Ready. Set. Lead.

My name is Verena Riley and I teach Family & Consumer Science at Giles High School in Pearisburg, Virginia. We serve a student body of about 575 8th-12th graders. I am the FCCLA Adviser, the Cross Country Head Coach, and an Assistant Track Coach.

I assist my fellow teachers with improving their tech skills and incorporating technology into their instruction. In addition, I serve on the Giles County Tech Center’s advisory board. This past summer (2021), I was coordinating, planning, and implementing my school's summer school program, and will do so again for the summer of 2022.

I am passionate about education, relationships with my students, and making my classroom and my school a great place for learning! I excel at working with all students.

Prior to living and working in Virginia, I founded and led the Preparatory Academy of Music in Monroe, LA, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing music lessons to area children. The position included hiring qualified teachers, organizing community outreach and summer music programs, bookkeeping, grant writing, and fundraising.

I hold a master's degree in Educational Leadership from Radford University, a Master of Music degree from Louisiana State University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from the University of Music in Freiburg, Germany, my home town.

I look forward to the future with great anticipation and embrace the challenges that are at hand. I stand on the firm belief that all children can learn and that, together with all stakeholders, we can build and sustain a thriving school community that is committed to academic and social integrity, and welcoming towards all students. I lead with commitment, empathy, and dedication.