WHEREAS, Mervin B. Daugherty, Ph.D., superintendent of Chesterfield County Public Schools and an esteemed educator and education administrator who has dedicated nearly a half-century to the growth and development of young people, will retire on June 30, 2024; and

WHEREAS, affectionately known as "Dr. D," Mervin "Merv" Daugherty holds a doctorate in leadership in education from Wilmington University, as well as a master's degree in administration and supervision from Salisbury University and a bachelor's degree in education from Frostburg State University; and

WHEREAS, Merv Daugherty embarked upon his education career as a high school social studies teacher and coach in Queen Anne's County, Maryland, and went on to assume various leadership roles over the years before ultimately serving as superintendent of Red Clay Consolidated School District in Wilmington, Delaware, from 2009 to 2018; and

WHEREAS, Merv Daugherty joined Chesterfield County Public Schools (CCPS) in November 2018 and established the motto "all means all" as an ethos to guide the school district, emphasizing the importance of distributing resources equitably among schools and setting the goal for all students to earn a high school diploma and secure a successful future; and

WHEREAS, Merv Daugherty's many accomplishments as CCPS superintendent include opening the Commonwealth's first recovery high school program to assist students recovering from substance abuse disorders and the Commonwealth's first kindergarten through eighth grade virtual school to offer students a wider and more diverse array of educational opportunities; and

WHEREAS, Merv Daugherty has strengthened the CCPS community during his tenure by enhancing employee compensation and hiring practices and by fostering greater communication between the school district and its families and employees; and

WHEREAS, during Merv Daugherty's leadership, CCPS has met the Commonwealth's accreditation standards each year while also earning state and national recognition, including the National ESEA Distinguished School Award in 2019, 2021, and 2023 and the National Blue Ribbon High School Award from the United States Department of Education in 2019; and

WHEREAS, Merv Daugherty has received numerous accolades over his career in recognition of his accomplishments as an educator and education administrator and was honored in 2024 as the Virginia Superintendent of the Year for Region 1 by the Virginia Association of School Superintendents; and

WHEREAS, through his visionary leadership and tireless devotion to the well-being of students, families, teachers, and staff, Merv Daugherty has made a profound and lasting impact on the Chesterfield County community; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Mervin B. Daugherty, Ph.D., superintendent of Chesterfield County Public Schools, hereby be commended on the occasion of his retirement; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Mervin B. Daugherty, Ph.D., as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for his contributions to the Commonwealth.