Reporter

John Buzbee

John Buzbee covers education in Hampton Roads and Virginia. He enjoys conversing about the cooking, college football and culture of his native Louisiana. Additionally, he believes in the power of kindly worded emails and the value of a fourth estate.

Virginia Beach schools initiates business agreement with developer of ChatGPT

August 30, 2026 at 2:45 p.m.

The public school system of Virginia's largest city has entered into a contract with the developer of the world's most popular artificial artificial intelligence model, ChatGPT.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services administrator, speaks from a podium on Tidewater Community College’s Virginia Beach campus at a campaign event for U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans, a Republican who represents Virginia’s second congressional district. (John Buzbee/The Virginian-Pilot)

Kiggans campaigns with Dr. Oz, touts support for GOP healthcare initiatives

August 28, 2026 at 11:10 p.m.

The two backed recent health initiatives made by the Trump administration during a Friday morning campaign in Virginia Beach.

The Virginia Department of Education on Tuesday released the results for last year's Standards of Learning exams. (Jim Collins/The Virginian-Pilot)

Students in Hampton Roads passed SOL tests with incremental gains over year before

August 28, 2026 at 6:51 p.m.

Standards of Learning test results are in. Here's how Hampton Roads' districts did.

Norfolk Highlands Primary School in Chesapeake is slated to become an early childhood center. As seen Monday, August 10, 2026. (Stephen M. Katz / The Virginian-Pilot)

Fate of Chesapeake elementary school up in the air

August 25, 2026 at 2:59 p.m.

The School Board wants more time to consider implementation of the district's first early childhood education center, which may involve repurposing an elementary school.

Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones high-fives a student as she heads into Greenwood Elementary for the first day of school on Monday, August 24, 2026. (Kendall Warner/The Virginian-Pilot)

Back to school: Hampton Roads students and teachers begin a new school year

August 24, 2026 at 6:17 p.m.

Monday marked a new beginning for about 200,000 students scattered around Hampton Roads.

ODU has become one of the first colleges in the country to offer a Ph.D. in cybersecurity, according to university officials. (Courtesy/ODU)

Students can now get a Ph.D. in cybersecurity at ODU, a first for Virginia

August 22, 2026 at 1:39 p.m.

Old Dominion University has become the first college in the commonwealth to offer an interdisciplinary doctoral degree program in cybersecurity.

Bayside 6th Grade Campus in Virginia Beach. As seen Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (Stephen M. Katz / The Virginian-Pilot)

Plan to redevelop former Bayside 6th Grade Campus into public park advances

August 19, 2026 at 4:09 p.m.

Terms to a plan to redevelop a defunct school building into a park was approved by the Virginia Beach School Board.

An investigation will focus on possible discrimination within William & Mary's scholarships and financial aid. (Jonathon Gruenke/Daily Press file)

Feds launch investigation of William & Mary, alleging discrimination in scholarships, aid

August 18, 2026 at 3:27 p.m.

William & Mary is under investigation by the United States Justice Department on the grounds the nation's second-oldest university has violated its students' civil rights.

FILE – Lauren Ellenburg, a nurse, prepares a combination measles, mumps and rubella vaccine for a patient at Tiger Pediatrics in Easley, S.C., March 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Mary Conlon, File)

What Hampton Roads parents need to know about vaccines as the school year nears

August 18, 2026 at 10:59 a.m.

Health officials have decried President Donald Trump's executive order on childhood vaccines. Don't be confused — here's what parents in Virginia need to know.

From left: Bradrick Fields with his two sons, Cameron Fields, 7, and Bradlee Fields, 9, of Chesapeake wait for the beginning of a Chesapeake School Board meeting Monday evening, August 10, 2026. Fields’ sons are students at Norfolk Highlands Primary School which may be converted into an early childhood center. He has spoken during school board meetings against closing the school. (Bill Tiernan/For The Virginian-Pilot)

Neighborhood effort to preserve Chesapeake school challenges leaders

August 12, 2026 at 8:18 a.m.

A neighborhood campaign bent on preserving a Chesapeake elementary school has formed in opposition to a plan that would convert it to an early childhood education center.

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