LOW MOOR — Kim Halterman, superintendent of Alleghany Highlands Public Schools, has been selected as regional superintendent of the year for a part of Virginia that includes the Highlands.
Halterman was recently named superintendent of the year for Region VI, which includes 14 school divisions in Western Virginia. Superintendents in Region VI nominate a superintendent each year for the honor, to recognize the superintendent's accomplishments and leadership.
Halterman has been working in the Alleghany Highlands since she was hired in spring 2021 to serve as superintendent of the former Alleghany County Public Schools. In July 2022, she became the first superintendent of the Alleghany Highlands Public Schools. AHPS was created through the merger of Alleghany County Public Schools, Covington City Public Schools, and Jackson River Technical Center.
Halterman was largely honored for her work to make the transition to a consolidated school division go smoothly. AHPS is jointly funded by Alleghany County and the City of Covington. It serves approximately 2,700 students.
Previously, she worked in elementary and secondary administration in Bedford County Public Schools, a teacher in Botetourt County, and briefly as a specialist on the Virginia Department of Education’s Career Technical Education (CTE) team. She worked for the Department of Education before she came to Alleghany County to serve as superintendent. She is a native of the Alleghany Highlands.
“I’ve been blessed to serve in many roles in education that I have been fortunate to enjoy, but it is an absolute pleasure to serve at home during such a pivotal time in our history,” said Halterman, who was the valedictorian of the Alleghany High School Class of 1997.
“As a student in the Alleghany Highlands, the community laid the foundation for many adventures for me. It is simply a delight to serve the area today in return,” she said.
While she worked many years as a principal in Bedford County, Halterman describes her path to becoming a school superintendent as “non-traditional,” with a variety of degrees and credentials. She holds a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Virginia Tech as well as graduate credentials in Human Resources Leadership and Health Care Administration from the University of Virginia.
Halterman says that opportunities to learn more about business and industry gave her unique experience to serve as a superintendent in the Alleghany Highlands, a community that is keenly interested in continually improving its education system and economic development potential.
“It is also relatively rare that superintendents spend significant portions of their careers in elementary education, and I have been privileged to work across the K-12 spectrum, including time as a kindergarten teacher. I believe this positions me to support instruction at a variety of levels, in a variety of programs, and for all students,” she said.
Halterman says a team effort has led to the successful start of Alleghany Highlands Public Schools.
“Our entire community has rallied behind this historic work, and we are all honored to be part of these efforts to support our students each day,” she said.
Halterman says she is particularly excited to work alongside longtime local educational leader Melinda Snead-Johnson, a valuable partner in developing the day-to-day operations of the new school division. Snead-Johnson served as superintendent of Covington City Public Schools prior to the 2022 merger.
Halterman and Snead-Johnson are proud that the new school division has received numerous honors and recognitions from entities ranging from the National School Public Relations Association to U.S. News and World Report. Significantly, the school division and its local government partners have received statewide recognition from the Virginia Municipal League and the Virginia Association of Counties.
The new school division has also increased opportunities for students. These new opportunities include additional preschool programming and a first-of-its-kind pre-professional experience for students interested in entering health care.
“I am passionate about serving the Alleghany Highlands, and I believe all of our kids can go far with all of our help. I, along with my colleagues, encourage others to be strengths focused as we continue to tackle challenges together,” Halterman said. “As our school board says often, we are putting unity in the community by all working together.”
In the current school year, improved student attendance and increased student engagement are among the successes the school division is seeing.
“AHPS offers an array of opportunities for students across K-12 and is able to offer more programs than may be possible in similarly-positioned communities thanks to broad support from local government, non-profits, businesses, and citizens. We appreciate the work of all our students, families, and staff, and this honor is a shared one. I am privileged to work as part of such a great team,” Halterman said.
Among other community and professional activities, Halterman is the statewide superintendent representative to Virginia’s Advisory Board on Teacher Education and Licensure (ABTEL) and the regional superintendent appointed to Virginia’s Superintendent and Judges Committee. She is also part of the Western Virginia Education Public Education Consortium Executive Board and the board associated with the Blue Ridge Partnership for Health Science Careers. In the Alleghany Highlands non-profit community, she is a volunteer board member for the Alleghany Highlands Arts Council and supports other arts and cultural organizations.
AHPS is jointly funded by Alleghany County and the City of Covington. The school division serves approximately 2,700 students.
AHPS news and events are regularly updated on Facebook at AHPublicSchools and on Instagram at ahpublicschools. Information is also available at www.ahps.k12.va.us.