A top Stafford County educator takes over as the new superintendent of another Virginia school system Monday.
George Hummer, the former chief student support services officer for Stafford County Public Schools, will now head Virginia’s Frederick County Public Schools.
Frederick County, the state’s northernmost county, sits adjacent to Clarke County, with the independent city of Winchester in its borders.
“I’m extremely excited to be named the superintendent of Frederick County Public Schools,” Hummer said in a news release announcing his appointment. The school board tapped Hummer to take the reins last week.
“It was very evident early in the search process that the teachers, staff, and leaders across the school division care deeply about the children they serve and want them to be highly successful. That caring and commitment to serving each student well made this position attractive to me,” Hummer said.
Hummer, who was inspired by his mom, who had a lifelong career as a special education teacher, has 18 years of experience in public education. He started as a special education teacher, athletic director, and football and basketball coach at Battlefield Middle School in Fredericksburg.
He then became assistant principal at Rodney Thompson Middle School in Stafford and later joined Stafford County Public Schools in its student services and special education office.
Hummer says he and his family plan to pack up and move to Frederick County as soon as possible.
The new superintendent wants to connect with people and “gain a better understanding of what is valued within the community and the school division.”
“During my first morning on the job, I plan to greet students and interact with staff members as they arrive at school. I also intend to engage in a listening tour early in my tenure in order to hear the perspectives of students, parents, staff, and members of the community,” Hummer said.
That includes conversations with Interim Superintendent John Lamanna and former Superintendent David Sovine, who is retiring after 11 years as FCPS’s leader.
Brandon Monk, the school board chair, says his committee is excited to bring Hummer into the role.
“We know this is one of the most important decisions we will make and it was important to us to seek input, listen, and be actively engaged throughout the process,” Monk said in the release.
“Our board has found a leader who is not only a good match for our community and school system, but values students and the opportunity to push our system forward into new successes,” Monk said.
Hummer moved to Virginia from New Jersey in 1994. After graduating from Chancellor High School in Fredericksburg, he went on to get a bachelor’s degree from Radford University in 2005 and a master’s degree in educational leadership and special education from the University of Mary Washington, where he’s been an adjunct professor for three years. He also holds an educational leadership doctorate from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Photo courtesy Frederick County Public Schools
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