Kevin Linhares

Linhares Named Director of AHPS Maintenance and Transportation   Low Moor, VA (July 17, 2024) - The Alleghany Highlands School Board has appointed Kevin Linhares as director of maintenance and transportation.  His appointment was approved by the school board on Monday, July 15, during its regular monthly meeting.  Linhares has more than 30 years of experience in facilities management and construction, most recently working in leadership for the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Staunton District, which includes the Alleghany Highlands. He was chosen from a pool of well-qualified applicants who interviewed for the position. AHPS leaders who participated in the interview process were impressed with his knowledge of the area’s geography through his work with VDOT, and his experience as part of a local government in Louisa County. His assistance in overseeing repair work to Louisa High School in the aftermath of a 2011 earthquake is among his most noteworthy accomplishments.  In Louisa County, he was employed as the county’s director of general services. Linhares also has experience in the private sector in project management and facilities management. He has worked for VDOT since 2017. “We were very pleased with Mr. Linhares’ background working in both the private and public sectors,” said Kim Halterman and Melinda Snead-Johnson, leaders of AHPS. “Mr. Linhares is clearly a leader with a servant style and a number of projects in his background demonstrate his attention to detail.” Linhares will round out a team of experienced AHPS professionals in leadership positions including Christina Lemaster in transportation and Shane Reid in maintenance.  AHPS’ transportation and maintenance staff played a key role in the transition to a consolidated school division in the Highlands. AHPS was created when Alleghany County Public Schools, Covington City Schools and Jackson River Technical Center merged in July 2022.   “Our full transportation and maintenance teams, certainly including our drivers, custodians, and others, have worked very hard to help the consolidation be successful,” said Halterman and Snead-Johnson.   Linhares succeeds Eric Tyree who left the director of transportation and maintenance position to pursue an opportunity with the City of Covington. “We were blessed to have Mr. Tyree’s fine knowledge of safety protocols and local government,” said Halterman and Snead-Johnson. “While we miss his direct service to our team, we are glad he remains active in the local community. We are all family across our efforts in local government and services in the Alleghany Highlands.” Linhares’ initial priorities will include overseeing annual updates to the AHPS Capital Improvement Plan.  "I am both thrilled and humbled to have been chosen to serve as the director of maintenance and transportation and look forward to bringing my extensive career experience in this role to furthering and enhancing the strategic priorities, mission and values of the Alleghany Highlands Public Schools Division,” Linhares said. Copies of the AHPS Strategic Plan and Capital Improvement Plan are available online through the AHPS website, www.ahps.k12.va.us. With approximately 2,700 students, the school division is jointly funded by Alleghany County and the City of Covington. AHPS news and events are regularly updated on Facebook at AHPublicSchools and Instagram at ahpublicschools. Information is also available at www.ahps.k12.va.us.

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