On Tuesday, Apr. 12, the Greenbrier County Board of Education unanimously approved Jeff Bryant as the new superintendent of Greenbrier County Schools.
Bryant, currently head principal of Greenbrier East High School, will officially begin his service as the superintendent beginning July 1. He will be the 11th superintendent to oversee Greenbrier County Schools, whose first board-appointed superintendent was W.E. Scott.
“I am honored and truly grateful for this opportunity to serve our students, staff, families and community in this vital role. I share the overwhelming pride that so many of us feel for this school system and our community. I will serve with passion and dedication to helping all students succeed and to leading our school system through the successes and challenges that lie ahead,” said Bryant.
Bryant has served as head principal at Greenbrier East High School (GEHS) since 2001. He served as assistant principal for four years prior (1997- 2001) and as an award-winning director of bands at the school for 17 years (1980-1997). During Bryant’s tenure, US News & World Report has selected GEHS as one of America’s Best High Schools for the past three years. Under his leadership, the school has been recognized as a West Virginia School of Excellence. The school’s Career and Technical Education program has also received distinction as a West Virginia School of Excellence.
“Jeff Bryant was chosen as the new superintendent from a pool of 20 applicants we received after a state and nationwide search that was posted for three weeks. The board narrowed the applications to nine. These applicants went through an intensive interview with the board. These interviews spanned over a two-day period. Each board member spent two days reviewing information on each candidate and selecting their top three choices. When the board returned to the board table, each member was asked to put forth their top three selections. Each board member presented the same individual at the top of the list. Jeff Bryant was the unanimous selection for superintendent,” said Jeanie Wyatt, president of the Greenbrier County Schools Board of Education.
“I was very pleased that there was unity of all members of the board. The two Western district board members asked the board members to make the motion and second the motion for Mr. Bryant’s appointment to the Superintendent position. They felt that strongly that he was the best candidate for Greenbrier County Schools,” Wyatt said.
Bryant holds a Master’s Degree in Leadership Studies from Marshall University and a Master’s in Music Education from Radford University. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, graduating with honors as the recipient of the Art Farmer Jazz Masters Award for outstanding jazz trumpet performance.
Superintendent-elect Bryant has served on several West Virginia Department of Education committees related to the support and improvement of educational leadership and curriculum. He has been inducted into the Salem, VA, Educational Hall of Fame and is past-president of the Greenbrier County Principal’s Association.
He is married to Teresa D. Bryant, a music educator at Ronceverte Elementary School, and is the father of two sons, Nathaniel and Carrington, who both attended Greenbrier County Schools and reside and work in the county. Bryant also serves as a deacon and choir director for First Baptist Church in Fairlea.
“Through the interview process, it was evident that Jeff Bryant was the best fit for Greenbrier County Schools. He believes in us and our children. He knows our system and our county. He is an incredibly talented musician, teacher, and administrator who could have worked anywhere in the country, but chose to stay in Greenbrier County. We are very lucky to have him in our community and we are excited to announce his selection as our new superintendent,” said Wyatt.
