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Jenny Wilson has announced her candidacy for re-election to the Botetourt County School Board, representing the Buchanan District. A resident of Buchanan since 2007, Wilson is a licensed physical therapist with 23 years of experience in the Roanoke Valley. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Mississippi in 1999 and Master’s in Physical Therapy from the University of Tennessee in 2002. She currently works full-time for Amedisys Home Health, where she serves families across Botetourt County, giving her unique insight into the diverse needs of the community.
During her time on the School Board, Wilson states that Botetourt County Public Schools have consistently ranked among the top school divisions in Virginia for reading and math proficiency. While other school divisions have struggled for years post COVID to make up for learning loss, she credits the teachers and families in this division for their persistence to ensuring academic excellence.
Wilson believes one of the greatest long-term challenges facing BCPS includes its aging facilities and the increased costs associated with the fact that nine of the district’s 12 schools are more than 50 years old. She has advocated in recent years for the improvements at Buchanan Elementary School, including playground upgrades, fencing around the perimeter and replacing the roof. She is dedicated to school safety as priority for capital improvement funds. As a fiscal conservative, she is committed to improving efficiencies and maximizing every dollar.
Wilson has also been a strong advocate for student well-being. She supported recent policy changes including the school cell phone ban and random drug testing policy for our middle and high-school students who participate in extracurricular activities. As a physical therapist, she understands the positive effects of physical activity with correlation to mental health and concentration. She is member of the Buchanan trail committee which is in the beginning stages of developing a nature trail around the campus at Buchanan Elementary.
She has championed flexible learning opportunities, including the BCPS Virtual Academy, which allows students who may otherwise homeschool opportunities to participate in BCPS extracurricular activities, dual enrollment classes, or BTEC offerings. Wilson also believes strongly in early learning. During the last four years, BCPS, through state grants with the Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI), now has a pre-school in every elementary school, ensuring that more young learners are ready for kindergarten. Wilson hopes to expand these programs to offer increased enrollment, especially in the more rural communities with limited access to pre-school.
Wilson recognizes that the rising cost of higher education can make college feel out of reach for many families. Through state initiatives, dual enrollment classes at both James River and Lord Botetourt are now free. Botetourt students can graduate high school with college credits, earn a uniform certificate of general studies or even an associate degree all at little to no out of pocket cost. She also supports workforce development through Botetourt Technical Education Center, where students can earn industry credentials in fields like welding, automotive repair, and health care. She supports further investment in these programs and advocates for new opportunities such as a ROTC program to support students interested in joining the military.
Wilson has consistently recognized the dedication of teachers, aides, and staff as the foundation of student success. She has supported initiatives to maintain competitive salaries, improve work-life balance, and strengthen family-friendly policies for BCPS employees.
Her community service extends beyond the School Board. She previously served as president of the Buchanan Elementary PTA and has been active in organizations such as Buchanan Presbyterian Church, the Botetourt County Republican Women’s Committee, and Botetourt County Young Life. On the School Board, she serves on the Virginia School Board Association Federal Relations Committee, Character Counts Committee, vice chair of the Jackson River Governor’s School Board and, most recently has been asked to serve on the academic committee of the Blue Ridge Partnership for Health Science Careers. This year, she was also selected as a Hunt Institute State Policy Fellow in Virginia’s inaugural cohort.
Wilson is married to Morgan, and they have two children: Abbie, a recent graduate of James River High School, and Sam, a current 11th grader at JRHS. She enjoys playing an active role in her children’s education and extracurricular activities. She has the benefit of having children currently in the BCPS system which helps her relate first hand to the needs of students in the community, as well as having an active presence in the schools. Jenny Wilson looks forward to continuing her service to the Buchanan District and the families of Botetourt County.
~ Fincastle Herald staff report
