Elementary will hold its annual Veterans Day program. Local veterans are invited to enjoy an amazing show with performances by POWES fifth graders and Powhatan Middle choir and band students. The show begins at 9:15 a.m. Veterans only.
* The Powhatan African American Cultural Arts Museum will hold a Veterans Day program at 11 a.m. Everyone is invited to enjoy a Veteran Panel and a special guest performances by Powhatan High School’s Resonance choir and Wind Symphony Band. All are welcome.
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan
* Powhatan Elementary will hold its annual Veterans Day program. Local veterans are invited to enjoy an amazing show with performances by POWES fifth graders and Powhatan Middle choir and band students. The show begins at 9:15 a.m. Veterans only.
* The Powhatan African American Cultural Arts Museum will hold a Veterans Day program at 11 a.m. Everyone is invited to enjoy a Veteran Panel and a special guest performances by Powhatan High School’s Resonance choir and Wind Symphony Band. All are welcome.
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan
Due to an unexpected change in the weight limit of a local bridge used by multiple school bus routes, Powhatan County Public Schools will operate on a two-hour delay for all students on Tuesday, November 10.
Please note:
* All employees and drivers will report on-time.
* There will be no AM preschool classes at Flat Rock Elementary.
* Students who attend the regional and governor’s schools will not be impacted.
The division was notified by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) late this afternoon that, following a recent inspection identifying additional deterioration, the weight limit for the Rocky Ford Road Bridge over a branch of Rocky Ford Creek has been immediately reduced from 13 tons to 4 tons.
Because the bridge is part of several elementary and secondary school bus routes, this change could significantly affect transportation schedules and result in substantial delays for students and families.
Since receiving the notification, the division has been working to gather additional information and assess both the immediate and potential longer-term impacts on school transportation.
Given the number of students who could be affected, the division is implementing a two-hour delay for students to allow additional time to assess transportation needs and make any necessary adjustments.
We understand that changes to the school schedule, particularly with limited notice, can create challenges for families. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through this unexpected situation. Additional information will be shared as it becomes available.
Please note:
* All employees and drivers will report on-time.
* There will be no AM preschool classes at Flat Rock Elementary.
* Students who attend the regional and governor’s schools will not be impacted.
The division was notified by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) late this afternoon that, following a recent inspection identifying additional deterioration, the weight limit for the Rocky Ford Road Bridge over a branch of Rocky Ford Creek has been immediately reduced from 13 tons to 4 tons.
Because the bridge is part of several elementary and secondary school bus routes, this change could significantly affect transportation schedules and result in substantial delays for students and families.
Since receiving the notification, the division has been working to gather additional information and assess both the immediate and potential longer-term impacts on school transportation.
Given the number of students who could be affected, the division is implementing a two-hour delay for students to allow additional time to assess transportation needs and make any necessary adjustments.
We understand that changes to the school schedule, particularly with limited notice, can create challenges for families. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through this unexpected situation. Additional information will be shared as it becomes available.
A little community support can go a long way toward putting books into the hands of Powhatan’s youngest readers!
Last month, families braved the rainy weather to come out for the Color Run and Family Fair at Powhatan High School, supporting the local affiliate of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Proceeds help provide free books to children from birth through age 5 right here in Powhatan County. Thank you to everyone who joined in and helped make the event a success!
There’s another opportunity to support this great cause coming up this weekend!
Rockin’ With Dolly
📅 Saturday, November 14
⏰ 7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
📍 Luck Stone in Powhatan
For a $20 donation, fill your pickup truck or single-axle trailer with your choice of:
• 57 stone (typically used in driveways; retail price $60/ton)
• 21A stone (base or crusher run; retail price $40/ton)
Please bring a tarp to cover your material and help prevent it from flying off during transport.
Your support helps the Powhatan Education Foundation and the local affiliate of the Imagination Library continue their work in our community. Thank you for helping make a difference for Powhatan families and young readers! 🧡🖤
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan
Last month, families braved the rainy weather to come out for the Color Run and Family Fair at Powhatan High School, supporting the local affiliate of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Proceeds help provide free books to children from birth through age 5 right here in Powhatan County. Thank you to everyone who joined in and helped make the event a success!
There’s another opportunity to support this great cause coming up this weekend!
Rockin’ With Dolly
📅 Saturday, November 14
⏰ 7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
📍 Luck Stone in Powhatan
For a $20 donation, fill your pickup truck or single-axle trailer with your choice of:
• 57 stone (typically used in driveways; retail price $60/ton)
• 21A stone (base or crusher run; retail price $40/ton)
Please bring a tarp to cover your material and help prevent it from flying off during transport.
Your support helps the Powhatan Education Foundation and the local affiliate of the Imagination Library continue their work in our community. Thank you for helping make a difference for Powhatan families and young readers! 🧡🖤
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan
REMINDER: This Saturday, November 7, the 35th annual Powhatan Fall Classic will bring 20 school bands from across Virginia to compete. The marching band competition kicks off at noon with performances on the football field. This is going to be a fantastic day showcasing musical talent. The PHS Marching Band will perform a special exhibition show at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults and $8 for children ages 6-12. There is also a $1 card fee. Concessions will be available. Please consider coming out to support Powhatan High School's amazing band program.
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan
REMINDER: Join the PCPS Student Services Department for their monthly Powhatan Strong Coffee Chat series today, Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. We will be discussing Understanding Youth Substance Use with Jordan Schellin, Powhatan County Outreach Coordinator, and Tiffany Eustice, VDH Youth and Young Adult Tobacco Coordinator. To join, click the link in the comments.
🎃 It’s almost time for Trunk or Treat at Powhatan High School! 🎃🍬 Join us tonight from 5:00–6:30 p.m. in the bus loop for candy, games, music, and fun with our student-run trunks. Costumes welcome! 👻
Stick around after for the football game. It’s going to be a great night of community and school spirit. 🧡 #WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan
Stick around after for the football game. It’s going to be a great night of community and school spirit. 🧡 #WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan
REMINDER: Monday, November 2 is a PCPS Student and Staff Holiday (Excludes 12-month employees) and Tuesday, November 3 will be Parent Teacher Conferences, Student Holiday.
Learning a new language is a journey, and every student has to start somewhere! Earlier this semester, students in Mrs. Counoupas’ Spanish I class at Powhatan Middle School completed an assessment to help gauge their existing knowledge of Spanish. The goal isn’t to know everything on day one. Mrs. Counoupas reminded students that skills they may not have yet, including writing in Spanish, will develop as the year goes on. As they learn, students are building communication skills and gaining the ability to connect with more people and cultures. 🧡🖤
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan
History is coming to life at Powhatan High School, and they need the community’s help.
Rho Kappa, the National Social Studies Honor Society, has opened the Powhatan High School Archive, bringing together three historical collections focused on Powhatan High School, Powhatan County, and U.S. and Virginia history.
Housing the three archival collections will give students opportunities to work directly with primary sources and make historical materials available for use in history, science, and other classes. It also creates an opportunity to preserve the stories and artifacts that help tell the story of Powhatan.
Community members are invited to help grow the archive by sharing historical items and participating in oral history interviews. Do you have a story about Powhatan’s past or an artifact that could contribute to the collection? To learn more about sharing your story or contributing materials, please contact Garrett Hall at garrett.hall@powhatan.k12.va.us or Amanda Henderson at amanda.henderson@powhatan.k12.va.us.
Let’s work together to preserve Powhatan’s history for future generations! 🧡🖤
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan
Rho Kappa, the National Social Studies Honor Society, has opened the Powhatan High School Archive, bringing together three historical collections focused on Powhatan High School, Powhatan County, and U.S. and Virginia history.
Housing the three archival collections will give students opportunities to work directly with primary sources and make historical materials available for use in history, science, and other classes. It also creates an opportunity to preserve the stories and artifacts that help tell the story of Powhatan.
Community members are invited to help grow the archive by sharing historical items and participating in oral history interviews. Do you have a story about Powhatan’s past or an artifact that could contribute to the collection? To learn more about sharing your story or contributing materials, please contact Garrett Hall at garrett.hall@powhatan.k12.va.us or Amanda Henderson at amanda.henderson@powhatan.k12.va.us.
Let’s work together to preserve Powhatan’s history for future generations! 🧡🖤
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan
REMINDER: Friday, October 23 is a Student Holiday/PCPS Teacher Work Day and Monday, October 26 is Student Holiday/Professional Development Day.
During the regular October meeting, the School Board recognized Powhatan High School junior Ryan Urban, who recently completed his Eagle Scout project by organizing and customizing nine sensory carts. One cart was donated to Flat Rock Elementary School. Others were distributed to Powhatan County Public Library, a church, and several schools in the Richmond metro area. Ryan raised about $5,000 through local donors and fundraisers to complete the carts, which cost about $600 each. From start to finish, the project took about a year, and Ryan said he couldn't be more pleased with how it turned out. He was inspired by his brother’s godmother, an elementary special education coordinator, and by friends with sensory needs whom he knew could benefit from access to resources on a sensory cart. Seeing how sensory tools can help people feel more comfortable and supported was a big part of what motivated him to create the carts.
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan
During the regular October meeting, the School Board recognized Powhatan High School FFA members, who represented their school at the June 2026 Virginia Future Farmers of America (FFA) State Convention. Students earned 1st place in Junior Agricultural Mechanics. Additionally, the Turfgrass Management team placed 5th in the state, and this year was our 100th FFA group attending! Pictured with the School Board are PHS student winners Waylon Burns, Hayden Columbo-Powell, Charles Jamerson, and Hunter Kantzler and student advisor Chris Whitlow.
Good morning PCPS Community. The Powhatan County School Board Recap for the October regular meeting is ready to view. As always, the goal of this newsletter is to help people who don't have the time to come to or watch full School Board meetings still stay abreast of what is going on in our school division. The newsletter link is here: https://app.smore.com/n/ad431.
October is National Bullying Prevention Month, a nationwide campaign dedicated to raising awareness, educating communities, and uniting to end bullying and cyberbullying. The Powhatan County School Board and all of Powhatan County Public Schools ask our community to come together to do your part and join us in teaching our children to help prevent bullying.
Bullying manifests in four primary ways: physical, verbal, social/relational (such as spreading rumors or exclusion), and cyberbullying. While physical behavior leaves visible signs, verbal and relational harm can be just as damaging to a child's well-being. Children don't always ask for help directly, making it important to watch for subtle behavioral changes.
* Emotional Signs: Unexplained anxiety, loss of confidence, mood swings, or withdrawal.
* Physical & Academic Signs: Frequent stomachaches or headaches, sudden drop in grades, or reluctance to go to school.
* Action Step: Reach out to your child's teacher or school counselor early if you notice sudden changes in their social habits or mood.
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan #stopbullying
Bullying manifests in four primary ways: physical, verbal, social/relational (such as spreading rumors or exclusion), and cyberbullying. While physical behavior leaves visible signs, verbal and relational harm can be just as damaging to a child's well-being. Children don't always ask for help directly, making it important to watch for subtle behavioral changes.
* Emotional Signs: Unexplained anxiety, loss of confidence, mood swings, or withdrawal.
* Physical & Academic Signs: Frequent stomachaches or headaches, sudden drop in grades, or reluctance to go to school.
* Action Step: Reach out to your child's teacher or school counselor early if you notice sudden changes in their social habits or mood.
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan #stopbullying
The Dolly Parton Imagination Library Board, in conjunction with ACG Hospice, will be sponsoring a Color Run and Family Fair at Powhatan High School on October 17th at 9:00 a.m. Proceeds from this event will support the Dolly Parton Imagination Library for Powhatan. Funds will be used to put books in the hands of children ages 0-5 years old in the county. We hope everyone can join us for this fun event in support of a great cause!
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan
REMINDER: The Powhatan County School Board’s next meeting is on October 13, 2026 at the Pocahontas Landmark Center, 4290 Anderson Highway, Powhatan, VA 23139
4:00 p.m. Regular Meetings will begin with a scheduled closed session
6:00 p.m. Regular Open Meeting Begins - Streamed Live on YouTube
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan
4:00 p.m. Regular Meetings will begin with a scheduled closed session
6:00 p.m. Regular Open Meeting Begins - Streamed Live on YouTube
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan
A familiar face in the school building can make a student’s day! 🧡🖤
Powhatan Elementary recently welcomed its first Watch D.O.G.S. volunteer of the 2026–2027 school year, a proud grandfather who spent time supporting students and staff. The program gives dads, grandfathers, uncles, and other father figures an opportunity to volunteer, connect with students, and make a positive difference in their school community.
All PCPS elementary schools offer this opportunity to get involved. If the men in your family are interested in participating, reach out to your child’s elementary school to learn more about its Watch D.O.G.S. program and how to sign up. Those extra hands and familiar faces are always appreciated!
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan
Powhatan Elementary recently welcomed its first Watch D.O.G.S. volunteer of the 2026–2027 school year, a proud grandfather who spent time supporting students and staff. The program gives dads, grandfathers, uncles, and other father figures an opportunity to volunteer, connect with students, and make a positive difference in their school community.
All PCPS elementary schools offer this opportunity to get involved. If the men in your family are interested in participating, reach out to your child’s elementary school to learn more about its Watch D.O.G.S. program and how to sign up. Those extra hands and familiar faces are always appreciated!
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan
As Fire Prevention Week comes to a close, what better time to look back on a recent visit from Assistant Fire Chief Pat Schoeffel to Powhatan Middle School? 🚒 Mrs. Mesco’s Family and Consumer Sciences students learned about kitchen safety, how fires develop, and what to do if a fire breaks out. Chief Schoeffel also explained how fire extinguishers work and when they may be used and let the students practice using a fire extinguisher.
Thank you to Chief Schoeffel for sharing important fire safety knowledge that students can carry with them beyond the classroom! 🧡🖤
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan
Thank you to Chief Schoeffel for sharing important fire safety knowledge that students can carry with them beyond the classroom! 🧡🖤
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan