FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GOOCHLAND, VA – June 23, 2016
Dr. Jeremy Raley is new Superintendent for Goochland County Public Schools
The Goochland County School Board announced this morning that Dr. Jeremy Raley has been appointed as the new Superintendent for Goochland County Public Schools (GCPS). Dr. Raley comes to Goochland from Shenandoah County Public Schools where he is currently serving as their Superintendent.
Dr. Raley, 42, was valedictorian of his high school class at Cumberland, MD. He played football at the University of Virginia, and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees concurrently there in 1997. He earned his doctorate from Shenandoah University, Winchester VA, in 2011. He began his educational career teaching Physical Education in Warren County, VA. His background in public education includes successful experience as a teacher, Assistant Principal, Principal, Director of Finance, and Assistant Superintendent for Administration and Finance.
Board Chair Kevin Hazzard said that Raley was one of nearly 30 applicants for the job. “It was a competitive and comprehensive process,” said Hazzard. After an initial screening process performed by BWP Associates, Dr. Raley was chosen as one of seven applicants that the search firm presented to the Board as a slate of highly qualified candidates, four of whom were selected for interviews.
Hazzard said all four finalists were exceptionally strong school leaders, but Raley’s qualifications in the critical areas of finance, student achievement, and innovation were what propelled him to the top of the list. “Dr. Raley will bring a unique blend of leadership skills to Goochland County Public Schools,” said Hazzard. “During the search process, the Board was moved by his calm, thoughtful, and mature approach to handling various kinds of issues. We believe that Dr. Raley will further cultivate the spirit of trust and innovation that we’ve been developing here for some time. He is the right leader for Goochland Schools and we are very excited about the possibilities for academic and professional growth for our students and our teachers.”
Dr. Raley believes in creating an innovative atmosphere that maximizes teaching and learning. “Students learn best when they can be actively engaged in authentic and meaningful academic experiences that will allow them to demonstrate their ability to communicate, collaborate, critically think, and demonstrate creativity with any given content,” said Raley.
“One of the main things that attracted me to seek the superintendency in Goochland is the strong reputation that the school division has for being leaders in innovative instructional practices that emphasize a student-centered and project-based approach to learning. My first goal as I transition into this new role is to listen and to learn as much as possible about the school and the community so that we can preserve everything that makes Goochland great, while collaborating with the school communities to find areas where we can enhance our experience for students.”
Dr. Raley and his wife, Cindy, have two children, Heather and Hayden, who will attend Goochland Middle School in the fall. They are excited to move to Goochland and become an integral part of the community. “We look forward to having the opportunity to meet new people, get involved with community activities, and to explore all that Goochland has to offer,” said Raley. Dr. Raley’s salary was set at $160,000 per year. His official start date is July 1, 2016. Over the next several weeks, Dr. Raley will begin attending meetings and working with the new County Administrator during the transition from his current position. Dr. Steve Geyer is serving as the Acting Superintendent in the interim.