“For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it, if only we’re brave enough to be it” – Amanda Gorman

ON FEBRUARY 23, 2026, FROM OUR COMMUNITY WE RECOGNIZE

GWEDETTE REYNOLDS CRUMMIE

“We rise by lifting others.” – Barack Obama

She lived that call to action — leading with purpose, building pathways, and uplifting generations. She began her journey with Albemarle County Public Schools as the first Black Gifted Resource Teacher at a middle school, intentionally ensuring that advanced academic programs were accessible to every student. Her collaborative spirit led to the creation of A Step Beyond, an after-school program designed to expose Black students to academic, cultural, and leadership experiences beyond the traditional classroom.

Over 36 years as an educator and administrator in Henrico County and Albemarle County Schools, her influence has extended across classrooms, boards, committees, and national organizations. She established systems of encouragement for young people through mentoring and tutoring initiatives recognized at the state level with the Mentor Virginia Award – Champions of Mentoring. Not only a leader of students, but she has also been a developer of leaders — mentoring aspiring administrators, empowering teachers, and cultivating an environment where staff flourish professionally.

A steadfast advocate for Black academic excellence, she served on the board of the Walter N. Ridley Scholarship Program at the University of Virginia. In this role, she helped provide scholarships to high-achieving Black students while elevating issues of importance to students and alumni. She also established the program’s first formal mentorship initiative, ensuring Ridley Scholars receive financial support, advocacy, and community.

Beyond education, Gwedette has served as President of the Rose Hill Neighborhood and as a member of the City of Charlottesville Task Force to strengthen community relationships, elevate residents’ voices, and address neighborhood issues impacting quality of life.

Today, she continues her advocacy as a board member of QuickStart Tennis of Central Virginia, and League of Women Voters of the Charlottesville Area, and serves as Chief Election Official for the historic Porters voting precinct at Yancey Community Center. In these roles, she champions childhood literacy, healthy and active lifestyles, civic engagement, and the rights and responsibilities of voters across Virginia.

With the heart of an educator, administrator, board member, and mentor, Gwedette Crummie leads with integrity, vision, and a deep commitment to uplifting others. Her work reflects the belief that teaching and leading is a powerful way to honor her mother’s legacy: “leave it better than you found it” — in the classroom, in the community, and in the lives of everyone she touches.