Interim superintendent has been named to begin July 1
Heather Bell
RADFORD – Radford High School Principal Tara Grant is leaving Radford City Public Schools for a new position with Pulaski County Public Schools, following Superintendent Robert Graham across the bridge to the home of the Cougars.
Belle Heth Principal Kelly Linkenhoker also recently left the school division, taking a position with Salem City Public Schools as the Principal of Salem High School after serving for two years as principal of Belle Heth Elementary School.
Graham resigned as RCPS Superintendent on June 9 after eight years leading the division and was shortly thereafter named Superintendent of PCPS. Grant has now been named the new Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction for PCPS. Grant spent two years as principal of Radford High School, four years as principal of Belle Heth Elementary, and a year as the division’s Director of Testing.
On Tuesday, the Radford City School Board named Dr. Roger Collins as interim superintendent to lead RCPS while the superintendent’s search takes place. Collins began his educational career in 1983 as a classroom teacher, then served as an assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent and, from 2003 – 2014 as Superintendent of Nelson County Public Schools. Following that position, he has served as an associate professor in the graduate Educational Leadership Program at Kames Madison University.
Grant is a graduate of Radford High School, has a bachelor’s degree from James Madison University in Public Relations, a Master’s of Science from Radford University in Curriculum and Instruction, and both a Master’s of Science and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Radford University.
Prior to becoming principal of Belle Heth, Linkenhoker served as a high school assistant principal, an elementary principal and the assistant superintendent for Buena Vista Public Schools, and was also classroom teacher for more than 20 years.
Linkenhoker earned her bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech in family child and development. She has a master’s degree from Radford University in administration and supervision and another master’s degree from Tech in curriculum and instruction. In addition, she is in the final stage of securing her doctorate degree in educational leadership and organizational behavior from Vanderbilt University.
