Wheeler Succeeds Gilbert At PMMS

Veteran educator and Buena Vista native Sherrie Wheeler has taken over as principal of Parry McCluer Middle School for the upcoming school year. She replaces Debbie Gilbert, PMMS principal the past seven years who recently retired after working for the Buena Vista schools for 44 years.

Dr. Jason Wheeler, who most recently served as an administrator in the Montgomery County schools, has been hired to be the director of human resources for the Buena Vista schools. He began his new job July 1.

Gilbert, who retired June 30, spent all 44 years of her career with the Buena Vista city schools in the same building, which formerly housed Parry McCluer High School. Most of those years were spent in the classroom as a math teacher. Later, she worked as a math specialist before becoming PMMS principal in 2017.

“Forty-four years – all in the same building – it’s hard to leave that behind, but I’ll probably still be working with the school,” said Gilbert. “I’ll say what I said to [Sherrie Wheeler] – I’m only a phone call away.”

She said she’ll “miss the interactions with the kids and teachers. Middle school is tough love, but you do love them. It’s like a second family.” Of Wheeler, she said, “She’ll be taking over the best faculty. I couldn’t have found anybody better suited if I’d handpicked them myself. She’s a local girl and a true blue, and she loves the school, the kids and community.”

Gilbert said she hopes to spend more time with her grandchildren and family, and to travel. “There are community things I do for the school as well,” she added, “so I’ll still be around. I just won’t be the one doing all the paperwork.”

Sherrie Wheeler has been with the Buena Vista schools for 22 years. She worked as a reading and writing teacher in the fifth grade for 12 years and has spent the past 10 years in various administrative roles, most recently director of operations and human resources. Previously, she has worked as PMHS assistant principal and director of secondary education and supervisor of operations.

In addition to being principal of PMMS, which has sixth- and seventh-grades, Wheeler will continue to supervise the division’s operations, which encompass transportation, maintenance, custodial services and emergency management.

She doesn’t anticipate implementing many changes at PMMS this year. “This school has been so successful for so many years. The teachers here are so great. The [Standards of Leaning] test scores have been well above average.” She noted that there are new English and math standards that are being implemented this year.

A 1984 graduate of Parry McCluer High School, Wheeler holds a bachelor’s degree from Mary Baldwin University and a master’s degree from James Madison University. She attended Southern Seminary Junior College for two years and worked 14 years for Signa Nu Fraternity’s national headquarters.

Jason Wheeler served as assistant principal at both Kipps and Margaret Beeks elementary schools in Montgomery County the past two years. He worked previously for school divisions in Floyd, Isle of Wright and Craig counties. The 2007 graduate of Christiansburg High School holds a bachelor’s degree from Radford University and both master’s and doctorate degrees from Old Dominion University. He just completed his doctorate this spring.

As director of human resources, Wheeler will be working with professional development, licensure and helping new employees make the transition to teaching in the Buena Vista schools.