Superintendent Recently Announced His Retirement At End Of Year
Phillip Thompson, superintendent of Rockbridge County Public Schools, announced recently that he will retire at the end of 2026, concluding nearly a decade leading the school division where he was raised and educated.
Thompson, who has served as superintendent since July 2017, said his retirement will take effect Dec. 31, 2026. He plans to remain fully engaged in the role through the end of the year and to assist the School Board in a smooth transition to new leadership.
“I have no intention of ‘coasting’ or serving as a lame duck,” Thompson wrote in a letter sent to RCPS staff and families. “My expectations for myself and for our school division have not changed, and I intend to finish this chapter with the same energy, focus, and sense of purpose that have guided me throughout my time in Rockbridge County Public Schools.”
Thompson said in his letter that his decision to retire came after weeks of reflection and conversations with his wife, Shannon, about family, faith, and the passage of time.
“For my entire adult life, whenever I’ve had questions about my ‘next step,’ there always seemed to be a wise person nearby who would ultimately say something along the lines of, ‘You’ll know when the time is right,’” he wrote. After experiencing a growing feeling of uneasiness, Shannon prompted conversations about their future, and gave her blessing to move on, and according to Thompson’s letter, “That is the moment when I knew the time was right.” -Raised in Rockbridge County, Thompson graduated from Rockbridge High School before earning his bachelor’s degree and serving in the U.S. Army. After completing his military service, he began a career in public education that has spanned nearly three decades.
He joined Rockbridge County Public Schools in 1998 as a teacher at Rockbridge Middle School. After working in two other school divisions, he returned to RCPS in 2007 as principal of Maury River Middle School. He was named assistant superintendent in 2013 and became division superintendent in 2017.
Throughout his career, Thompson has served as a teacher, coach, athletic director, school administrator, and central office leader. He said, in an email interview with The News-Gazette, that his work has consistently focused on supporting students, improving instruction, and strengthening collaboration across schools and departments.
While he supports all postsecondary pathways — including four-year colleges, community colleges, military service, and direct entry into the workforce — Thompson said career and technical education has been his deepest professional passion. -Reflecting on his tenure, Thompson described the superintendent’s role as one of stewardship.
“I have always viewed the superintendent’s role as that of a steward of students’ futures, of public trust, and of the division’s long-term health,” he said. “I have tried to approach each decision with that in mind, balancing immediate needs with what will best serve RCPS in the years to come.”
During his time as superintendent, RCPS has navigated shifting state accountability requirements, staffing shortages in a competitive labor market, financial constraints, growing social and political pressures on public schools, and the disruption caused by the COVID19 pandemic.
Thompson said the division has done its best work when it has leaned into clear communication and collaboration with the School Board and community, even when challenges were difficult.
“We have not solved every problem perfectly,” he said, “but I am proud that we have leaned into hard conversations rather than avoided them, and that we have continued to move forward on behalf of students.”
Among the accomplishments he cited were keeping academic achievement and student well-being at the center of decision- making, strengthening communication systems with families and the public, and fostering resilience and teamwork across the division during periods of disruption.
“If there is a defining theme to my leadership,” Thompson said, “I hope it is that decisions have been made with integrity, consistency, and a sincere commitment to do what is in the best interests of students and staff.” -As he prepares to step away, Thompson said his hope is to leave RCPS with stable systems, strong relationships, and a solid foundation for the next superintendent.
“The work of a division superintendent is never truly ‘finished,’” he said. “RCPS was here long before any of us arrived and RCPS will be here long after we are gone.”
Thompson said retirement brings mixed emotions: gratitude for his career in public education, sadness about leaving work he cares deeply about, and anticipation for what comes next. He said recent personal experiences, including his wife’s battle with cancer and the loss of friends to serious illness, have sharpened his focus on family, health, and meaning.
“I am looking forward to more time with my family and the opportunity to slow down from the pace of the superintendent’s office,” he said. “Public education has been my life’s work, and even in retirement, I expect to remain a strong advocate and supporter of our public schools.”
While Thompson said he believes a person’s legacy is for others to define, he hopes his time in Rockbridge County is remembered for putting students first, treating staff and the community with respect, and leading with consistency and integrity.
“Any credit belongs to our teachers, support staff, administrators, and families who make RCPS what it is,” he said. “I just tried to facilitate and stay out of the way whenever possible.”
