Gloucester superintendent announces retirement
Clemons got his start as a band director
GLOUCESTER — The school superintendent of Gloucester County will retire after more than three decades in public education, the last nine years at the head of the school system.
Walter “Rick” Clemons announced last month his decision to retire, effective July 1. He said it was one of his toughest decisions.
“There’s mixed emotions about it because when you love something that you do, it’s always somewhat hard to see you walking away from that,” Clemons said. “But you recognize that transitions happen.”
The Smithfield native has held roles ranging from band director to assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent. He graduated from Norfolk State University with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education and earned a certificate of advanced student in educational administration from Old Dominion University and a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy studies from Virginia Tech.
From a young age he planned a career in education. Clemons’ mother had been a teacher for 30 years and he wanted to “follow in her footsteps.”
He also remembers his high school band teacher, who Clemons said had a significant influence. Just recently, he said, some of his former students have reached out to share how Clemons had left a lasting impact on their lives.
“That makes you realize that the work you have done and are doing is worthwhile,” he said.
School Board Chair Troy Anderson said in a release he is “heartbroken” to see Clemons go but wishes him the best.
“In 2014, when the Board hired Dr. Walter R. Clemons, there was a high level of excitement and confidence that he possessed the personality, skills and leadership attributes that would move our school division to heights never reached before, and I can say with 100 percent conviction that he has met and exceeded every expectation,” Anderson said.
Before he was superintendent in Gloucester, Clemons served as superintendent for Northampton County Public Schools from 2011-14.
Clemons was named Virginia Superintendent of the Year and Region III Superintendent of the Year for 2023 by the Virginia Association of School Superintendents. Before that, he was recognized in 2021 as Virginia Superintendent of the Year and in 2018 as Region III Superintendent of the Year.
He was also appointed by former Gov. Ralph Northam to serve on the Virginia School Readiness Committee in 2016 and is a member of several education associations and boards.
The school division has improved its academic performance, ranking in the top 15% of all state school divisions, according to School Digger, since he took the helm. He also was part of developing the District Comprehensive Plan and has helped get capital improvement initiatives completed or started, among other accomplishments.
Clemons said none of that would have been possible without the people around him.
“I’ve always believed you don’t ever achieve anything in isolation,” Clemons said. “You have wonderful people that work with you.”
Clemons said the last few months of his career are not down time for him. Now it’s time to get things ready for his successor to “keep all of the momentum and progress that we’ve made moving forward for years to come.”
Spending time with family and perhaps getting back into music is next for Clemons. He will look back at his career fondly.
“I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” he said. “I’m just thankful and grateful and blessed to be able to work with so many people over the years and to be able to contribute to their lives.”