Hundreds of Prince George County Public Schools faculty and staff marched their way into Prince George High School on Thursday, August 13, 2026, for the division's fourth annual IgnitePG professional development conference, an evolution of the division's annual convocation experience that offers employees across various specialties the opportunity to learn from their colleagues through a diverse selection of panels and sessions.

SEE MORE PHOTOS: PGCPS on Flickr

​Started in 2023, IgnitePG was born out of a desire to give new and returning teachers valuable information and resources ahead of the upcoming school year, focused on topics of interest to educators. The event has continued to expand, growing to include the division's support staff and offering a diverse selection of panels, informational sessions, and experiences that offer something of value for any staff member attending, many led by PGCPS employees and community partners.

Following a morning social hour, the event began with thunderous applause from teachers assembled in the Prince George High School gymnasium, cheering as they gathered with their schools ahead of opening remarks delivered by division leadership, school board representatives, and others in the lead-up to the start of sessions.

"Just like for our students, the summer offers a great opportunity for us to offer deeper learning experiences for our teachers and staff, and IgnitePG serves as an engaging combination of professional development and relationship building to start the year off in a positive way," Division Superintendent Dr. Wayne Lyle said. "IgnitePG is unique because many of these sessions are led by our teachers and staff who are sharing their knowledge with their colleagues. One of our focuses as a division has been nurturing strong professional learning communities, and events like IgnitePG serve as a springboard for strong building-based learning experiences as we go into the upcoming year."

Breakout sessions across Prince George High School offered a variety of in-depth conversations and panels for staff to sit in on and participate in, including the importance of family engagement on attendance matters, the value of mentorship within the school community, and fostering collaborative environments in the classroom, among others, centering on PGCPS' Professional Learning Priorities, known as "Big Rocks."

"This year's sessions were designed to strengthen instructional practices, support collaborative learning, enhance classroom management, and promote safe, supportive learning environments," PGCPS Coordinator of Educational Technology and Innovation and IgnitePG committee member Mrs. Laura Audino shared. "Just like in past years, the majority of our sessions are led by PGCPS instructional staff and leaders, a great example of the amazing work happening in our schools. We want all of our staff to leave inspired and energized for the upcoming year, welcoming our students and families back to school in only a few days."

"It has been a privilege to attend every IgnitePG, and each year, it seems to get better and better," Prince George County School Board Chair Jill A. Andrews said. “This event has become an opportunity to celebrate our amazing staff, gain valuable knowledge, and most importantly, connect before school starts. IgnitePG is a uniquely Prince George experience, and it's amazing to see how it has evolved over the years. On behalf of our board, we thank the organizers, sponsors, and community for this great event.”

As the sun sets on another successful IgnitePG event, PGCPS teachers and staff are now preparing to welcome students back to school next week with a host of school orientation and open house sessions. A full schedule of events is available on all PGCPS websites, along with our comprehensive Back-to-School guide for families.

Thank you to our sponsors who helped make IgnitePG possible, including Homebase Credit Union, Allen & Allen Personal Injury Attorneys, Anthony N. Sylvester, Attorney at Law, Carraway Glass Company, Amazon, Battlefield Park, Canteen, Chipotle, Cinema Cafe, Cooper's Hawk, Cutco, Felts Ham, First Watch, Food Lion - Prince George County, Hines Fitness, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Little Debbie, Q-Daddy, Richmond Flying Squirrels, Richmond Kickers, Richmond Spiders, Sheetz, Topgolf, Virginia International Raceway, and Wawa.