We welcome Dr. Doug Brubaker as our new superintendent of Chesapeake Public Schools and share what we learned from his first days meeting families across the city. He explains why he leads by listening, what has impressed him about our programs, and how parents can make a real difference this school year.
• What Dr. Brubaker hears most in community Meet and Greets: strong people and strong support
• Why Chesapeake schools draw families to the community
• Early impressions of district academies and student readiness for life after high school
• What brought him to Chesapeake and what his family is excited about
• Leadership approach focused on listening, learning, and building on success
• Commitment to Empower 2030 and strategic planning
• Practical ways parents can stay engaged using ParentVue and day-to-day involvement

Connect with us at cpschools.com/amplified, and be sure to subscribe or follow us wherever you get your podcasts.

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As he prepares for retirement, Superintendent Dr. Jared Cotton joins us for a special conversation reflecting on his time leading Chesapeake Public Schools and the journey that brought him back home to serve the community that helped shape him. Throughout his tenure, Dr. Cotton has guided the division through historic challenges and significant growth, always grounded in a simple but powerful mission: Inspire Hope. In this episode, he shares memories from his years in Chesapeake, reflects on the lessons learned while leading through the COVID-19 pandemic, and discusses the initiatives that have helped expand opportunities for students and support employees across the division.

From strengthening career and technical education programs and advancing one-to-one technology access to launching innovative learning pathways and investing in staff, Dr. Cotton looks back on the accomplishments that have defined his leadership. He also shares some of the moments, people, and stories that have meant the most to him, along with his hopes for the future of Chesapeake Public Schools. Join us for a candid and heartfelt conversation as Dr. Cotton reflects on his legacy, celebrates the work of the Chesapeake community, and offers a final message before beginning his next chapter.

Connect with us at cpschools.com/amplified.  And be sure to subscribe or follow us wherever you get your podcast. 

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Graduation season moves fast, and the real pressure isn’t just finals and ceremonies, it’s the question every senior hears on repeat: “So what’s next?” We bring you three Chesapeake Public Schools students who answer that question with clarity, pride, and very different plans, all tied together by one big idea: the best next step is the one you prepare for on purpose.

We start with the district’s college and career readiness focus and the “three E’s” that guide planning after high school: enroll, enlist, or employment. Then you’ll hear from Myah Evans (Deep Creek High School) as she signs on to enlist in the U.S. Navy and breaks down what people often misunderstand about military service, including how education and career training can fit into the long game. She also shares how ROTC shaped her confidence and leadership.Next, Parker Sylvia (Western Branch High School) explains why he chose the Chesapeake Career Center, what it takes to earn an AWS welding certification, and how he turned hands-on learning into a job offer and a full-time career path with Collins Machine Works right after graduation. Finally, Sophie Rambo (Grassfield High School) talks through the recruiting journey, choosing the University of Georgia on an athletic scholarship for track, and what it means to give back through her New Balance partnership and a donation to her former middle school.

If you’re a student, parent, or educator looking for practical guidance on life after high school, this conversation is packed with real-world perspective on sacrifice, mentorship, and momentum. Subscribe, share this with a senior in your life, and leave a review with the path you think more people should understand better.

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The fastest way to change a classroom isn’t a new program, it’s a new workflow. We sit down with educator, author, and TEDx speaker Dr. Catlin Tucker to unpack what helped her go from early-career burnout to designing learning that feels engaging for students and sustainable for teachers.

We talk student-led learning in plain terms: teachers stay essential, but students do more of the thinking, talking, and meaning-making. Dr. Tucker explains why the best classrooms have a productive buzz, what she looks for when she walks into a “wow” room, and how teachers can scaffold collaboration and communication so students can work with real independence. If you’ve ever wondered how to get out from the front of the room without losing control, this conversation gets practical fast.

You’ll also hear how blended learning and the station rotation model help teachers differentiate instruction and meet students where they are, plus how AI in education can cut planning time while improving rigor, scaffolds, and student choice. We even shift to the home side with better family prompts than “How was your day?” including high-low and a simple 3-2-1 reflection that gets kids talking about what they learned.

If you care about classroom engagement, effective instructional design, and realistic ways to reduce teacher workload, press play. Subscribe, share this with a teacher or parent, and leave a review with the one small shift you want to try next.

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The first squeak, the first harmony, the first moment a student realizes they belong—those are the beats that drive this conversation. We open the curtain on Chesapeake’s K-12 music pathway with Supervisor of Music Orion Burke and Deep Creek Middle School chorus director Taylor Mercier, exploring how early access, strong culture, and fresh opportunities turn curiosity into confidence and technique into identity.

From weekly elementary music through fifth grade strings and into robust middle and high school ensembles, we trace how a clear, intentional pathway invites every child to find their voice. Taylor shares what day one looks like with sixth graders—trust, bravery, and permission to crack—and how simple rituals build safety so students dare to sing out. Orion highlights the power of continuity and expectation: when ensembles are the norm, belonging flourishes, leadership grows, and students learn to love the long road of practice. We dig into pyramid concerts that put elementary, middle, and high school musicians on one stage, creating a living map of progress that inspires younger students and grounds older ones in purpose.

We also spotlight innovation and access. New music production and recording classes at a lab school bring industry-standard tools—DAWs, microphones, and DJ gear—into the classroom, unlocking a path for creators who might not join band, chorus, or orchestra. Guitar courses expand entry points, and adaptive instruments ensure students with mobility or dexterity challenges can participate fully. Along the way, we reflect on why Chesapeake earned recognition as a Best Community for Music Education: passionate teachers, citywide support, and a culture that values excellence on stage as much as in the classroom and on the field.

Whether you’re a parent who hears the first squeaks from the practice room or an alum who remembers the thrill of festival season, you’ll find practical ways to support young musicians: show up, treat rehearsals like practices, and celebrate the small wins that add up to artistry. Press play to hear how patience, perseverance, and community turn noise into music—and students into leaders. If this resonates, subscribe, share with a fellow music parent or educator, and leave a review to help more families find the show.

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A quiet walk can carry a lot of history. We bring together Dr. Ella Ward—longtime educator, school board alum, and current Chesapeake City Council member—and Principal Wade Sloan of Portlock Primary to explore how a one-room schoolhouse on Benefit Road still shapes how our students learn, hope, and lead today.

Dr. Ward traces a lifetime of service that began with a simple neighborhood need and grew into decades of educational leadership. Her memories of segregated classrooms, long walks to school, and scarce resources set the stage for the Cornland School’s powerful legacy. That small building, once heated by a potbelly stove and filled with seven grades under one teacher, launched students who became engineers, educators, and civic leaders. Hearing her connect policy, preservation, and personal grit turns history from a static display into an invitation to act.

Principal Sloan shares how he brings that invitation into a school of five-to-eight-year-olds with sensitivity and intention. Portlock’s silent peace walk echoes Dr. King’s vision in kid-sized form, and daily bite‑size stories highlight Black innovators from the neighborhood as much as from textbooks. The throughline is identity: when children see local role models and hear tangible stories of perseverance, they claim pride in who they are and gratitude for what they have—buses, warm classrooms, and access previous generations were denied. We also point listeners to the Chesapeake African American Heritage Trail and the newly preserved Cornland School as living classrooms families can visit to keep the learning alive year-round.

If you care about culturally responsive teaching, community history, and giving kids the tools to say “I can,” this conversation will stay with you. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who loves local history, and leave a review telling us the hometown story that shaped you.

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Indian River High School Junior, Adrian Langaster, opens the door. What follows is a vivid journey through Indian River High School’s heartbeat, where legacy, leadership, and everyday acts of care turn a campus into a family. We sit down with Principal Naomi Dunbar and former Principal James L. Fry to explore how continuity shapes culture, why the RISE motto matters, and what it takes to hire teachers who lead with both warmth and rigor.

You’ll hear how Indian River evolved to lively, student-centered classrooms supported by technology and strong relationships. We talk about the modernization that refreshed the building, the murals that gave white walls a voice, and the security upgrades that protect learning. Along the way, we revisit traditions that fuse spirit with belonging: superclass competitions, pep rallies, homecoming parades, and a stadium that now bears the name of a beloved principal.

The stories that linger most are about people. A custodian lifted by students and staff after a house fire. Seniors meeting early with counselors to map a path to graduation. A former principal who still attends games from a reserved end zone spot. Families who choose Indian River for their own kids because the culture delivers both care and results. Across decades, only a handful of principals have led the school, proof that steady hands can build a place where students rise, fall, and rise again.

If you care about school culture, mentorship, and what truly helps students excel, this conversation will stay with you. Listen, subscribe, and share with someone who shaped your own school story. And if this inspired you, leave a review so more listeners can find Amplified.

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A four-room schoolhouse, a city that didn’t yet exist, and a community that turned colors and customs into a living legacy. This is the story of Great Bridge High through the voices of those who shaped it and those carrying it forward. We kick off Hall Pass to History with a second-generation Wildcat who paints the school’s early origins and traditions, then sit down with retired principal Bob Robinson and current principal Karen Black to explore how leadership, belonging, and tradition and pride evolve across decades.

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Holiday sparkle can hide tough realities. We open with lighthearted talk about candy and collards, then dig into how families in Chesapeake get real help fast—food, clothing, health access, school registration, and even job connections—through the tight partnership between our Family and Community Engagement (FACE) team and Nischelle Buffalow’s all-volunteer Buffalow Family & Friends.

You’ll also hear a clear guide to seasonal supports and if you’re ready to give back, there’s a place for you! The core message is simple and bold: reaching out for support is a sign of strength, and a single call to FACE can open many doors.

Subscribe, share this episode with a neighbor who might need it, and leave a review to help more families find these resources. If you can volunteer or donate, step in—ordinary people really are making a difference.

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We sit down with Dr. Fallon Graham to unpack how our school calendar gets built, why Labor Day timing matters, and how state rules, summer projects, and family needs all fit into one plan. We share the two-year proposal and invite our community to weigh in with informed feedback.

• late Labor Day and its ripple effects
• 180 days, 990 hours, and high school seat time
• four-by-four block benefits and constraints
• why elementary has three added workdays
• summer construction, tech, transport, and cleaning windows
• how we count minutes and bank time
• community survey results favoring post–Labor Day starts
• draft review by operations, T&L, and principals
• two-year calendar proposal for better planning
• how to review the presentation and give feedback

Make sure that you are looking for your input survey. You’ll find it in the family updates and on the Chesapeake Schools website, www.cpschools.com. The survey’s open through October 19th.

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The Stories Behind Our Story