Williamsburg-JCC superintendent named best in region
The leader of Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools was named superintendent of the year for the Hampton Roads region.
Olwen Herron, who has been WJCC Schools’ superintendent since 2017, was named Region 2 Superintendent of the Year by the Virginia Association of School Superintendents.
Region 2, one of eight in the commonwealth, is made up of 15 school divisions, including all of Hampton Roads and the Eastern Shore.
“I am humbled to receive this recognition and thank my peers for selecting me for this honor,” Herron said in a release.
“I’m proud to serve the WJCC Schools community and appreciate the collective work of our staff, students and community that this recognition represents.”
Herron, who has nearly 40 years of public-education experience in two countries and three states, is described by school officials as a people-focused leader — under her leadership the school division developed two new mentoring programs for educators, according to the release.
Also under Herron’s leadership, WJCC Schools is pursuing the construction of two new dedicated pre-kindergarten spaces.
“Dr. Herron has established a learning environment centered on student achievement, staff success and community engagement, and we are thrilled that her service to our community has been recognized,” said Sarah Ortego, chair of the WJCC School Board.
“We appreciate her integrity, commitment and dedicated focus to rigorous instruction and proven leadership.”
Herron becomes a candidate for Virginia Superintendent of the Year.