By CHAD COOPER
[email protected]
The Buchanan County School Board unanimously approved the appointment of Angie Rife Wolford as principal of Tommy P. Justus Elementary/Middle School during its June 2 meeting.
Wolford will lead the Pre-K through seventh-grade school, formerly known as Hurley Elementary/Middle School, serving students in the Knox District.
“What becoming a principal means to me is having the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the students, staff and families,” Wolford said.
The appointment was among several personnel recommendations presented by Buchanan County Public Schools Superintendent Sherry Fletcher following a recent round of interviews conducted by the school division’s personnel committee.
Wolford succeeds Brandon Davis, who is leaving the school to accept a position at Southern Gap High School, which is scheduled to open this fall. She is a 1995 graduate of Hurley High School and earned her associate’s degree from Southwest Virginia Community College in 1998. In 2021, she graduated from the University of Virginia’s College at Wise with a degree in Psychology with an endorsement in special education. In 2007, she earned her Master’s in School Leadership from Salem International University. Wolford has been employed with the Buchanan County Public Schools for 25 years as a special education teacher at Tommy P. Justus Elementary/Middle School (Hurley Elementary/Middle).
In presenting the recommendations, Fletcher said the personnel committee also recommended Monica Billiter as a special education teacher at Council Elementary/Middle School; Kylie Blankenship and Brittany Davis as special education teachers at Riverview Elementary/Middle School; Brittany Justice as a special education teacher at Tommy P. Justus Elementary/Middle School; and Kyra Dotson, Shelby Harmon, Savannah McGlothlin, Amanda Shafer and Katie Stiltner as special education teachers at Southern Gap High School.
Additional recommendations included Brooke Harris as behavioral interventionist at Southern Gap High School; Pamela Johnson as a paraprofessional at Council Elementary/Middle School; Haley Blackburn, Jennifer Rice and Miranda Stiltner as paraprofessionals at Riverview Elementary/Middle School; Lisa Lester as custodian at Council Elementary/Middle School; John Lark as custodian at Southern Gap High School; Dewayne Hurley as bus garage supervisor; and Jeff Hess as bus garage mechanic.
The personnel committee also recommended transferring Riverview Elementary/Middle School Principal Kim Hess to a position in the central office at Southern Gap High School. Former Council High School Principal Melody O’Quinn was recommended to become principal at Riverview Elementary/Middle School, replacing Hess.
Garden school board member Ray Blankenship moved to approve the personnel recommendations. Prater District representative Jack Compton seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
In other business, the board approved the naming of several facilities at Southern Gap High School.
Rocklick District representative Bryan “Doc” Looney proposed naming the school’s athletic facilities in honor of individuals who have contributed to education and athletics in Buchanan County. The motion, seconded by North Grundy District representative Angie McClanahan, passed unanimously.
The newly named facilities include the F.D. Robertson Athletic Complex, Smiley Ratliff Football Field, Don Newberry Field House, Lloyd Combs Press Box, Travis Fiser Wrestling Room and Fowler Media Complex.
Board members said plaques and other displays recognizing the namesakes will be installed at the respective facilities.
