Parents and Greer educators press Albemarle County School Board for explanation after principal reassignment

Dozens of Greer Elementary parents, teachers and staff used the public comment period at the Albemarle County School Board’s April 16 meeting to press the board for answers after Principal Dr. Steve Saunders was reassigned to Crozet Elementary.

Holly Odum, a Greer parent, told the board she and other families feel destabilized by the move and asked officials to “lean into your courage for Greer,” saying the community needs empathy and clearer explanations about why the reassignment occurred. "No greater act of trust than sending your child to a Virginia public school," Odum said, quoting a remark she had heard from a state official, to underline how families view school leadership.

Several Greer staff echoed that concern. Claire LaPlant, a Greer reading specialist of 10 years, described the school’s steady progress under Dr. Saunders and warned that removing a long-serving leader risks undermining the relationships and trust that support student learning. "Our progress is not accidental," LaPlant said, adding that replacing a principal who has built collective teacher efficacy can disrupt gains.

Lauren Salmon, an English-learner teacher at Greer, raised equity questions about the transfer: Crozet Elementary is not Title I while Greer is, she said, and asked how moving a leader from a Title I school to a non-Title I school aligns with the division’s stated equity commitments. "How does moving Dr. Saunders from Greer to Crozet align with the division's core value of equity?" Salmon asked.

Multiple parents said the process for selecting a replacement felt opaque; speakers described outreach efforts that went unanswered and characterized elements of the selection timeline as reinforcing a perception that decisions had been made. Julia Bruno, a long-time Greer parent, asked the board for a rationale for reassignment versus an open hiring process.

Superintendent Matthew Haas responded to the broader process questions later in the meeting without addressing personnel-confidential details. He outlined the division’s principal-transfer procedures—intent surveys, individual conversations and attention to systemwide needs—and said transfers occur after deliberation about systemwide fit and openings. Haas said he would not discuss confidential conversations about individual personnel but confirmed that the Greer interview process had been postponed and was expected to resume the following week.

The board did not take immediate formal action on the Greer principal matter during the meeting. Board members and staff said they would continue the hiring process next week and that confidentiality limited the details they could publicly share.

The meeting record shows several speakers from the Greer community asking for fuller explanations of the reassignment decision and the board signaling a desire to proceed thoughtfully while respecting privacy and personnel processes. The superintendent said interviews would resume next week, and the board did not vote on personnel changes at the meeting.