By Debbie Adams
James Madison University offers a Master of Education Degree with a concentration in
Educational Leadership & Certificate Program at the Roanoke Higher Educational Center
(RHEC). The program was established to prepare practicing school personnel who aspire to be
educational leaders.
Dr. Richard Turner, former principal at William Byrd High School, is the Roanoke Area
Regional Coordinator for the JMU program, now serving in his 8th year in that position.
He says, “Many teachers want to become administrators because they want to make a broader impact on
students, school, other teachers, and the community.”
Those who complete the program are endorsed as principals, assistant principals, supervisors,
curriculum leaders, and even administrators in the business world.
Several local school administrators are graduates of the JMU program at the RHEC, including
two new assistant principals at William Byrd High School—Hannah Prater and Kevin
Richardson.
“The JMU Educational Leadership program was great!” says Prater. “Every single professor I
had was so helpful and knowledgeable and they really want to see us succeed in the future, not
just in their class. Dr. Turner is one of our professors and our advisor and always goes above and
beyond to make sure we are prepared for classes, the SLLA (School Leaders Licensure
Assessment) exam, and interviews. I found the workload very manageable while still teaching
throughout the school year and had no issues setting up internship hours because of the
connections I built through this program. I feel very prepared to enter my new role as assistant
principal after going through the JMU program.”
“The part of the JMU program I felt was the most beneficial was that all the professors had been
teachers, building administrators, and/or central office personnel during their careers,” said
Richardson. “They had real-world experiences, stories, and situations we could relate to. Our
professors supported a healthy balance between our classwork and our professional and personal
lives. Lastly, I believe that the coursework we completed was based on real-world situations, so
we learned how to best handle situations we might face daily.”
Beth Whitehead, currently Special Education Coordinator at WBHS, will be completing the JMU Leadership program in December. She has accepted a new position as Supervisor of Special Education with Roanoke County Schools, beginning in July.
“I hold Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from JMU, and this program offers the same level of rigor as an on-campus experience; however, the convenience of completing courses through the Higher Ed Center makes the program highly accessible,” Whitehead said. “I appreciate being able to participate remotely when I cannot attend in person. JMU provides a very practical approach through its program, hiring current and former administrators to teach the courses. Learning from those with experience in local school divisions has been very beneficial. The program’s greatest asset is Dr. Turner. He takes care to ensure we have what we need as students and cares for us on an individual level. Participants in the program will be highly prepared to lead our schools.”
Michelle Lionberger, Dean of the RCPS A-Step program, says, “Participating in
the JMU Leadership Program was a transformative experience, equipping me with invaluable
skills and insights essential for success in today’s educational world. Through a blend of in-
person expert instructors, mentorship opportunities, and real-world experiences, I mastered
effective communication, critical thinking, and decision-making abilities. I learned to lead with
integrity, empathy, and resilience.
“Dr. Turner’s continued guidance and encouragement through each step of the programs is
something a lot of other leadership programs are missing. With access to a supportive
community of peers and mentors, the JMU Leadership Program helped me gain the confidence
and clarity to make a positive impact for my students.”
Bonsack teacher Jen Hancock has served as an elementary educator for Roanoke County Schools
since 1997, starting her career at Herman L. Horn.
“During Covid, I took advantage of a new teacher leadership certification program offered at
JMU through a grant provided by the Virginia Department of Education. After achieving this
certification, I decided that to put that certification to best use, I would need to further my
education by seeking a master’s degree in educational leadership.
“I had been so impressed by the quality of education which I had received at JMU that I decided
to continue my educational pursuits with them. JMU is a highly respected institution and has a
great reputation for shaping leaders; it is conveniently located at the Higher Ed Center in
downtown Roanoke. I enjoy the ability to take classes in person while still having the flexibility
to join online when my schedule demands it. Additionally, the instructors, local networking
opportunities, and friendships have been amazing!
“Dr. Turner has gone to great lengths to create a very welcoming and supportive program for the
future educational leaders of this community. The Roanoke Higher Education Center also
provides many benefits to those attending and continually seeks feedback to improve their
services. It’s been a great experience.
“One day, I hope to be an administrator. As such, I feel very confident that the program I
attended has provided me with the skills, confidence, and support necessary to be successful in
that endeavor. I can’t recommend it highly enough!”
“There were many benefits from going through the JMU administration program from
Roanoke,” says Christie Stanley, Glenvar Elementary’s new principal this fall. “It was a great
experience to be in person and get to know and collaborate with both the faculty and the other
students in our cohort. We learned from and helped each other steer our way through the
experience of being in school and having full-time jobs.
“The leadership from our program always set clear expectations and made sure we were going to
be ready to step into our own leadership roles. Dr. Turner and the professors were helpful,
readily available, and really made our experience valuable and interesting. It was evident that
they cared about preparing us in all facets of becoming an administrator. Even after graduating,
Dr. Turner remains an invaluable resource to his students as he continually offers to help prepare
for interviews. Being a student in the JMU program was a wonderful learning opportunity, and I
could not be happier with the outcome.”
“I graduated from William Byrd in 2001 and then went to JMU for my undergraduate and
graduate degree,” says Elizabeth Mauck. “I grew up in Vinton (Lindenwood area), my mom’s
family has lived in Vinton for many years, and Vinton is a very special place to our family. My
husband Robert, our son Walker, and I live in Mount Pleasant, but we continue to be very active
at Vinton Baptist Church.
“This is my 18th year in education. I taught marketing for 13 years at Lord Botetourt High
School and then became the Work-Based Coordinator for Botetourt County Public Schools.
During that time, I started the JMU Educational Leadership Program with Dr. Turner (he was my
assistant principal and principal at Byrd). I loved my Educational Leadership classes and I
believe that they provided a strong foundation for job opportunities to serve as an administrator. I completed the Educational Leadership program in December of 2021 and started as the Dean of
Students at Northside High School in 2022. Next year I will be serving as one of the assistant
principals at Northside High School.”
Radford administrator Bonnie Reedy graduated from the JMU program in May 2023 and moved
into school administration after 15 years in the classroom.
“The JMU program is unmatched in its ability to prepare future administrators in the Roanoke
Valley. Each professor I had, had close connections with school systems in the area. They
brought in guest speakers from several local divisions, gave us real-life scenarios to solve,
connected us to internships, and continued their support in helping me achieve my first role as an
assistant principal at Radford High School. I am grateful for the guidance of
the JMU Educational Leadership Program and encourage any future administrator to seriously
consider the program in working toward their future goals.”
Laura Bell, the new principal at Clearbrook Elementary School starting July 1, “was
born and raised in the Vinton community, attended Hardy Road, (now W.E. Cundiff) and
graduated from William Byrd just as my parents before me and my sisters after me.
“The JMU Educational program was something I became familiar with through Dr. Turner’s
communications with Roanoke County Schools. Knowing Dr. Turner helped me make the choice
in the JMU program. (My daughter will eventually be a JMU alumni, too.) It was a decision I
was so glad I made. Being able to take classes at the Higher Education building was so
beneficial; it allowed me to focus on the program while still maintaining the work/life balance
that was already in full swing.
“Taking courses from local leaders in the educational field was so beneficial; leaders such as Dr.
Turner, Dr. Mark Church, and Dr. Rhonda Stegall, made the topics we were discussing relative
and meaningful. Even though the program was run remotely from the traditional JMU campus I
felt very connected to the graduate program staff in maneuvering through the logistics of being a
JMU student and feel immense pride in considering myself a Duke!”
Dr. Turner is also one of the program’s adjunct professors, teaching “The Principalship” course.
Another instructor is Dr. Rhonda Stegall, Roanoke County Public Schools Assistant
Superintendent of Administration, and a William Byrd graduate.
“I have been teaching the course ‘Foundations of School Administration’ for the past seven years
and thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to help guide teachers and school staff who are interested
in becoming school leaders,” Stegall said. “The JMU program is an excellent program that is
taught by current and former leaders from the area who come with a vast array of practical
experience that enhances the course experience. This program provides a great opportunity for
students to acquire a certificate or a master’s degree locally, while also working closely with
experienced leaders from the area who can help advise them through their quest of securing a job
in school leadership. Students will leave this program with the tools they need to make a
meaningful difference in their schools and communities.”
Dr. Jerry Hardy, one-time Director of Budget and Data Management for Roanoke County
Schools, teaches the “School Finance and Business Management” course required for
certification.
“My class emphasizes the intricacies of the district school budget both at the local school and
division level,” Hardy said. “It helps teachers identify how a school division goes about
developing the School Board budget and the impact it has on the community. The students
(teachers) I have had the privilege of having in my class for the past several years have been
outstanding individuals and many have gone on to pursue their goal of becoming a school
administrator.
“As a previous school administrator, I take pride in our program and strive to give our teachers
the skills and experiences that contribute to their success. Nothing pleases me more than when
Dr. Turner announces that one of our students has obtained a position as an assistant principal,
principal or Central Office administrator.”
Dr. Jack Donald, former Division Superintendent in Rockbridge County, teaches “School Law.”
Dr. Mark Church, former superintendent of schools in Franklin County, teaches “Supervision
and Development of School Personnel.”
“Dr. Turner offered an in-person opportunity to come and find out more about the program,” said
Richard Long, a former teacher at William Byrd Middle School. “He was very helpful in
answering my questions about the leadership program and how it would help me grow as a
professional interested in school leadership. I got excited about the opportunity to learn from
current and past professionals in the field of administration. They really bring the program to life
and provide real world experiences. Additionally, they did a great job of preparing me for the
required SLLA test at the completion of the program.”
Long realized he would like to apply what he had learned in a Catholic school setting.
“Subsequently, I was hired for the 22-23 school year as assistant principal at St. Ursula’s (Prek-8)
in Parkville, Md. My wife and I desired to move back to Virginia to be closer to family. I applied
to Catholic schools in Virginia and the Diocese of Arlington hired me as principal for the 23-24
school year at Epiphany school in Culpeper. The quality of skills taught and learned in
the JMU leadership program at the Higher Education Center in Roanoke has helped me serve in
a quality leadership capacity that has benefitted St. Ursula’s and Epiphany schools.”
Dr. Turner, who in his retirement is not only the site coordinator for the JMU program at the
RHEC but continues as Chief Marketing Officer for Fritz Sports and Event Enterprises, says his
reward comes from students finishing the certificate program, getting administrative jobs, and
passing on what they have learned to benefit students and teachers. In the past six years, 75 of
the JMU certificate program teachers have been appointed as school administrators.
He says Roanoke County Public Schools is a great supporter of the program, offering tuition
assistance for those who wish to participate.
The certification program generally takes less than two years to complete. For more information,
visit snead2cc@jmu.edu.
