Dr. Robert P. Grimesey Jr., superintendent of Orange County Schools, will address the Lake of the Woods Democratic Club on Jan. 19 on the status of local public education.
Guests are welcome to attend the meeting, which will take place at 1:30 p.m. at the Lower Level of the LOW Clubhouse. Dr. Grimesey will take questions after his remarks.
Dr. Grimesey assumed his responsibilities as superintendent in July 2009.
Orange County’s school system includes five elementary schools, two middle schools and a high school. The school system represents more than 70 percent of Orange County’s annual budget.
In November 2010, he was named “Virginia Child Advocate of the Year” by the Virginia Parent-Teacher Association. He has served as chairman of the Virginia Association of School Superintendents’ Legislative Committee since the summer of 2010.
Prior to coming to Orange County, Dr. Grimesey served as superintendent of Alleghany County Public Schools from July 2001 through June 2009. In May 2007, he was named Virginia Region 6 Superintendent of the Year by the Virginia Association of School Superintendents.
In November, 2004, Dr. Grimesey was named “State Administrator of the Year” by the Virginia Music Educators Association. In February, 2005, he received the “Curriculum and Instructional Leadership Award” from the Virginia Technology Education Association.
Prior to his tenure in Alleghany County, Dr. Grimesey served from 1987 to 2001 in Rockingham County Public Schools as assistant principal of John C. Myers Middle School (1987-1991), principal of Ottobine Elementary School (1991-1994), principal of Spotswood High School (1994-1998), and director of grants and partnerships (1998-2001). He began his administrative career as assistant principal at King George Middle School (1986-87). Prior to becoming an administrator, Dr. Grimesey taught social studies and coached football and wrestling at Harrisonburg High School (1982-1984), and at Osbourn High School in Manassas City (1985-86). He also served as a graduate assistant at James Madison University during 1984-85 while he completed work on his master of education degree in school administration.
He graduated from Fairfax County’s Annandale High School in 1974, where he played football under legendary coach Bob Hardage. Dr. Grimesey received his bachelor of science degree in communication arts from James Madison University in 1978. He served stints as a staff writer and sports writer for the Harrisonburg Daily News-Record between 1977 and 1984. In 1978, Dr. Grimesey earned first-place awards from the Virginia Press Association for “Best Sports Feature Article” and “Best Series of Stories.” He worked as an agricultural volunteer in Israel during 1979-1980.
Dr. Grimesey completed his master’s degree in 1985, and he received his Doctor of Education degree in leadership and policy studies from the University of Virginia’s Curry School of Education in May 1991.
He married his wife, the former Carol Y. Martin, in 1982 and they reside in Locust Grove. Their oldest child, John, serves in the United States Air Force. They also have two daughters: Sarah, who teaches English at the American College of Sophia, Bulgaria; and Hannah, who attends Germanna Community College.
More information about Orange County Public Schools is available at the division’s Web site.
You can review report cards for Orange County Schools at the State Department of Education Web site.