2026 SESSION
ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 172
Commending Jared A. Cotton, Ed.D.
Agreed to by the Senate, March 13, 2026
WHEREAS, Jared A. Cotton, Ed.D., the superintendent of Chesapeake Public Schools, who has admirably led the district for the past eight years, will retire on July 1, 2026; and
WHEREAS, Jared Cotton began his career in education in 1997 as an instructional technology specialist with Chesapeake Public Schools (CPS) and rose through the ranks to serve as an assistant principal, principal, and director of assessment and accountability; and
WHEREAS, after serving as the associate superintendent of Virginia Beach City Public Schools and superintendent of Henry County Public Schools, Jared Cotton returned to CPS as superintendent in 2018; and
WHEREAS, as superintendent of CPS, Jared Cotton works tirelessly to ensure the more than 40,000 students in the district's schools have the guidance, resources, and assistance they need to excel both in and out of the classroom; and
WHEREAS, Jared Cotton has spearheaded a number of efforts to enhance CPS's ability to educate students and serve families, including the development of the district's new strategic plan, Empower 2025, and the implementation of the Leadership and Learning Framework, which improved instructional practices at all levels; and
WHEREAS, Jared Cotton has embraced technology and innovation to create high-quality virtual learning opportunities for CPS students, including by transitioning the district to a one-to-one device program and launching the Chesapeake Virtual Academy; and