Albemarle County School Board Appoints Leslie Pryor as Rio Magisterial District Representative

Albemarle County School Board Appoints Leslie Pryor as Rio Magisterial District Representative

NEWS RELEASE


(ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Virginia)—Last night, the Albemarle County School Board voted unanimously to appoint Ms. Leslie Pryor as its newest member, representing the Rio Magisterial District. Pryor fills the vacancy left by the passing of Mr. Chuck Pace, who served the district with distinction before his death in December 2024.

Pryor was selected following a robust appointment process that included a public application period, candidate interviews, and a community input session. Seven Rio District residents applied to fill the vacancy, and the school board carefully reviewed each application before conducting interviews during a special public meeting on January 16. The board also held a public hearing on January 23 to gather additional feedback from the community before making its final decision.

Pryor brings a wealth of academic and professional experience to the board. She is a graduate of Virginia State University and is currently completing her Master of Public Safety at the University of Virginia. She currently serves as the Program Associate and Alumni Coordinator at the University of Virginia’s Sorensen Institute and has previously worked at Region Ten, the Ronald McDonald House, and the Department of Corrections. Among her wide-ranging community service, she has acted as a board member for the Virginia Probation and Parole Association, Chapman Grove Baptist Church, and the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. She has also coached basketball at Charlottesville High School and for Charlottesville Parks and Recreation, where she was honored as Coach of the Year. Her decision to seek the school board position stems from her deep commitment to serving Albemarle County’s youth, families and employees with integrity, competency, dedication and compassion.

“I am honored to have this opportunity to serve our community,” said Pryor. “My focus will be on increasing teacher pay and incentives, enhancing facilities to ensure safety for students and employees, collaborating with neighboring school divisions, and ensuring all children—regardless of socio-economic background, race, ethnicity, or gender—have what they need to succeed in school.”

The School Board Chair, Dr. Kate Acuff, praised the selection process, emphasizing the high caliber of applicants and the importance of the board’s decision.

“This was not an easy decision,” Acuff said. “It is gratifying that we had seven community members with impressive backgrounds, knowledge, experience and perspectives willing to tackle one of the most important roles in local government—supporting our public schools. After careful review of applications and interviews, we are confident that Ms. Pryor will bring valuable skills and insights to the board. We are excited to work with her and for our school division to benefit from the new perspectives her service will offer.”

Similarly, ACPS Superintendent Dr. Matthew Haas said of the appointment, “When our school division gains a Board member with unique and aligned experiences, it strengthens our ability to meet the needs of our students, employees and families. I look forward to working with Ms. Pryor and seeing the positive impact her leadership will have on our community.”

Pryor’s term as the interim representative will run through December 31, 2025. The Rio District seat will appear on the general election ballot on November 4, 2025, with the elected candidate serving a full four-year term.

In the coming weeks, Pryor will receive a comprehensive orientation and briefing from the School Division Counsel, Clerk, and other board members. Her first official meeting as an Albemarle County School Board member is scheduled for February 13, 2025.


CONTACT: Dr. Helen T. Dunn, Public Affairs and Strategic Communications Officer
PHONE: 434-249-8379