Lynchburg City Schools (LCS) Superintendent Dr. Crystal Edwards and Deputy Superintendent of Instruction and Programs Amy Pugh have announced their retirement, effective at the conclusion of the 2024-25 school year. Together, these two leaders bring nearly eight decades of combined service to education, marking the end of a chapter defined by their commitment to students, staff, and the broader community.
Edwards, who will retire after 38 years in education, was appointed as the 13th Superintendent of Lynchburg City Schools in 2018. Notably, she is the first woman to hold this position in the division’s 150-year history. Edwards began her career in 1987 in New Jersey as a science teacher and has since held various roles, including supervisor, coach, director, professor, assistant superintendent, and superintendent in New Jersey before joining LCS.
Reflecting on her journey, Edwards remarked, "I am endlessly grateful to our staff, students, families, and the community. They have inspired me daily with their resilience, creativity, and passion. “Over the past seven years, we have achieved significant milestones, from expanding early childhood education to assisting with the launch of the CTE Academy and addressing critical student needs through LCS Restore. I am proud of what we have accomplished, but none of these things would have been possible without the work of staff and the community support of our local businesses, organizations, universities, and parents.”
Amy Pugh’s retirement marks the culmination of a remarkable 40-year career. During the 1990s, Pugh taught at Bedford Hills, Linkhorne, and R. S. Payne elementary schools. She moved with her husband to Wisconsin in 1998, where she continued to teach, transitioning her focus to instructional technology. Pugh eventually became the Chief Information Technology Officer at Pewaukee School District before returning to Lynchburg in 2018 as the Director of IT for LCS. Pugh assumed the role Deputy Superintendent of Instruction and Programs in 2020.
“Lynchburg is home, and as a product of Lynchburg City Schools, I am honored to have started and finished my career in education here,” Pugh said.
Pugh has a long legacy with Lynchburg City Schools, where she began as a kindergarten student at Bedford Hills Elementary School in 1967. She graduated from E. C. Glass High School in 1980. Pugh’s fondest memories as an LCS student include cheerleading, musical theater, and serving as the Jaguar mascot for Linkhorne Junior High (now Linkhorne Middle School). She was also part of the pilot class of the LCS Strings program, which continues to thrive more than 50 years later.
Pugh is looking forward to spending more time with her husband, adult children, and granddaughter. As for Edwards, she is also ready to focus her time and attention on her family.
“The timing is right,” Edwards said. “Our theme for this school year is ‘Minutes Matter.’ How we choose to spend our time and how we use each minute is critical. I am grateful for the many educators, support staff members, administrators, and senior leadership team members who continue to help provide high-quality and enriching experiences for every child, by name and by need, to graduation and beyond.”
