Warhill Principal Switch as Grove Gets Promotion

By Amber Lester Saturday, August 28, 2010

Sharmaine Grove

Grove has been appointed WJCC’s Supervisor for Career and Technical Education Programs and Business Partnerships, pending final WJCC School Board approval at the Sept. 7 meeting. Warhill Assistant Principal Dan Fields will serve as interim principal until a formal job search can be conducted.

In her new role, Grove will oversee the division’s grade 6-12 career and technical education program, while developing partnerships with regional businesses. “Establishing partnerships in our community continues to be one of the most valuable things we can do as we work together to provide the best possible education for our students,” said Acting Superintendent Scott Burckbuchler in a press release. “We have expanded the duties of the career and technical education supervisor to include this key relationship-building role.”

The new position replaces the position of Career and Technical Education Coordinator most recently held by Barbara Simmons, according to WJCC spokesperson Greg Davy.

Grove served for one year as principal at Warhill High School. Prior to that, she worked as assistant principal at the school for two years and served as assistant principal at James Blair Middle School for one year. She is a WJCC native, having graduated from Lafayette High School in 1989 before earning a bachelor’s degree in English at Christopher Newport University. She went on to earn a Master of Arts degree in education technology from California State University and a doctor of education from the College of William and Mary. Before joining WJCC, she taught English for seven years, first at Vanden High School in Fairfield, Ca. and then at Jamestown High School.

Interim principal Dan Fields has been employed with WJCC since 1986. He taught and coached in the division until 1994, when he was appointed assistant principal at Lafayette High School. He joined Warhill’s administration in 2007. He earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Old Dominion University.