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Governor’s office names former WJCC superintendent top admin in education

WJCC School Division Superintendent Steven Constantino reads "One More Sheep" by Mij Kelly to students at Matoaka Elementary School March 2, 2016. (Matthew Best/ WYDaily)
WJCC School Division Superintendent Steven Constantino reads “One More Sheep” by Mij Kelly to students at Matoaka Elementary School March 2, 2016. (Matthew Best/ WYDaily)

A former superintendent for the Williamsburg-James City County School Division has been appointed as the top public schools administrator for the state.

Dr. Steven Constantino, a former superintendent of Williamsburg-James City County schools, was appointed Friday to serve as the acting Superintendent of Public Instruction, according to a Governor’s Office news release.

The appointment comes just one year after Constantino took a position as assistant superintendent of public instruction with the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE).

“Dr. Constantino is considered a national expert in the field of family engagement and is the author of four books on the subject,” according to the governor’s office news release. “He has served as the assistant professor of educational leadership and policy at George Mason University, and as a clinical faculty member in the Executive Ed.D. program at the College of William and Mary, School of Education.”

Constantino served as the superintendent of WJCC schools from 2011 to 2016.

He resigned on July 12, 2016 to accept a post in Richmond as the Chief Academic Officer and Assistant Superintendent of Public Instruction for the VDOE.

At the time of his resignation from the Williamsburg-James City County School Division Constantino said he was excited but had mixed emotions.

“Five and a half years of my life have been spent working in this tremendous school district, so a natural part of me will miss kids in the classrooms and seeing a vision come to life every day,” Constantino said in 2016. “I am tremendously excited and honored to have this opportunity, quite humbled actually.”

Since his resignation, Constantino’s legacy can be seen under construction at the intersection of Longhill and Ironbound roads, James Blair Middle School.

Constantino led the effort to fund and construct a fourth middle school, supported the implementation of several technology initiatives, including Manufacturing Day and Project Lead the Way, and improved graduation rates, all while maintaining full accreditation for all WJCC schools, according to a WJCC Schools news release in 2016.

He was named Region Two Superintendent of the Year in 2015.

“The Commonwealth’s gain is our loss,” said WJCC School Board Chairman Jim Kelly (Jamestown) at the time of his resignation. “He has done tremendous things here.”

Constantino’s career in education began in the 1980s as an educator in upstate New York. He has worked as a music teacher, band director, district director of fine arts, assistant principal, principal and deputy superintendent, according to a Virginia Department of Education news release.

WYDaily archives were used in this story.


To contact reporter email steve@localvoicemedia.com.

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