During a called meeting on Friday, March 6, the Alleghany County School Board appointed Dr. Sarah T. Campbell as its new Superintendent of schools for 2009-2010.

Dr. Campbell, 53, has served as Alleghany’s Assistant Superintendent for Instruction since 2001.  She will replace Dr. Robert P. Grimesey, Jr., who will be leaving Alleghany County on June 30 to assume his new responsibility as Superintendent of Orange County Public Schools.  When Dr. Campbell assumes her new responsibility on July 1, she will become Alleghany County’s first female superintendent.

“The School Board considered candidates from within the division and also looked seriously at conducting a state or national search,” said Alleghany School Board Chairman Randy Tucker.  “After careful consideration, the Board reached the conclusion that the best talent was within our own school division.    We are fortunate to have this caliber of talent within our community.”

As Superintendent, Dr. Campbell will guide a school division with 2,813 students, 445 employees, seven schools, a regional technical center, and an annual budget of $31 million.

 “Being appointed to serve as the Superintendent of Alleghany County Public Schools is certainly an honor and a privilege,” Dr. Campbell said. “I cannot imagine a greater professional accomplishment than being selected to lead the school division to which I have devoted my entire 32-year career as an educator.”

“Dr. Campbell has been an integral part of our success as a school division,” Tucker said.  “She has provided the instructional guidance for the division to achieve full state accreditation and AYP (adequate yearly progress).  We feel that her experience within the school division and within the community gives her an advantage above any person that we could have brought in from the outside.”

 “Sarah Campbell has been the chief architect of our school division’s plan of academic success,” Dr. Grimesey said.  “I support the School Board’s decision completely and I am convinced that Dr. Campbell will provide the necessary leadership to assure the future success of Alleghany County Public Schools.  I am prepared to do whatever I can to assist her.”

 Tucker noted that the selection of an internal candidate will contribute to an effective transition in leadership.  “The Board expects that the transition in the coming weeks will be seamless,” he said.  “Dr. Grimesey and Dr. Campbell will continue working closely together just as they have for the last eight years to ensure that the educational expectations of our students as well as the needs of the division are met during the transition.  I am completely confident that the Alleghany County Public School system will continue to deliver the highest quality education to the students for the remainder of this school year and in the future as well.” 

 “Alleghany County Public Schools is among the top performing school divisions in the state,” Dr. Campbell concluded. “Our division and each of our schools have met both state and federal performance goals for several years. Our staff has worked tirelessly to make a difference in the instructional lives of each of our students. I am proud to say that I have been a part of this success and I am humbled by the fact that I will have the opportunity to lead this outstanding school division as we face the challenges of the future.”

“The challenges that the school system faces in this economic downturn as well as our enrollment decline has not deterred Dr. Campbell from her positive attitude in any way,” Tucker added.  “The leadership that she has displayed only reinforces that the Board has made an excellent choice in our new superintendent and that she will continue to be a motivator for the division and the Board.”  

Dr. Campbell’s tenure with Alleghany County Public Schools dates back to 1977 when she became a first grade teacher in Clifton Forge City Schools. For the next 14 years, she taught grades one, three, five and seven at Clifton Forge Elementary before being named as the principal of Central Elementary School in 1991. After serving as a principal for six years, Dr. Campbell joined the central office staff as Elementary Supervisor in July 1998. She has served in her current position since July 2001.

“Words cannot express how much I have benefitted from being a professional in Alleghany County Public Schools,” Dr. Campbell said. “Our Board has consistently supported my efforts to grow professionally and there have been several key individuals who have guided my development as an administrator. Helen Jean Fitzgerald was my role model while I was an elementary principal. Joe Carpenter was my mentor when I became a central office administrator and Dr. Grimesey was responsible for allowing me to expand my leadership skills in my role as Assistant Superintendent for Instruction. I am grateful for each and every opportunity that the division has afforded me during my career.”

Dr. Campbell holds three degrees from Virginia Tech. In 1977 she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education. In 1991 she earned a Master’s of Arts degree in Educational Leadership. Finally, in May 2007 Dr. Campbell completed the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.

Dr. Campbell is married to Mac Campbell, a native of Clifton Forge, VA. Dr. Campbell and her husband have three children, all of whom completed their K-12 education in Alleghany County Public Schools. Their oldest daughter, Emily, teaches chemistry at Alleghany High School. Emily and her husband Ryan Muterspaugh reside in Alleghany County with their daughter, Kylie Grace, and their son, Caleb Ryan. Their second child, Catherine, earned a degree from Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business and is currently the Convention Services Manager at the Norfolk Sheraton Waterside in Norfolk, VA. Catherine and her husband, Ben Williamson, reside in Norfolk, VA. Their third child, John, is employed by the Virginia Department of Recreation and Conservation as a state park ranger. He and his wife Rachel reside in Alleghany County.