By Debbie Adams
W.E. Cundiff Elementary School celebrated its 50th anniversary with a “Cheers to 50 Years”
open house on April 21. Guests were invited to “Rediscover the Past, Embrace the Present, and
Discover the Future.”
Elementary past and present administrators, faculty, staff, students, and families attended the
celebration of the school’s 50 th anniversary on April 21. Shown standing left to right are Roanoke
County Schools Superintendent Dr. Ken Nicely, former teacher Amy Shank who became principal at Burlington, former principal
Sherry Bryant, former teacher, assistant principal and school superintendent Lorraine Lange,
current principal Ashley McCallum, and former teacher, assistant principal, and superintendent
Deanna Gordon. Seated is Frank Stone, Cundiff’s first principal. (photo by Debbie Adams)
The school (originally named Hardy Road Elementary for its location) first opened in August
1972 with 732 students and Frank Stone as principal. Stone served until 1988 and was followed
by Jackie Glover until 1988, then Sherry Bryant until 2017, when Ashley McCallum was
appointed. In fact, Stone was McCallum’s principal when she attended the school.
Stone and Bryant were able to attend the open house, along with Lorraine Lange and Deanna
Gordon who served at Cundiff as teachers and assistant principals before advancing to become
Roanoke County school superintendents.
Former students and colleagues were delighted to see
teacher Mary Neal, who opened the school with Stone in 1972 as a first grade teacher.
Cundiff’s first principal, was delighted to see teacher Mary Neal, who opened the school with
him in 1972. She taught first grade. (photo courtesy of RCPS)
School Board member Tim Greenway noted that he attended Hardy Road Elementary, as did
Tammy Shepherd who currently represents Vinton on the Roanoke County Board of
Supervisors. Laurie Mullins, who serves on Vinton Town Council, was also a Cundiff student.
The gym, cafeteria, classrooms, and hallways were filled with visitors at the event– past teachers,
school and central office administrators, staff from across the years, former students and their
parents, and members of the Vinton community. The gym was filled with old scrapbooks,
yearbooks, and memorabilia detailing the past 50 years.
“It was one of the highlights of my career to see the turnout of former staff, students, and
community members from the Vinton community!” said McCallum.
The School Board changed the school’s name to W.E. Cundiff in 1989 in honor of William
Cundiff, a prominent Vinton businessman. An elevator was added in 1994. The first computer
was installed in 1986. When the school first opened, no grades were given.
The open house marked not just the past 50 years at W.E. Cundiff, but its future with an
extensive renovation project about to get underway. Guests were welcomed to the W.E. Cundiff
of the future in the cafeteria with cake, punch, and conceptual plans of upcoming changes.
house celebrated not only the past, but the future with a major renovation project beginning this
summer. (conceptual drawing courtesy Roanoke County Public Schools)
The project will add 15,900 square feet to the building and eliminate the outdated “Open Space
Concept” (no walls) classrooms.
Cundiff was originally one of three open space classroom schools in Roanoke County and now is
one of only two remaining in the state (the other is Glen Cove Elementary). While the concept
was trendy in 1972, its challenges and limitations are now recognized.
The project will result in a new front entrance, cafeteria, and additional classrooms. The
construction and renovations are set to begin this June when school is out and are expected to be
completed in July 2026. The school will remain open throughout the process.
Branch Companies, RRMM Architects, and Balzer & Associates have been selected for the
renovation and expansion project, estimated to cost $28.3 million. Their representatives were on
hand at the open house to share details of what’s to come.
