Rosa Atkins
Rosa Atkins
Superintendent Charlottesville City Schools
Dr. Rosa Atkins is Superintendent of Charlottesville City Schools, adivision that serves economically, ethnically,
and racially diverse students in nine schools. During Dr. Atkins’ tenure, Charlottesville City
Schools has become one of the top performing school divisions in the
state with an ontime graduation rate of 93% and one of the best
Advanced Placement programs in the area. In 2011, she was named
Virginia Superintendent of the Year by the Virginia Association of School
Superintendents, as well as Virginia State University Alumna of the
Year for Professional Education. In 2015-16, she served as President of
the Virginia Association of School Superintendents. Under her
leadership, Charlottesville schools have been marked by innovation and
collaboration. The creation of advanced manufacturing and engineering
labs at Buford Middle School and Charlottesville High School – as well as new curricula and engineering
pathways – have been made possible by a partnership with area businesses, school divisions, and the
University of Virginia. Because of this commitment to innovation, Dr. Atkins was recognized by the U.S.
Department of Education as one of 100 Future Ready Superintendents in 2014 and invited to the
American Association of School Administrators’ Digital Consortium at the White House. In October
2016, Dr. Atkins was named as one of two national finalists for the Women in School Leadership Award
for Superintendents, presented annually by the School Superintendents Association (AASA) in
cooperation with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She is the President for the Urban Superintendents Association of America. In June 2017, Governor McAuliffe appointed Dr. Atkins to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV). Dr. Atkins demonstrates her commitment to developing future leaders by serving as an Executive Board member and mentor for aspiring superintendents for AASA/Howard University Superintendents Academy. Dr. Atkins is an alumna of Virginia State University and Virginia Tech.