School Board announces new administrators for 2026-2027 school year
Updated
The Roanoke County School Board has named several new administrators for the 2026-2027 school year. These administrators will begin their new positions beginning July 1.
Dr. Leanna Rippey, current assistant principal at Northside High School, will become the new principal at NHS. Dr. Rippey replaces Jill Green, who will become the assistant superintendent of administration and HR for Roanoke County Public Schools.
Dr. Rippey holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Radford University. She also holds a master’s degree in administration and supervision from the University of Virginia, and a doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies from Virginia Tech.
Dr. Chris Benson, current principal at Hidden Valley Middle School will transfer to Northside Middle School to replace Dr. Paul Lineburg, who will retire at the end of the current school year. Dr. Benson has been the principal at HVMS since 2021.
Dr. Andrea Johnson, current assistant principal at Salem High School, will become the new principal at Hidden Valley Middle School. Dr. Johnson has more than twelve years of teaching and administrative experience, mostly with Salem City Schools. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia, a master’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, an educational leadership endorsement from Longwood University and doctorate in education from Walden University.
Kristyn Schmidt, current assistant principal at Oak Grove Elementary, will become the new principal at Burlington Elementary. Schmidt will replace Beth Grim-Jennings, who will retire at the end of the current school year.
Schmidt has considerable administrative experience. She was the principal at G.W. Carver Elementary school in Salem from 2014 to 2023 and joined Roanoke County Public Schools as the assistant principal at Oak Grove Elementary in 2025. She holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in special education from Radford University and an educational specialist certificate in leadership and policy studies from Virginia Tech.
“I am very pleased that Dr. Benson will continue his leadership with Roanoke County Public Schools, now at Northside Middle School. Dr. Benson will bring a great deal of expertise to this new role,” said Dr. Jamie Soltis, incoming superintendent of Roanoke County Public Schools for the 2026-2027 school year.
“I’m equally pleased that Dr. Rippey, Dr. Johnson and Ms. Schmidt are taking on key leadership roles with Roanoke County Public Schools. I’m confident that Northside High, Hidden Valley Middle and Burlington Elementary will continue to excel in our mission to prepare our students to be Opportunity Ready,” Dr. Soltis said.