York County School Board Announces New Chief Operations Officer

The York County School Board has unanimously approved the appointment of Dr. Melissa Pettigrew as the division's new Chief Operations Officer, effective May 1. Dr. Pettigrew joined YCSD in 2025 as the director of Information Technology.

Her previous experience includes leadership roles in Newport News Public Schools, the College of William & Mary, and Virginia's Community College. Since joining Team YCSD, Dr. Pettigrew has led division-wide initiatives to modernize systems, strengthen cybersecurity, and improve service efficiency.

Pettigrew will be filling the role left by Dr. Jim Carroll, who was named division superintendent in March.

"Dr. Pettigrew has demonstrated outstanding leadership and a strong commitment to supporting our schools in her role as director of Information Technology," said Carroll. "Her experience, collaborative approach, and deep commitment to doing what’s best for students and staff has already resulted in measurable operational improvements.”

She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Christopher Newport University, a Master of Public Administration from Old Dominion University, and a Doctor of Strategic Leadership from Regent University.