Abby Whitt
Contributing writer
Montgomery County Public School Board members approved a Personnel Report on July 29, which included an Interim Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction.
Amanda Weidner was named to the role, effective July 30.
New principals were also named in the Personnel Report, including: Eric Andreson (Falling Branch Elementary), Crystal Sparks (Christiansburg Elementary School) and Christina Warner (Christiansburg Primary).
Anderson, Sparks and Warner each have several years of experience in multiple positions in public schools, according to the personnel bios provided to the school board.
Anderson has degrees from Virginia Tech, Hollins University, the University of Virginia and Regent University, and he had taught for five years, served as principal for one, been a program director for 12, an assistant superintendent of elementary instruction for four and an administrator on assignment for one year with Roanoke City Schools.
Sparks, who will be principal at Christiansburg Elementary, has degrees from Radford University, and she taught for six years with Floyd County Public Schools and one year in Caroline County. She has also previously worked with MCPS for 14 years.
Warner has degrees from both Radford and Virginia Tech. She taught for five years and served as an assistant principal for two years in Roanoke City.
New positions and other hires approved by the Board in the July 29 Personnel Report include the following, among others:
Glen Chilcote —- Administrator of Fine Arts (School Board Office)
Lori Church —- Gifted Resource Teacher-Elementary (Gilbert Linkous Elementary, Margaret Beeks Elementary, Blacksburg Elementary)
Rozita Galeshi —- Special Education (Blacksburg High)
Tyler Houston —- Biology (Christiansburg High)
Devon Lineberry-Jennings —– English (Eastern Montgomery High)
Tiffany Burton —- Paraprofessional (Gilbert Linkous Elementary)
Matthew Conley —- Paraprofessional (Blacksburg High)
Rachel Musser —- Paraprofessional (Falling Branch Elementary)
Sheena Cox —- Gifted Resource Teacher (Blacksburg Middle)
Tanya Sutton —- Special Education Teacher (Christiansburg Middle)
Melissa Wood —- School Nurse (Blacksburg High)
Christopher Carter —- Paraprofessional (Christiansburg High)
Jennifer Griggs —- Paraprofessional (Prices Fork Elementary School)
School board member Penny Franklin opposed the vote to approve the Personnel Report because, she said, she “has concerns” about MCPS hiring practices.
As of July 21, almost 200 positions had been filled for the 2025-2026 school year, and a number of positions throughout MCPS were still vacant, including four in Administration, 17 Certified Instructional positions, 13 Special Education Certified positions and 67 “Classified” positions.
Additionally at the meeting, the board unanimously approved the year’s student representatives from each high school in the district.
Laura Altizer was selected from Auburn High, Olivia McNulty was selected from Blacksburg High, Avi Gandhi was selected from Christiansburg High and Cyrus Underwood was selected from Eastern Montgomery High.
Also approved were revisions to the Student Code of Conduct, mostly in regard to technical language.
Legislative policies, regarding hiring temporary personnel, student records, student cell phone use, extracurricular athletics, crisis and emergency plans, background checks and more, were introduced to the board and will be voted on for approval at the Aug. 19 meeting of the School Board.