STAUNTON, VA (Rocktown Now) — The Staunton City School Board has appointed Eric Irizarry as superintendent of Staunton City Schools, effective July 1, 2025.

He succeeds Garett Smith, who is retiring June 30 after serving the division for eight years. Irizarry (pronounced Ear-uh-ZAR-ee) brings more than 15 years of experience in educational leadership, with a track record of advancing student success, educational equity, and community engagement.

He most recently served as the director of equity, family, and community engagement for Albemarle County Public Schools, a position he has held for nearly three years. In this role, he led numerous division-wide initiatives that strengthened school-community partnerships, improved attendance rates, and expanded opportunities for students from historically underserved backgrounds.

Notable accomplishments include launching the ACPS Student Senate, a student leadership body that elevated student voice in district decision-making; creating the School Champion initiative to connect schools with local organizations for mentorship and enrichment; enhancing Algebra I readiness for middle school students by improving access and alignment across math instruction; and leading school-based community engagement efforts with students, families, and staff to strengthen student attendance.

Before joining Albemarle County, Irizarry served as the principal and director of career and technical education at Charlottesville High School for six years. During his time at Charlottesville High School, he championed initiatives to increase AP and Dual Enrollment participation among underrepresented students and led the school to an all-time high graduation rate of 96%. He held principal and assistant principal roles for three years at Roger Bacon Academy in Wilmington, North Carolina, and began his career as an elementary school teacher in New Hanover County Schools.

Irizarry holds a doctorate in educational leadership as well as a master’s degree in school administration and a bachelor’s degree in physical education, all from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He is a 2024 graduate of the Virginia Tech Aspiring Superintendent Program and completed The School Superintendents Association (AASA) Urban Superintendents Academy at Howard University in 2020.

In addition to his professional experience, he has served as the chair of the community partnerships committee for the President’s Council on the University of Virginia (UVA) and as adjunct faculty at UVA and the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

“We are very excited to welcome Dr. Irizarry to Staunton,” said Kristin Siegel, chair of the Staunton City School Board. “He brings an impressive track record of collaborative leadership, academic innovation, and a deep commitment to serving the community. The board is confident that Dr. Irizarry will continue the excellence and positive momentum in our schools championed by Dr. Smith these past eight years. We believe Dr. Irizarry is the right leader to carry the baton forward.”

“I am honored to join the Staunton community and serve the students and families of Staunton City Schools,” Irizarry said. “The division has a strong foundation and an exceptional reputation across Virginia for academic growth, excellence and kindness. I look forward to working in partnership with students, families, staff and the entire community to build on that solid foundation of success and create even more opportunities for all in our learning community.”