Rockbridge County Public Schools has announced the selection of a new Superintendent.
At a specially-called school board meeting on Tuesday night, members of the board voted to install Dr. Rick Bolling as superintendent starting on Jan. 1, 2027.
Bolling comes to Rockbridge County Public Schools from Clarke County Public Schools, where he has been superintendent since late 2024. Before that, he was the superintendent in Bath County for two years starting in 2022.
Bolling will take the reigns for retiring Superintendent Phillip Thompson.
Bolling is a native of Wise County, where he spent more than 23 years working in education, working his way up from being a teacher to being a principal. He has a doctorate in education from the University of the Cumberlands.
“I’m really excited about this opportunity to become a part of this school division. My family is deeply committed to this area, and I’ve long admired Rockbridge County,” Bolling said. “You have a lot to be proud of.”
Bolling’s appointment was approved unanimously by the board.
Rockbridge County School Board Chair Kathy Burant said the Board was impressed by the depth of Bolling’s experience and the leadership he has demonstrated throughout his career in public education.
“On behalf of the Rockbridge County School Board, we are pleased to welcome Dr. Bolling as our next superintendent,” Burant said. His 26 years in public education have given him valuable experience at many levels, from the classroom and school administration to leading school divisions as superintendent. Throughout the search process, the Board was impressed by his leadership experience, his collaborative approach, and his commitment to serving students and supporting staff. We look forward to working with Dr. Bolling as we continue building on the strengths of Rockbridge County Public Schools and serving our students, families, and community.”
We are working to learn more about Bolling’s plan for the division in the coming days.
