Dr. Troy Wright Brings Vision and Energy to Warren County Public Schools

It’s been just over two weeks since Dr. Troy Wright stepped into his new role as Superintendent of Warren County Public Schools (WCPS), but in that short time, he’s already making strong connections, setting priorities, and sharing a clear, student-centered vision for the division’s future.

Dr. Wright joined alongside Ken Knesh, principal of Warren County High School, for a conversation that touched on everything from community involvement and student leadership to instructional excellence and school culture.

A Smooth Transition

Wright was quick to credit his predecessor, Dr. Chris Martin, for creating a smooth handoff and laying the groundwork for progress. “He did a lot to build some bridges and to really do some heavy lifting,” Wright said. “It made a big difference walking into a district that was ready to move forward.”

In his first two weeks, Dr. Wright has already visited every school in the division, met with principals and assistant principals, and participated in several community events, including service projects with the Front Royal Rotary Club and Interact Club student members. “It has exceeded all of my greatest expectations,” he shared. “There are wonderful people in the buildings, and I’ve seen so many great things happening.”

Instruction and Equity at the Forefront

One major theme Wright brought up was a renewed focus on instructional leadership and collaboration across schools. While Warren County isn’t a large division, it has 11 buildings — and that, he says, can lead to instructional isolation.

“It’s easy to fall into the mindset of ‘this is how we do things at our school,’” Wright said. “But I want to ensure that we’re learning from one another, identifying best practices, and staying focused on the same goals.”

Principal Knesh echoed the sentiment, praising the renewed energy around instruction. “There are some really strong things happening in Warren County classrooms,” Knesh said. “We don’t always share or celebrate them enough, but the quality of teaching is there.”

To highlight instructional success, Dr. Wright proposes a new feature at school board meetings: instructional highlights. Each school would rotate, with a teacher and students presenting a brief overview of their classroom strategies and achievements. “It’s a way to bring the classroom into the boardroom,” Wright said.

A Culture of Celebration and Connection

Knesh emphasized the importance of school culture, praising his students’ engagement and the strong relationships between staff and learners. From morning greetings to year-end traditions like holiday club celebrations and school-wide sing-alongs, building community is central.

“We get everyone together, hand out prizes, sing Christmas songs — it may not sound the best,” Knesh laughed, “but the joy is real.”

Dr. Wright noted that leadership and culture go hand in hand. “You have to release control sometimes and trust your students,” he said. “If you set high expectations and give them room to shine, they’ll often exceed what you imagined.”

Communication Is Key

Both Wright and Knesh acknowledged that better communication with the broader community is a top priority.

“We do great things in our schools, but they don’t always make it past the walls,” Wright said. “We need to be more consistent in sharing those success stories division-wide — not just because it’s good PR, but because the community deserves to know what their schools are doing.”

Community Partnerships Strengthen Schools

Throughout the discussion, Wright and Knesh highlighted the many community partners who support WCPS — from Kiwanis and Rotary to organizations like Reaching Out Now, which will host a family dinner and gift exchange at Warren County Middle School, and the Hike Kidz Foundation, which provides essential items to families in need.

“There’s no shortage of people who want to serve in Warren County,” Wright said. “And that spirit of collaboration extends from the boardroom to the classroom.”

Wright also mentioned productive early conversations with the Board of Supervisors, new county leadership, and upcoming school board members, all pointing to a shared commitment to student success.

Looking Ahead

With his family now settled in the area and his first official weeks behind him, Dr. Wright is looking forward to building deeper relationships across the division—especially with students.

“I’ve already talked to principals about meeting with student advisory groups,” he said. “They may sit quiet at first, but eventually they’ll let you know how things are going — and they become your best ambassadors.”

From streamlining instructional practices to empowering student voice, and from celebrating the arts to strengthening community ties, Wright’s leadership is already setting a hopeful tone.

“I feel very fortunate to be here,” he said. “Good things are happening, and I feel blessed to be part of it.”