GLOUCESTER, Va. - The Superintendent of Gloucester County Public Schools has been named Virginia's Superintendent of the Year.
Dr. Walter “Rick” Clemons was named Virginia Superintendent of the Year at the Virginia Association of School
Superintendents (VASS) Annual Awards Luncheon Monday in Roanoke.
He was selected by the Presidents of the Virginia Board of Education, the Virginia Education Association, the Virginia Parent and Teacher Association, the Virginia School Boards Association, the Virginia Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals, and the Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals, with support by the President, President-Elect and Secretary/Treasurer of the Virginia Association of School Superintendents.
According to VASS, Dr. Clemons’ leadership during the pandemic, served as an example for other school divisions in Virginia. They say he balanced the tension in his community between those with concerns for the learning and social needs of Gloucester’s students, and those with concerns for the health and safety of the students, staff, and the community at large.
The Gloucester County school division was one of the first in the region to return to in-person learning through a phased-in hybrid approach.
In presenting Dr. Clemons with the Virginia Superintendent of the Year Award, VASS President Zeb Talley said, “Rick has done an outstanding job representing all Virginia educators as a staunch advocate for the state’s public-school students.” He continued, “He is a skillful leader who stands firm in doing what is best for students while providing everyone in his community with the opportunity to share their opinions about what quality public education means.”
Dr. Clemons’ started his administrative career in 1996 as an assistant middle school principal in Newport News Public Schools and also served five years as a high school principal in Franklin City Public Schools. He continued in Franklin City as the school division’s assistant superintendent before becoming Superintendent of Northampton County Public Schools, where he served for three years.
Dr. Clemons has served as the division superintendent for Gloucester County Public Schools for the past eight years.
Dr. Clemons is now eligible for the National Superintendent of the Year Award that will be presented in February 2023 in San Antonio, Texas by the American Association of School Superintendents.
