After a 6–1 vote took place on Tuesday, Hanover County Public Schools’ interim Superintendent Lisa Pennycuff will continue to oversee the district after a “transparent search process.”
Pennycuff has been the division’s interim leader since August 2024, after predecessor Michael Gill abruptly resigned in July 2024 amid leadership shake-ups.
Her permanent tenure begins April 16.
The process to find a new superintendent featured community engagement sessions, taking place in-person and virtually, to hear from community members about what they wanted to see in a leader.
There were 38 total applicants, 35 of whom had submitted completed applications. From there, a consulting firm narrowed the selection to seven candidates.
Ashland District rep Karen Lynne was the lone opposition to Pennycuff’s appointment.
Chairman Bob May, representing the South Anna District, said that Pennycuff has “exhibited a spirit of collaboration, professionalism, and, most importantly, a deep commitment to the success of our students, faculty, and staff.”
In a statement, Pennycuff said she’d had the “pleasure of working alongside” the district’s “dedicated team of teachers, support staff, division leaders, families, community members and our School Board with a shared goal: the success of our students.”
Pennycuff has spent more than 30 years working in a variety of roles from teaching to leadership: classroom teacher, a learning specialist for students with disabilities, assistant principal, principal and superintendent.
The new superintendent told the public that she was grateful for the confidence and support of the school board, as well as the “entire HCPS community for your trust and partnership.”
“I am eager to continue to work alongside you to enhance the opportunities available for our students, deepen the connection between our schools and community, and support the amazing work that takes place in our schools every day,” she said.
Prior to taking the role, she had been superintendent of the Prince George County Public Schools system, where she and the district were subject to multiple civil rights lawsuits.
