Amanda Wilder, a former special education teacher in Prince William County VA and an assistant principal in Fauquier County VA, will begin Aug. 20 as principal at Haydon Elementary School in the city of Manassas VA.

Interactive digital textbooks in economics and personal finance to help Virginia high school students earn a now-required diploma credit in these subjects have been developed by the Virginia Department of Education. The economics-personal finance credit requirement became effective for students who began high school in the 2011-12 school year.

Admission representatives will show how private colleges in Virginia can be affordable for families of all income levels during a special week for prospective students and parents visit July 30-Aug. 3. As a bonus, students who visit at least three participating Virginia colleges during the week will be allowed to apply at no charge to any three of the colleges. High school guidance counselors and college consultants also can earn three application fee waivers for their students by visiting three of the colleges, a news release said.

United States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has approved the Virginia Board of Education’s application for a waiver from the No Child Left Behind benchmarks in reading and mathematics and the federal law’s mandate that all students, regardless of circumstance, achieve grade-level proficiency by 2014. Virginia will still hold schools "accountable for closing achievement gaps."

The soccer team at the new Patriot High School in Nokesville VA completed several service projects in addition to their daily practices and game schedule. Team coaches encouraged the working together on service projects in the community to build a sense of camaraderie among the soccer players both on and off the field. The high school opened in September 2011 and had no senior class for the 2011-12 school year.

The Manassas VA city school board was unanimous in its recent action to name a Georgia educator to be the next superintendent of schools.

Thirteen applicants, including a retired elementary school principal, a business owner and a former candidate for the Prince William Board of Supervisors, are among 13 Occoquan District VA residents, vying for the interim appointment to the Prince William County School Board to fill the seat of School Board member Grant Lattin, who resigned. The appointment will be for about four months until a special election is held to fill the seat.

Prince William County VA school officials have asked the Prince William County Planning Commission to defer the scheduled June 6 public hearing on a proposed school bus parking facility on US 15 in Haymarket VA. According to a news release, the school division needs additional time to consider the issues raised by the community at a May 22 public meeting.