Pam Dudding
Contributing writer
The duty of superintendent in a school system requires someone to go over and above a 9 to 5, Monday through Friday job. The concern and care for kids in schools is a 24/7 duty, and Craig County Public Schools has had a dedicated woman at the helm for the last seven years.
Jeanette Warwick came to Craig County in August of 2009, accepting the position of principal of McCleary Elementary. In November 2012, she was named the director of pupil personnel services and in April 2016 became the division’s superintendent.
Warwick was initially introduced to Craig County by her father and family members.
“While I lived in Roanoke City growing up, my father, along with my uncles, were avid hunters. In fact, they built the cinder block cabin on the Wright land, adjacent to the ‘camels’ on Route 615,” she said. “I spent many hours visiting that cabin and coming over for ‘deer tenderloin’ meals with my father and catching tadpoles in the small stream adjacent to the cabin. Craig County has always held a special place in my heart, which is why I applied in 2009.”
When asked what she enjoyed the most about her job, Warwick shared, “I have enjoyed getting to know the students and families in this community. Being Superintendent in a small division allows me to see our students move from preschool to grade 12. Given that the schools are under one roof, it is great to see students in all stages of their school careers.”
She added, “Throughout my seven years as superintendent I have had the privilege of signing the diplomas and shaking the hands of my former elementary school students. In fact, the class of 2022 were kindergarten students in 2009 when I first came to Craig County.”
Melissa Whiting, the current interim assistant superintendent, previous high school principal and teacher, shared some of Warwick’s accomplishments.
- She graduated college in May 1989 and started teaching in the fall of 1989 at Norfolk City Schools. Her husband Curt was stationed at the US Naval Base in Norfolk. Their daughter was born in 1991.
- In 2000, she received her master’s in educational administration at Radford University and began an administrative career in Montgomery County.
- In 2009 she accepted the position as principal in Craig County.
- McCleary was in the third and final year of accreditation warning and in severe jeopardy of losing status. Warwick implemented several programs, particularly ICT through Radford University and McCleary rebounded to full accreditation status in just one year.
- Warwick and McCleary received the Governors Award for School Excellence.
- Warwick was named CCPS director of pupil personnel in 2012.
- She developed and implemented Regional Autistic Program for students with disabilities.
- She was appointed superintendent of CCPS on April 1, 2016.
- The BTEC program was expanded for the students.
- She implemented the Pathways to Success program (Alternative Education).
Warwick also spearheaded several needed capital projects including, updating the parking lots, adding a new McCleary playground, McCleary HVAC units replaced through the Energy Performance Project, gym floor, auditorium fully renovated including flooring, seating and lighting, Land lab project and the needed attention of the football field.
Warwick successfully navigated CCPS through COVID-19 pandemic by making certain the division was fully open and only closed during governors mandated closure period.
Though Warwick’s last working day was May 26, she did attend the graduation and shook hands with all the graduating seniors.
And, though she has retired, her daughter, Morgan Dowdy, is now CCHS school counselor and her son-in-law, Jayke Dowdy, is the primary teacher for the Pathways program at CCHS as well as the assistant varsity football coach.
Warwick shared her “thanks” to many people.
“I would like to give thanks to my parents, Al and Shirley Day, who always taught me that I could do anything as long as I had an education. My sister, Elizabeth Day, and I were the first college graduates in our immediate family. She has always been my cheerleader and I want to thank her for that. I would also like to thank my husband, Curt Warwick, whom I met during my senior year in college and has been by my side since my first teaching job in Norfolk, Virginia in 1989. I would like to give thanks to my daughter, Morgan Dowdy, who has had to share her mother with all of my other ‘school kids’ her entire life. I am proud that she and my son-in-law, Jayke Dowdy are contributing to education in their roles as school counselor and teacher at Craig County High School. Finally, I want to thank my granddaughter, Adelyn Dowdy, who reminds me everyday that what we do is for our children who are our future. For 34 years, my motto has always been ‘Do What’s Best For Children.’ If you make decisions with that as your focus, the decision will always be the right one,” Warwick said.
After 34 years, Warwick is officially retiring from her service in Virginia public schools. However, she desires to continue contributing to the education of students.
“I am excited that I have accepted a position as the education coordinator at Mosaic Pediatric Therapies Private Day School, a private school serving students with autism,” she said. “There is one school currently in Rocky Mount and there will be a school opening soon in Roanoke.”
Warwick has always said that she has an amazing group of administrators, teachers and staff who work hard to “do what’s best for students” every day.
“The pandemic threw us all a curveball, but I am proud of the fact that Craig was one of the few divisions in our region that opened with in-person instruction in the Fall of 2020 and remained open during the duration of the pandemic,” she said. “This would not have been possible without the teamwork that our school division showed during this unprecedented time.”
Current director of student services, Gerri VanDyke, shared that she first met Warwick the summer of 2009 when she was meeting with all the staff of McCleary to get to know them before the school year started.
“I feel that her greatest contribution to CCPS was her love for the students and the community; I will miss her amazing convocation,” VanDyke said. “However, I would say one of my most memorable moment I have with Mrs. Warwick was when the students at McCleary raised 100.00 and we (the principal of McCleary, which was myself, and the superintendent, Mrs. Warwick) both kissed a pig.”
“I met Mrs. Warwick in January 2022 when I interviewed for the CCHS assistant principal position,” Kellie Stevens, new McCleary principal, shared. “As with any interview, I was very nervous but instantly felt comfortable with her. She went out of her way to help me feel calm and welcome at the table. Over the past year and half since that interview, Mrs. Warwick has not only been my boss and mentor, but most importantly she has been my friend. I will miss being able to pick up the phone and have her quickly help me through a problem or answer any question I may have. She has a lot of knowledge that I will miss having just a quick phone call away. Although she won’t be just across the parking lot anymore, Mrs. Warwick will always be my friend and mentor. I wish her the very best in her future endeavors!”
“I give the same advice to my students that my parents gave to me. You can do anything you want as long as you have an education,” Warwick added. “Education can mean so many different things….it does not just mean a college degree. It can mean obtaining skills for employment, joining the military, where you will receive education geared toward your military career, and also pursuing college admittance at a two-year or four-year program. I hope that Craig County Public Schools has provided you with the skills you need to choose your own pathway: Enrollment, enlistment or employment.”
