The University of Mary Washington and Stafford County Public Schools’ proposed lab school has named a director to lead the next steps of the planning process and begin the implementation proposal to launch. Local educator and administrator Rebecca Towery has been appointed to the leadership role, continuing as an employee of Stafford County Public Schools, in partnership with UMW, her alma mater.
An experienced educator with expertise in strategy, research and evaluation, Dr. Towery brings a unique blend of in-classroom knowledge with the know-how to launch a lab school, from securing grant funding to building out the necessary capacity and curriculum for a successful program. She holds an Ed.D. in education leadership and policy from Vanderbilt University, an M.Ed. in secondary education from the University of Mary Washington, and a B.A. in history, with a political science minor, from Virginia Tech, as well as an education administration license from Lipscomb University.
“Dr. Towery has been an incredible asset to Stafford Schools, and was key in securing the grant to create this incredible opportunity for regional students. She is an energetic and forward-looking leader who applies critical thinking and long-range strategic planning to develop exceptional programs. She will certainly be an asset to both the school division and the University of Mary Washington. We know she will bring great success to this partnership,” said Stafford County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Thomas W. Taylor. Read more.
The University of Mary Washington is a premier, selective public liberal arts and sciences university in Virginia, highly respected for its commitment to academic excellence, strong undergraduate liberal arts and sciences program, and dedication to life-long learning. The university, with a total enrollment of about 4,000, features colleges of business, education and arts and sciences, and three campuses, including a residential campus in Fredericksburg, Va., a second one in nearby Stafford and a third in Dahlgren, Va., which serves as a center of development of educational and research partnerships between the Navy, higher education institutions and the region’s employers.
