Richmond County families will start the 2026–27 school year without their current superintendent, as Dr. Bernard “Trey” Davis is scheduled to retire on August 1 after 31 years in public education.

Davis made the announcement during the May 18 School Board meeting, citing deep reflection and immense pride in the work accomplished during his time in Richmond County.

Davis’s tenure leading Richmond County Public Schools is part of an educational career that includes leadership and operational roles in several school systems, including service as an educational supervisor, principal, assistant principal, athletic director, coach, and teacher. He is also a member of the Virginia High School League Executive Committee.

The Richmond County School Board noted that the division expanded academic and support services, launched strategic capital investments, and deepened partnerships with Rappahannock Community College under Davis’s leadership.

The board also highlighted a wide range of career accomplishments that showcase Davis’s impact on local education, including his additional leadership roles as Executive Director of the Northern Neck Regional Special Education Program and Executive Director of the Northern Neck Regional Technical Center, which has seen growth in both enrollment and programs.

Davis is credited with implementing several initiatives, including the Richmond County Educational Foundation, a high school and middle school theatre program, a new Raider wrestling team, and the Teachers for Tomorrow Program.

Facilities were expanded and improved during Davis’s tenure, including enhanced security and surveillance, the addition of a new RHS classroom wing, and resurfacing of the athletic fields—improvements that included new dugouts, Bermuda grass, and upgraded sprinkler systems.

Davis has been recognized with numerous honors, including the William H. Knull, Jr. Award from the Boys and Girls Club of the Northern Neck and the 2019 VACTEA Outstanding Career and Technical Educator Award. He was also nominated for Region 3 Superintendent of the Year in 2026.

In a statement, Richmond County Public Schools extended its sincere gratitude to Davis for his years of leadership, dedication, and service to public education. His impact on the students, staff, and families of Richmond County “will be lasting and deeply appreciated,” the division said.

“Relationships are the foundation of great schools,” Davis stated. “I’m most proud of the collaborative culture we built with our principals, staff, county partners, and community. We are a small division that accomplishes extraordinary things in the classroom, on the field, and in the community.”

“While there is always more work to be done, I am profoundly proud of what we have achieved together,” said Davis. “It has been a true honor to serve the students, staff, and families of this remarkable county.”