(ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Virginia) – Jason Crutchfield, who has served as an assistant principal at both Henley Middle School and Brownsville Elementary School, has been appointed as Brownsville’s new principal, effective May 1.
Crutchfield succeeds India Haun, who has served as the school division’s Director of Accountability & Research since December 1, 2015. Barbara Edwards has been the interim principal at Brownsville while the division conducted its search for a new principal.
Crutchfield joined Albemarle County Public Schools in 2007 as an assistant principal at Henley, where his responsibilities included faculty recruitment and development, school health and safety, and response to intervention programs.
At Brownsville since 2014, his concentration has been on developing the school’s technological learning capabilities, working with teachers on their professional growth, and community outreach, both with parents and support organizations such as Region 10.
“This is wonderful news for the Brownsville community,” said Dr. Matthew Haas, deputy superintendent for the school division. “Jason brings broad experience and a deep personal commitment to student and community engagement,” Dr. Haas added.
Crutchfield serves on the school division’s Health Advisory Board and on the Board of Directors of the African American Teaching Fellows. He also was a member of Virginia’s education leadership consortium, a professional development program for school leaders.
“It is an honor to have this opportunity to move our school forward at such an opportune time for our staff and students,” Crutchfield said. “I would like to build upon our strong foundation for learning. Such initiatives as our 1:1 program, our 3D printing and design capabilities, our Innovation Lounge, and our work with Google Classroom have enormous potential to deepen the learning of students and extend their learning environment further beyond the classroom.”
Crutchfield began his career as a teacher recruiter for Johnston County Schools in North Carolina. He taught Advanced Placement history for Fort Defiance High School and was assistant principal for Stuarts Draft Middle School before joining Albemarle County Public Schools. He was assistant principal at Henley for seven years prior to joining Brownsville.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from West Virginia State College and a Master’s degree in Arts, Education and Administration from Marshall University.
“I would like to thank Barbara Edwards for her invaluable leadership as Brownsville’s interim principal. The school did an amazing job through the transition in maintaining their usual level of excellence. I also would like to express the school division’s appreciation to the Brownsville community, who aided the search process, both by contributing to our online survey and as review panel members,” Dr. Haas said.
