A Look Inside the Yvonne B Miller 2025–2026 School Year

A Look Inside the Yvonne B Miller 2025 – 2026 School Year

AUGUST 15, 2025

As one season ends and another season begins, the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice announced that 94% of our eligible high school seniors met graduation requirements. A total of 42 students earned a diploma to include standard diplomas and GED from Yvonne B. Miller High School for the 2024-2025 school year.

This growing graduation rate has inspired new initiatives Superintendent Deana Williams plans to implement for the 2025 - 2026 school year.

Superintendent Williams and her team are pursuing Correctional Education Association (CEA) Accreditation, a global organization that sets standards for education in correctional facilities. Superintendent Williams aims to blend state and federal educational requirements with the unique needs of a correctional environment to deliver high-quality education. Since March, Yvonne B. Miller has been undergoing the accreditation process, including a site visit and staff training by CEA experts. Williams said, “We already meet many standards and expect minimal changes to earn accreditation.”

In August, the school will begin developing a leadership academy designed to prepare current educators aspiring for future leadership roles. The program will provide on-the-job training, coaching, and professional development to prepare educators for school leadership roles.

Another key initiative focuses on completing the process to establish a Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) chapter. This effort aims to boost family and community engagement, involve parents in decision-making, organize supportive events, and connect students with national resources.

The final initiative is the implementation of the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) model. MTSS is a comprehensive framework designed to address both academic and behavioral needs through a tiered approach to intervention.

  1. Tier 1 offers universal supports available to all students. This includes positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS), academic assessments, and evidence-based instruction designed to promote overall student success.
  2. Tier 2 provides targeted interventions for students who require additional support beyond Tier 1. Examples include the reflection room, small-group instruction, and specialized reading programs tailored to address specific skill gaps.
  3. Tier 3 delivers intensive, individualized support for students with significant needs. This tier often involves personalized intervention plans developed by specialized staff.

The School Based Intervention Team (SBIT) and Special Education services provide essential support across all three tiers, ensuring coordination, specialized expertise, and comprehensive intervention.

Superintendent Williams shared data highlighting the school’s impact: Between July 2023 and July 2025, 37 graduates secured employment, 12 enrolled in college, and 17 applied for scholarships, with 12 receiving funding. Williams said, “These are powerful numbers for the students we serve, many of whom face significant barriers. We are truly changing lives.”

Williams expressed pride in her team’s efforts to create a learning environment where youth can build brighter educational futures.