Leadership
Leadership and Principal's Message
Meet Our Principal: Monica L. Glass
Monica L. Glass proudly serves as Principal of Richmond High School for the Arts, bringing more than three decades of experience, purpose-driven leadership, and an unwavering belief in the potential of every student. For Principal Glass, leading RHSA is deeply personal—she is a proud alumna of the school’s Class of 1992 and considers it an honor to return home to lead the next generation of Bulldogs.
Before joining RHSA, Principal Glass served as Principal of John Marshall High School, where her leadership helped transform the school’s culture and academic outcomes. Under her guidance, John Marshall earned full accreditation, received state recognition as a Distinguished School, and celebrated back-to-back graduating classes with a 100 percent graduation rate. She was also named the 2024 Richmond Public Schools Principal of the Year.
Principal Glass began her career as a classroom teacher and has served Richmond Public Schools in several instructional and leadership roles, including teacher, assistant principal, and principal. She was recognized as a Richmond Public Schools Teacher of the Year finalist and an R.E.B. Award for Teaching Excellence finalist. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Union University and her Master of Education degree and Educational Leadership certificate from Virginia Commonwealth University.
At RHSA, Principal Glass is committed to creating a school where love is the foundation, creativity is the language, and excellence is the standard. She believes that every student is a masterpiece in the making and deserves rigorous, relevant, learner-centered experiences that connect their talents and passions to a purposeful future.
Her leadership is grounded in relationships, consistency, high expectations, and the belief that schools must educate the whole child. She is dedicated to building a joyful, inclusive, and innovative learning community where students feel known, valued, challenged, and inspired to live, learn, and create with purpose.
Principal Glass is honored to lead RHSA during this extraordinary new chapter and to serve the students, families, staff, alumni, and greater Richmond community she calls home.
“RHSA, I love you on purpose—and I expect you to live, learn, and create with purpose.”
Phone: 804-780-5037
Email: mglass@rvaschools.net
Felicia Artis
Grade 12
Email: fartis@rvaschools.net
Ms. Artis has 20 years of experience in education with 18 of those years being in Richmond Public Schools. Before the role of Assistant Principal, she worked as a middle and high school, math teacher, School Testing Coordinator, Instructional Assessment Analyst, and Math Specialist. Ms. Artis wholeheartedly believes that ALL students can learn at high levels, and aims to ensure that children will continue to receive a quality education in a safe and nurturing environment every day.
Sharné Francis
Grade 10
Email: sfrancis2@rvaschools.net
Ms. Francis' goal is to encourage a safe community of high expectation, respect, academic achievement, and self-control, while working together with all stakeholders to foster effective long-lasting relationships. Her vision for RHSA is to continue fostering a community where all students excel academically, mentally, and physically possessing a life ready mindset with career pathways outlined and explored prior to high school graduation.
Derrick Johnson
Grade 11
Email: djohnson12@rvaschools.net
Mr. Derrick T. Johnson has had a long history of providing outstanding leadership for students and schools. He began his career in education in Petersburg, VA as an exceptional education teacher. He has held leadership roles as Homebound Instruction Coordinator, Program Specialist for Exceptional Education Dept. and Director of Alternative Education before starting his first year as Assistant Principal in 2013 in Southampton County.
James Johnson, Jr. serves as Passion for Learning Coordinator at Richmond High School for the Arts. A Baltimore native, he is a Grammy-nominated songwriter, Stellar Gospel Music Award winner, and Grammy Music Educator Award semifinalist. His work spans music direction, production, songwriting, and performance, with collaborations including Tyler Perry, Troy Sneed, Nancy Wilson, and Dru Hill. He holds degrees from Virginia State, Berklee, Boston University, and Virginia Union University.
Donovan Tucker
Grade 9
Email: dtucker2@rvaschools.net
Mr. Tucker began his educational career teaching a mathematics and exceptional education teacher at the middle school level. He transitioned to serving as assistant principal of Richmond High School for the Arts during the 2019-2020 school year and has made great strides in ensuring that all students are well supported and served with all he does.
