ST. CROIX, USVI – Citing safety concerns in the wake of a BB gun drive-by shooting incident on Feb. 16 that left seven John H. Woodson Jr. High School students with minor injuries, Principal Henry Mark announced at a parent meeting on Friday, February 17 that students would no longer be allowed to congregate on the front lawn of the school during their lunch period and for other recreational activities. 

“Students use our front lawn to eat their lunches, socialize and play with their peers, but we have to make changes, and the changes will be in effect today,” he said to the auditorium of approximately 150 parents. “Students will no longer be able to go outside [on the front lawn] during their lunch period. They will remain in the campus, in the courtyard area, the cafeteria area, in the front office area, in the auditorium, as well as in the library area.” 

Furthermore, Mark said the school’s exit gate will remain closed after school buses depart the campus in the morning, only allowing for the campus’s main gate to remain open during the school day. He also said the school’s visitation policy will be updated to provide more information on how school lockdowns are managed. 

“Our primary goal at John H. Woodson Jr. High School is the safety of our students, faculty, and staff, and we will take whatever measures we need to take in order to achieve that objective,” he said. 

Education Commissioner Dr. Dionne Wells-Hedrington offered an impassioned plea to parents and the public, saying that she “won’t stop” until the suspects are caught. She pointed out that the Woodson decision could also be enacted territory-wide due to the open design of schools. 

“This is a serious day in the Virgin Islands, one that we don’t take lightly,” she said. “Commissioner Martinez may not know me well, but he’ll get to know me well soon. I’m not stopping until someone gets arrested, and we all need to take that stance.” 

Commissioner Wells-Hedrington went on to say, “It bothers me that this community has not come forth yet, even with the description of that vehicle. That bothers me because it says to me that people are turning a blind eye and that they don’t want to be involved when we’re talking about the safety of our children. That’s not good. That speaks volumes for all of us here today because we cannot accept that. Our children should be able to congregate in their schools without any issues.” 

During a question-and-answer period of the meeting, some parents expressed their fear of having their children return to the campus. One parent, who said she has tried to prepare her children for emergency situations at school, said her son was grazed by one of the projectiles. 

“Only when he got home and took off his jacket, that’s when we saw an injury to his elbow area,” she explained. 

Other parents voiced their desire to receive text alerts, the need for video surveillance on school campuses, and have access to the school’s emergency response plan. 

Police Commissioner Ray Martinez echoed Commissioner Wells-Hedrington’s call for the public’s help. 

“Me getting the call that our chiefs and deputy chiefs are sending our tactical team to a school for a school-based shooting, I can tell you that I felt helpless because I was still on St. Thomas,” he said. “As I stand here today, what do I tell you, what do I tell these students who are traumatized because two idiots thought it was cool to drive by a school and fire into a crowd of children. I am mad.” 

“There are two places where our kids are supposed to be safe—at home and at school,” he continued. “This shows that the fabric of our community continues to deteriorate for us to have things like this occur. If you have information and your kids are telling you stuff, put in the call to us. Give us the opportunity to do what we need to do.” 

VIPD released a video update early on Feb. 17 with a description of the car and suspects: a white Acura TSX or TLX with silver rims, damage on right side, two suspects, one wearing a black hoodie. See video here: (16) VIPD update on Woodson School BB Gun Incident on Feb. 16, 2023 - YouTube 

The Department of Education’s Crisis Team, in collaboration with other partners, was activated at Woodson Jr. High to conduct small-group sessions with students. Woodson’s counseling team will continue to provide services to students in the weeks ahead. Students and staff in need of more intensive or private consultation will be given support. The Department of Health’s Behavioral Health Division will deploy its mobile unit to Woodson’s campus beginning on Tuesday, Feb. 21 to provide additional services. 

The Governor’s Office of Gun Violence Prevention, St. Croix District and school safety leaders also participated in the meeting. 

Anyone with information that can help solve this crime is asked to call 911 or (340) 778-2211 ext. 6140. 

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Download press release here:  pdf Use of Woodson Front Lawn Discontinued for Students Due to Safety Concerns (191 KB)

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — Dr. Dionne Wells-Hedrington was officially sworn in on Wednesday, February 15,  as the Education Department’s commissioner at a ceremony held at the Battery on St. John.

 

Video of the swearing-in ceremony can be found at www.youtube.com/live/r5qeGGg5_SM?feature=share

 

During her remarks, Commissioner Wells-Hedrington shared her plans for the department, highlighting her intention to collaborate across public and private entities for resources and programs that benefit students.

 

“This is not a job that I take lightly nor one that I can do alone,” she said. “I don’t have all the answers, but what I do have is a passion and a desire to transform this department and to ensure that every single student that enters our school system leaves our doors ready for college, military, or the workforce. We are creating a pipeline for success for every student.”

 

“I am looking forward to the collaboration that VIDE will have with the Board of Education, the Legislature, as well as the parents and community stakeholders,” she added.

 

During his remarks welcoming the Commissioner into his Cabinet, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. spoke about the passion she brings to the job.

 

“With Dionne, it is like, she is so passionate she would do the job for free,” the Governor said. “She is about, and I try to get all my Cabinet members remember, it’s not about running the Department of Education. You‘re about producing great Virgin Islands children. And what a gift to be able to influence 8,000 souls right now.

 

“Over the next four years, she will manage over $800 million. Next to the Government of the Virgin Islands, she has the most employees in the Territory. You didn’t see her stutter when the judge asked her, ‘Without mental reservations,’” Governor Bryan said. “The difference between a fool and brave person is, a fool doesn’t know the danger. A brave person moves despite the danger, acknowledging what that danger is. I think that’s one thing about her. She is a brave person. Dionne ain’t afraid of nothing. She has a boldness of spirit.”

 

The Governor also praised Commissioner Wells-Hedrington for her emotional intelligence.

 

“A lot of people in leadership positions don’t have that, because to lead, sometimes you have to follow. And to lead, you have to do a lot of listening,” Governor Bryan said. “We are honored to have you, Dr. Wells-Hedrington, to have you as our Commissioner of Education.”

 

Commissioner Wells-Hedrington, who has worked in education for 30 years, said her decades-long experience has given her first-hand knowledge of the department’s needs.

 

“As a former teacher and principal, I know the change we desire can only come if we support teaching and learning in our schools,” she said. “Working at the district level has shown me the importance of being well-rounded and being involved to ensure that our end-users, our students, benefit from what we do. Being on the Operations side has opened my eyes to the conditions of our schools, which require extensive funding to transform our learning spaces so that they are conducive to twenty-first century learning.”

 

She added, “I publicly make a commitment to continue to advocate for every dime I can get from our federal partners to improve the infrastructure of this territory—our children deserve it.”

 

Prior to being named commissioner, Commissioner Wells-Hedrington was the Department of Education’s chief operations officer, overseeing the development and rollout of the Educational Facility Master Plan and Industry Standards, a first in the territory. The detailed documents will guide the new construction and modernization of the territory’s public schools for years to come.

 

During her six-year superintendency, Dr. Wells-Hedrington instituted a professional development model that supported teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators, and aspiring administrators. From the resulting Aspiring Assistant Principal Academy, six participants have been placed in assistant principal positions.

 

Dr. Wells-Hedrington has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, a Master’s degree in Education Supervision and Instruction, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. She has three children, and five grandchildren, is active in her local church and is the leader of a women’s empowerment group.

 

The Bryan-Roach Administration is investing in the Territory’s people, infrastructure and future through transparency, stabilizing the economy, restoring trust in the government and ensuring that recovery projects are completed as quickly as possible. Visit transparency.vi.gov

 

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Download press release here:  pdf Dionne Wells-Hedrington Sworn In as Education Commissioner (282 KB)