In 1961, the school boards of Norfolk and Hampton Public Schools began exploring the idea of teaching elementary and secondary students through the relatively new medium of television.  By handshake agreement between Vincent J. Thomas and Hunter B. Andrews, the school board chairs of Norfolk and Hampton respectively, WHRO-TV was established.

Over the next few years, the utilization of WHRO's instructional programming expanded to the cities of Chesapeake, Newport News, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach; as well as the counties of Isle of Wight, Nansemond and York.  These school divisions formally incorporated to own and govern WHRO, creating the group then known as the Hampton Roads Educational Television Association, or HRETA.

Reflecting WHRO’s continuing determination to integrate technological advances into the educational experience, HRETA changed its corporate name to the Hampton Roads Educational Telecommunications Association; and additional school systems applied for membership.  For the last five years, HRETA has included 18 school divisions throughout eastern Virginia, all of whom work together to own and operate WHRO.  This year, we’d like to extend our warmest welcome to our nineteenth owner member: Middlesex County Public Schools.

Middlesex has participated in services and activities offered by WHRO’s Consortium for Interactive Instruction for years, and we are excited to initiate them now as an official owner member.  The leadership and guidance of our owners are what brought us to where we are today and what continues to keep WHRO on the forefront of education!