SCPS appoints new Assistant Principal of WWRES

ryan lingle

Shenandoah County Public Schools announced the appointment of Chandler Hatfield to the role of Assistant Principal at W.W. Robinson Elementary School.

The Shenandoah County School Board approved the appointment during the May 13th meeting and will be effective on July 1st.

Hatfield has served as an 8th grade teacher at Peter Muhlenberg Middle School since 2023 and has prior experience teaching and coaching in Augusta County and Waynesboro.

He recently completed the SCPS Administrative Leadership Academy before accepting the new position and earned a masters in teaching and certificate in educational leadership from James Madison.

SCPS Superintendent Melody Sheppard said, “He has done an outstanding job during his time at SCPS, demonstrating a strong commitment to student success and relationship building. We look forward to the leadership and support he will bring to W.W. Robinson Elementary School.”

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

SCPS announces $200,000 in grants from Moore Educational Trust

Shenandoah County Public Schools announced the recipients of six grants totaling nearly $200,000 through the Moore Educational Trust.

The largest grant of over $74,000 was distributed to Sandy Hook Elementary to revitalize the school’s courtyard into a fully functional, nature based learning environment including garden beds, outdoor seating, and inviting space for instructional activities.

Strasburg and Stonewall Jackson High School’s received about $50,000 to modernize their welding programs.

Approximately $41,000 was granted to Triplett Tech to improve their Electrical Essentials Lab allowing students to move beyond basic circuits and positively impact the automotive technology program.

Other grants included $20,000 to continue Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Shenandoah County, $17,40 for Peter Muhlenberg’s collaborative learning classroom upgrades, just over $10,000 for Sphero robots for Ashby Lee Elementary School which will provide coding and creative opportunities for students, and $4,500 to Signal Knob for Flexible seating options.

For additional information on each of the grants, click here. 

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here. 

Skyline’s Follett honored with Outstanding Theatre Educator Award

Skyline High School Theatre Coach Richard Follett was selected as the recipient for Section 2 of the 2025-2026 NFHS Outstanding Theatre Educator Award.

Follett received the award for all of Section 2 which includes Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky.

He was first nominated by Virginia for exemplifying the highest standards of ethical conduct and carrying the endorsement of the VHSL. Follett has dedicated over 25 years of his life to theatre education between Powhatan School, Peter Muhlenberg Middle, and Skyline.

Students under his guidance have earned district and state titles in forensics and theatre while outside the classroom he serves as the VHSL Theatre Rules Interpreter, contributes to various advisory committees, provides leadership to state festivals, and mentors other educators.

The announcement from the VHSL concluded, “Through his passion for theatre and advocacy for student success, Follett exemplifies excellence and innovation in arts education.”

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here. 

SCPS announces 2025 Moore Educational Trust grantees

ryan lingle

Shenandoah County Public Schools announced the recipients of nine grants totaling nearly $190,000 from the Moore Educational Trust.

The largest grant of over $67,000 supports a collaborative project between Ashby-Lee Elementary and Massanutten Regional Governor’s School to plot a new courtyard at the elementary school.

This project will create a low maintenance, literary based, and sensory rich environment using research collected by Governor’s School students that has shown an improvement in reading skills through outdoor literacy instruction.

A $38,000 grant for Sandy Hook Elementary School will help bring the classroom to physical education with the installation of a new Lu Interactive Playground which uses projection and a computer system to create different immersive and educational activities.

Other instructional grants included:

  • funding to aid math instruction at Central and WW Robinson
  • new collaborative learning environments at Peter Muhlenberg Middle
  • sensory pathways and new hands-on geography curriculum at Ashby-Lee
  • a transformative STEM program for Sandy Hook

Two professional development grants were also awarded in Shenandoah County including $30,000 to North Fork Middle School for the Visible Learning professional development program and $25,000 to the Shenandoah Education Foundation for the continuation of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library which provides a free book to roughly 1,100 children in Shenandoah County each month.

To view the full list of grants and supported projects, click here. 

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Shenandoah County awards Teacher of the Year

ryan lingle

Shenandoah County Public Schools announced the 2023-2024 Division Teacher of the Year at a Staff Recognition Banquet last week.

Jennifer Mason, a Math teacher at Strasburg High School, was selected from a list of nominees representing each school in the county.

Mason is currently completing her 16th year teaching in the county and was selected for her humble approach, positive influence on colleagues, and ability to care and engage with students.

Other honorees at the banquet included:

  •  New Teacher of the Year: Michele Aleshire of Honey Run Elementary School
  • Team of the Year: Sandy Hook Elementary School’s Reading Specialists
  •  Employee of the Year: Nurse Danielle Knox of Peter Muhlenberg Middle School

To view SCPS’s announcement, click here. 

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

Sinkhole repairs begin at PMMS

ryan lingle

Repair work has begun at Peter Muhlenberg Middle School after the discovery of a Karst anomaly beneath a portion of the building.

This type of sinkhole was created during construction when significant fill soil was placed over weaker residual soils.

These soil conditions led to a change in the foundation causing cracks in the west wing of the building including classrooms, hallways, and the library.

Pressurized grout and pier systems will be installed over the next to summers to repair the Shenandoah County Public School with costs estimated at $500,000.

Repairs made this summer will be completed by the third week of July and will not impact the school year.

FdNCON and Triad Engineering are contracted for the repairs.

President of FdNCON Freddie Neal spoke on the safety of the school stating, “Based on our experience with other underpinning and compaction grouting projects in similar conditions, the building is safe for students and staff. ”

To view the SCPS press release, click here.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

SCPS announces changes in administration

ryan lingle

Shenandoah County Public Schools announced some changes to administration at schools within the district following a recent School Board meeting.

Principal Ryan Lingle is transferring from Peter Muhlenberg Middle School to Sandy Hook Elementary.

Tara Mason is moving from her assistant principal role at Sandy Hook to become the principal at W.W. Robinson Elementary.

Brady Kibler is transferring from his Physical Education role at North Fork Middle to Assistant Principal at Signal Knob Middle.

Derek Hartwig is also moving from his position as a Math teacher at Central High School to the assistant principal role at W.W Robinson.

These transfers are all effective beginning July 1st,2023.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.

SCSB appoints three administrators

ryan lingle

The Shenandoah County Public School Board announced the appointment of two principals and an assistant principal during a recent meeting.

Jennifer Burner was named the principal of Honey Run Elementary School and Scott Schlentner as principal of Signal Knob Middle School.

Christine Simmons was also approved as the new assistant principal of Peter Muhlenberg Middle School.

The group combines for 61 years of experience working in education in a variety of teaching and administrative roles.

All three appointments will begin on July 1st.

For more news from across the Shenandoah Valley, click here.