Acting Principal of Virginia Heights Elementary School

Dana Witt has been appointed as Acting Principal of Virginia Heights Elementary School. Most recently, Mrs. Witt served as Virginia Heights' Assistant Principal.












Acting Principal of Fairview Elementary School

Kurrai Thompson has been appointed as Acting Principal of Fairview Elementary School. Most recently, Ms. Thompson served as Fairview’s Assistant Principal.

Ms. Thompson steps into this role as Acting Principal to provide continuity and stability to the Fairview community while the principal selection process continues.









Principal of Lincoln Terrace Elementary School

Kirsten Mills has been recommended for and has accepted the position of Principal of Lincoln Terrace Elementary School and started her new role today, Aug. 10. She most recently served as Lincoln Terrace’s Acting Principal.

Ms. Mills holds a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Master of Education in Educational Administration and Supervision from Liberty University.

Prior to serving as the Acting Principal of Lincoln Terrace Elementary School, Ms. Mills served in the following roles:
• Assistant Principal at Lincoln Terrace Elementary School
• Instructional Coach at Round Hill Elementary School
• Teacher at Monterey Elementary School

These opportunities provided Ms. Mills with the administrative leadership and teaching experiences which makes her a great fit for this position.

Principal of Garden City Elementary School

Caroline Williams has been recommended for and has accepted the position of Principal of Garden City Elementary School and will start July 1, 2022. Currently she serves as the Assistant Principal at Round Hill Elementary School. She has been in that role for three years.

Prior to serving as the Assistant Principal at Round Hill Elementary School, she served in the following roles:
Instructional Coach and Teacher at Hurt Park Elementary and Teacher at Goodview Elementary School in Bedford County Public Schools. She has 15 years total of educational experience.

These opportunities provided Ms. Williams with the administrative leadership and teaching experiences which make her a great fit for this position.

Principal of Grandin Court Elementary School

Will Krause has been recommended for and has accepted the position of Principal of Grandin Court Elementary School and will start July 6, 2022. Currently he serves as the Principal of Glen Cove Elementary School in Roanoke County Public Schools.

Prior to serving as the Principal at Glen Cove Elementary School, he served in the following roles: Assistant Principal at Read Mountain Middle School; Assistant Principal at Breckenridge Middle School; English teacher at Cave Spring Middle School; and Teacher at Cave Spring Elementary School.

Mr. Krause has 17 years total of educational experience, he also has deep roots in the Grandin community, and is eager to return to RCPS.

His administrative leadership, teaching experiences, and knowledge of the community make him a great fit for this position.

Principal of Fallon Park Elementary School

John Otey has been appointed as Principal of Fallon Park Elementary School and will start July 1, 2022. Currently he serves as the Principal at Lincoln Terrace Elementary School.

Prior to serving as the Principal at Lincoln Terrace Elementary School, he served in the following roles: Assistant Principal at Fairview Elementary School; Health/PE Teacher Bedford Elementary School; Athletic Director, Jefferson Forest High School; Athletic Director, William Fleming High School; Head Athletic Trainer, William Fleming High School; Teacher, Auburn High/Middle School.

These opportunities, in addition to his 15 years of educational experience, provides Mr. Otey with the administrative leadership and teaching experiences which makes him a great fit for this position.

Principal of Round Hill Elementary School

Dr. Brenda Russ was recommended for and has accepted the position of Principal of Round Hill Elementary and she will start July 1.

Currently, she serves as the Director of Organizational Diversity for RCPS.

Previously, Dr. Russ served as an Assistant Principal, Secondary English Learner Specialist, English as a Second Language Coordinator, ESL Department Chair, and ESL Teacher.

Dr. Russ has more than 11 years of experience in education. These opportunities provided her with the administrative leadership experiences that make her a great fit for the position of Principal at Round Hill Elementary School.


Principal of Fishburn Park Elementary School

Dr. Jason Wimbush was recommended for and has accepted the position of Principal of Fishburn Park Elementary School. He will start July 1. Currently, he is Principal at Christiansburg Primary School in Montgomery County, where he has served since 2021.

He was previously Assistant Principal at Christiansburg Middle School, Assistant Principal at Westside Elementary School, Assistant Principal at George P. Phenix School, Assistant Principal at Forest Park Learning Academy, and an Earth Science teacher at Forest Park Learning Academy and Patrick Henry High School. He has a total of 16 years of educational experience, 13 of which were with Roanoke City Public Schools. These opportunities provided Dr. Wimbush with both elementary and secondary administrative leadership experience, which makes him a great fit for this position.

Principal of James Madison Middle School

Katherine Duncan was recommended for and has accepted the position of Principal of James Madison Middle School. She will start July 1. Currently, she serves as Principal at Round Hill Elementary School, where she has served since 2019.

She previously served as an Assistant Principal at James Madison Middle School, Teacher on Assignment at James Madison Middle School, and a Special Education Teacher at William Fleming High School, William Monroe Middle School in Greene County Public Schools, and Cesar Chavez Public Charter School in Washington D.C. She has 12 years total of educational experiences, eight of which are with Roanoke City Public Schools.

These opportunities provided Ms. Duncan with both elementary and middle school administrative leadership experience, which makes her a great fit for this position.

Coordinator of Youth Development

Joshua Johnson was recommended for and has accepted the Coordinator of Youth Development and Intervention position. He will start July 1. Currently, he serves as the Neighborhood Services Coordinator for the City of Roanoke, where he has been since 2021.

He previously served in many roles at the Roanoke Police Department, including Sergeant, Crime Prevention Specialist, Community Resource Officer, on the Community Resource Team, and Police Officer. He has a total of 11 years of public servant experience in Roanoke.



Chief Communications and Community Engagement Officer

Kelly Sandridge was recommended for and has accepted the Chief Communications and Community Engagement Officer position. She will start July 1. Since 2020, she has served as RCPS’ Executive Director of Communications and Marketing.

Previously, Ms. Sandridge served as the Vice President Brand Strategy and External Affairs of Goodwill Industries of the Valleys, Marketing Manager at Tanglewood Mall, and Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations for Member One Federal Credit Union. She has more than 20 years of communication, marketing, and community engagement experience and more than 10 years of executive leadership experience.

These opportunities provided Ms. Sandridge with communications, marketing, and community engagement leadership experience, which makes her a great fit for this position.

Lori Wimbush was recommended for and accepted the Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education position and will start July 1, 2022. Currently, she serves as the Director of Equity and Engagement in Roanoke County Public Schools.

Prior to being named as the Director of Equity and Engagement, she served as Principal at Hidden Valley High School, Principal at Northside Middle School, Assistant Principal at Northside Middle School, and Social Studies teacher at Patrick Henry High School and Fieldale-Collinsville High School. With 23 years of educational experience along with her administrative leadership and secondary education experiences, Ms. Wimbush is a great fit for this position.


Executive Director of Human Resources

Kimberlee Brown was recommended for and has accepted the Executive Director of Human Resources position and will start May 11, 2022. Currently, she serves as the Director of Human Resources for Lewiston Public Schools in Lewiston Maine.

Prior to being named as the Director of Human Resources in Lewiston Public Schools, she served as the Director of Human Resources at Portland Public Library, Employee Relations Specialist at State of Maine Judicial Branch, and Senior Staffing Supervisor at Kelly Educational Staffing.

These opportunities provided Ms. Brown with Human Resources leadership and experience which make her a great fit for this position.