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New Faces, Familiar Places Redux
Congratulations to the following administrators on the occasion of their recent promotions.

Christopher Buhner, administrative assistant, Princess Anne High School
Chris Buhner began his teaching career in 1992 as an art teacher at Luxford Elementary where he was selected as VBCPS Sallie Mae First Year Teacher of the Year. For the next seven years he served as a teacher at Old Donation Center for the Gifted and Talented in the Visual Arts Program. From 2000 to 2004, he took a break from education to travel the professional art show circuit doing exhibitions from Buffalo, NY to Atlanta, GA. When he rejoined VBCPS in 2004, he served as the art department chairman and worked to implement the opening of the Visual and Performing Arts Academy at Salem High School. During his tenure at Salem High, he was selected as a VBCPS Teacher of the Year Finalist, chaired the Regional Neptune Festival Youth Art Show, and most recently served on the Strategic Objective Five Committee for Compass to 2015. Buhner’s educational background includes a BFA from the State University of New York at Oswego, a MST in Art Education from the Rochester Institute of Technology, and an Ed.S from The George Washington University in Educational Leadership and Administration.

Kelli M. Cedo, coordinator, Title I Programs
Kelli Cedo, the new coordinator for Title I programs, most recently served as an assistant principal at Pembroke Meadows Elementary School. She began her career in education as a fifth-grade teacher at Holland Elementary. The following year she taught fourth grade and piloted a writing program at the school. She then assumed the duties of writing specialist, a position she held until she became an assistant principal at Pembroke Meadows. Cedo is a “proud product” of Virginia Beach City Public Schools. She attended White Oaks Elementary, Salem Junior High, and Salem High School. Cedo holds an Associate’s degree in social sciences from Tidewater Community College, and a Bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies, Master’s degree in elementary education (Pre K-6), and an Ed.S.in Educational Leadership/Supervision, all from Old Dominion University.

Casey Conger, administrative assistant, Brandon Middle School
Casey Conger is a product of Virginia Beach City Public Schools and began her teaching career as a physical education assistant at New Castle Elementary. When a position became available early that year, she transferred to Old Donation Center. At that point she began working to earn her gifted endorsement. The following year she transferred to Centerville Elementary as a physical education teacher and remained there for nine years. While at Centerville she sponsored many school activities and served on a variety of committees. These included safety patrol sponsor, SCA sponsor, crisis team, PTA second vice-president, PTA liaison, School Planning Council, discipline committee, attendance committee, and multicultural committee. Conger holds a Bachelor’s degree in physical education from Old Dominion University, and a Master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Scranton. She is a member of the Virginia Alliance for Health and Physical Education, and a member of Delta Kappa Gamma.

James D. Miller, principal, Bayside High School
Jim Miller began his career with Virginia Beach City Public Schools in 1987 when he joined the division as a social studies teacher at Green Run High School. He held this position for 14 years before moving to Landstown High School in the same capacity. In 2003, he joined the division’s administrative ranks when he was named an assistant principal at Landstown High. In conjunction with his other duties, Miller also served as an evening administrator at Open Campus High School (now part of the Renaissance Academy) from 1993 – 2004. Miller holds a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with a minor in History from West Virginia Wesleyan College, and a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from The George Washington University. He was named Teacher of the Year at both Green Run and Landstown high schools (1995 and 2003, respectively) as well as Assistant Principal of the Year by the Virginia Beach Association of Secondary School Principals in 2008.

Kay L. Thomas, executive director, Alternative Education and the Renaissance Academy
Kay Thomas comes to the Renaissance Academy with extensive administrative experience. In addition to serving as principal of Bayside High School since 2006, she also served as principal of Kempsville Middle School for one year (2005-06), and executive assistant to the superintendent for two years (2003-05). Prior to that, she was the director of the Office of School Leadership as well as acting principal and then principal of Virginia Beach Central Academy (now part of the Renaissance Academy). Thomas began her career with Virginia Beach Schools in 1986. She first served as a special education teacher at Kellam High School for a year and then was named a work adjustment teacher at Virginia Beach Central Academy. After serving in this capacity for eight years, Thomas was named a work adjustment specialist, a position she held for two years before assuming the position of administrative intern at Central Academy which she held from 1997 to 1998. Thomas earned a Bachelor of Science in Special Education from Lock Haven University in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, a Master of Education in Special Education from Penn State University, and an Ed.S. in Administration and Supervision from The George Washington University.