CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Charlottesville Middle School Principal Rodney Jordan will become the Charlottesville City Schools’ first Director of Facilities Operations, the school system announced on Thursday.
Jordan has served as principal of CMS, formerly Burford, since 2021, and oversaw the planning, transition, and opening of the school’s three-year, $91.1 million renovation. CMS gained full accreditation in 2024-25 and came out of federal identification status in 2025-26. Jordan’s efforts earned him a nomination for Most Outstanding Virginia Middle School Principal in 2025.
The announcement of his new position comes after CCS named Dr. Summerlyn Thompson, the current principal of Walker Upper Elementary, as CMS’ next principal last month. Thompson will take over at CMS starting in the 2026-27 school year.
In his new role, Jordan will lead the development, maintenance and training of the safety and security plans, serve as the division’s designated Emergency Manager, manage the custodial services program and “coordinate efforts for safe, structured, and supportive school environments,” according to CCS’ release.
Alongside Jordan’s promotion, CCS also officially announced Amanda Korman Simalchik’s promotion to the role of Supervisor of Community Relations. She assumed the role in February, succeeding Beth Cheuk, and previously served as the division’s Community Relations Coordinator since 2021.
Together, Simalchik and Cheuk jointly received the National School Public Relations Association’s 2023 Gold Medallion Award. Since Simalchik took over as Supervisor of Community Relations, CCS has brought on John Shifflett to serve as its new Community Relations Coordinator.
