STAUNTON, VA (Rocktown Now) — Staunton City Schools has appointed Jeremiah Major as its new director of operations, effective August 3. He succeeds Earl McCray in the role.

Major brings more than 20 years of experience in education, along with expertise in facilities management, construction, safety and transportation.

As director of operations, Major will oversee the school division’s facilities, transportation and operational systems, helping ensure safe and welcoming learning environments for students and staff across the division.

Major joins Staunton City Schools from Stuarts Draft High School, where he has served as assistant principal and athletic director since 2022. In that role, he managed an athletic program serving about 700 students across more than 20 Virginia High School League sports while coordinating transportation, staffing, security, custodial services and facility preparation for school events and athletic competitions.

His responsibilities also included working with maintenance teams, grounds crews, contractors and school administrators to address facility needs and maintain safe, functional buildings and outdoor spaces.

Superintendent Eric Irizarry said Major’s combination of educational leadership and operational experience made him a strong fit for the position.

“Jeremiah brings a valuable combination of experience as a teacher, coach and school administrator, along with practical expertise in facilities, safety, construction and transportation,” Irizarry said. “This diverse background has given him a deep understanding of the needs of schools in serving students and families and supporting staff each day. We are excited to welcome him to Staunton City Schools, and I am confident he will be a strong addition to our leadership team as he builds on the excellent work already underway in our operations department.”

Before joining Stuarts Draft High School, Major served as assistant principal and athletic director at Waynesboro High School for two years, overseeing athletics, career and technical education, physical education and custodial operations. He also collaborated with contractors, architects and engineers during a partial renovation of the school.

Major began his education career at Wilson Memorial High School, where he spent 20 years as an agricultural education teacher and head coach. During that time, he taught courses in metalworking, woodworking, plumbing, electrical systems, masonry and blueprint reading while ensuring compliance with state and federal safety standards.

In addition to his education experience, Major has worked in construction, landscaping, equipment and fleet maintenance, workplace safety, industrial fabrication and property management. His background includes managing operational budgets and overseeing large-scale improvement projects.

“I would like to thank the school board, Dr. Irizarry, and his staff for giving me this opportunity to serve Staunton City Schools as their next Director of Operations,” Major said. “I look forward to serving all of the employees of Staunton City Schools and the Staunton community. It has been a career goal of mine to serve public education in this capacity. I am eager to begin this next chapter in my career by ensuring that the facilities and transportation of Staunton City Schools continue to be a welcoming environment that provides the most opportunities for our students, staff, administration and community.”

Major earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from James Madison University and a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Ferrum College.