Virgin Islands Board of Education

📚✨ VI Educators Challenge – History & Appreciation! ✨📚

March is Virgin Islands and Women’s History Month, and our Virgin Islands Department of Education has been blessed with incredible educators who have shaped minds, inspired generations, and made history in our schools and communities.

🌺🇻🇮💡 Your challenge:

Share the name of an educator in the VI public school system who inspired you:

Include the name of the school where they taught;

Tell us how they impacted your life or helped shape your understanding of Virgin Islands history;

Tag them or nominate someone else to continue the challenge.

🌟 Let’s celebrate our educators whose dedication, leadership, and passion left a lasting mark on our islands. Their stories are part of our history!

📢 Public Notice – Paper Applications Available

The Virgin Islands Board of Education advises the public that paper applications are available and may be obtained in the following ways:

✔️ Pick up a paper application at either Board office location
✔️ Request an application to be sent by mail
✔️ Request an application to be sent via email

For assistance or to request an application, please contact us:

📞 St. Thomas: 340-774-4546

📞 St. Croix: 340-772-4144

Thank you for your continued interest and cooperation.

MANDATORY CELL PHONE BAN IMPLEMENTED AT LOCKHART K-8 SCHOOL TO SAFEGUARD STUDENT SAFETY AND MINIMIZE SCHOOL INTERRUPTIONS

The Virgin Islands Department of Education (VIDE) St. Thomas–St. John District, in collaboration with the leadership of Lockhart K-8 School, has enacted a mandatory ban on student cell phones effective immediately. This measure has become necessary following a series of ongoing and prolonged bomb threats that have caused near-daily disruption to teaching and learning, heightened anxiety among students and staff, and required extensive response efforts from supporting agencies, including the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD).

Over recent weeks, Lockhart K-8 School has endured multiple false alerts that have halted instructional time, impacted student well-being, and diverted critical resources needed for campus safety. Reports and firsthand observations indicate that cell phones have played a significant role in escalating misinformation, circulating unverified threats, and contributing to schoolwide panic.

New Policy Effective Immediately
To protect instructional time and campus safety, Lockhart K-8 School will now enforce the following:

Students are strictly prohibited from bringing cell phones onto campus.
Any student found with a cell phone will have the device confiscated, and a mandatory parental conference will be scheduled before the phone is returned.
Monitors will conduct searches daily, with heightened focus on grades 5 through 8, to ensure compliance.

This policy aligns with VIDE’s commitment to prioritizing student safety, mental health, and uninterrupted access to quality instruction.

Emergency Mandatory PTA Meeting
Parents and guardians are required to attend an emergency PTA meeting Thursday, November 20th at 5:30 p.m. to receive updates on school safety protocols and to discuss the implementation of the cell phone ban.

Additional details, including the meeting date, time, and location, will be shared through school notices and the district’s communication channels.

Message from District Leadership
The safety and emotional well-being of our students remain our highest priority,” said district officials. These repeated threats have taken a heavy toll on our students, teachers, and support teams. This new policy is a decisive step toward restoring calm and structure, supporting the mental health of our children, and ensuring that every student has a safe and stable place to learn.

The VIDE St. Thomas–St. John District thanks parents, guardians, and the greater community for their continued cooperation as efforts are made to protect the learning environment and hold those responsible for these threats accountable.

For questions regarding the new policy or the emergency PTA meeting, parents and guardians may contact the Lockhart K-8 School administration office.

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SCHEDULE UPDATE:
St. Thomas–St. John School District

The Virgin Islands Department of Education (VIDE) advises that Friday, October 31, 2025, will be a regular, full-length school day for all public schools in the St. Thomas–St. John (STTJ) District.

We received an autographed copy of Kingston’s Beach Adventure from the author himself. Kingston is a proud product of the Virgin Islands public school system.

The Virgin Islands Department of Education reminds the public that the 2025–2026 State & District Assessment Calendar is available to help parents, guardians, students, and educators prepare for the academic year’s major assessments.

This comprehensive calendar outlines:

1. Testing windows for all grade levels (Pre-K–12)

2. State & district assessments for ELA, Math, Science, and Digital Literacy

3. Mid-year and end-of-year assessments

4. Interim assessments aligned to pacing guides

By reviewing the monthly calendars, you can ensure that students are ready, schedules are aligned, and families are informed well in advance of testing dates.
For questions, please contact your school’s testing coordinator or the VIDE Assessment Office.

A Message from the Virgin Islands Board of Education
2025-2026 Academic Year: Let Us Make This Our Best Year Yet!

🎉 The Virgin Islands Board of Education is in the house at the 1st Annual Jamboree at St. Croix Educational Complex High School! 🌟 We are bringing the energy, the smiles, and the school spirit with much needed supplies as we gear up for an amazing new school year! 📚✨ Let’s make it one to remember! 💛💙

Congratulations to Nakisha Casimir, proudly recognized as the 2025 Employee of the Year by the Virgin Islands Board of Education! Her commitment, professionalism, and unwavering dedication to educational excellence shine brightly as we celebrate her at the 36th Annual Employee of the Year Recognition and Gala.