Three new appointments were announced during Monday’s Orange County School Board meeting.
Beloved educator Nick Sodano will take his talents to Orange County High School as the new principal of the Hornets. Sodano began his educational career in 2005 as a teacher at Locust Grove Middle School before moving into administration in 2011. He was the assistant principal at Orange Elementary School from 2011 to 2015, followed by principal at Locust Grove Primary School and in 2017 became the principal at Gordon-Barbour Elementary School. For the past two years, he’s been at the helm of Locust Grove Middle School.
Sodano said he’s excited to have the privilege of leading Orange County’s flagship school and reconnect with the students and families he’s been able to work with in his previous roles.
“My mission is to ensure that every student receives a high-quality education that prepares them for life beyond our public school walls, while also fostering a safe, supportive environment and a positive school culture for the entire school community.”
He also said he feels that the work being done at LGMS will continue.
“Locust Grove Middle School has experienced tremendous growth over the past two years,” Sodano said. “It’s clear the school is on the cusp of something remarkable and I have full confidence in the team to carry forward the vision we’ve built together.”
Joining Sodano at Orange County High School will be Paul “PJ” Pcsolinski who will serve as the dean of students. Pcsolinski has more than two decades of experience in education having begun his career in Prince William County in 2001 as a health and physical education teacher and five-sport coach. In 2009, he transitioned to the City of Fredericksburg Public Schools as a physical education teacher and later an assistant principal. He earned a Master’s Degree in Administration and Supervision in 2012 and has been in administration for the past 14 years in Henrico and Fluvanna counties.
Pcsolinski is already familiar to many in the community, having served as an OCHS wrestling coach. He said Orange is the only school system he would leave Fluvanna for.
“I am extremely excited to be at OCHS and look forward to building relationships with everyone,” Pcsolinski said.
The third appointment of the night was Brandon Bennett who will serve as the division’s new director of technology. Bennett has been with the school system since 2018, first as a technology support specialist and later as a computer network specialist. He is a graduate of Orange County High School and holds an associate of applied science degree in information systems–network security from Germanna Community College.
“I am thrilled to be joining the administrative team and am excited to continue supporting the community and school system that helped educate me through safe and meaningful technologies,” Bennett said.
Sodano, Pcsolinski and Bennett join recently announced appointees Orange County High School Assistant Principal Allison Ellis, Locust Grove Elementary School Principal James Snyder and supervisor of school nutrition Julie Miller.
