A passion for public education
Roy Geiger ’72, M.Ed. ’77, Ed.S ’86, Ed.D. ’94 and Wendy Meadors Geiger ’72, M.A.Ed. ’75, M.S. ’85, Ed.S. ’93, Ed.D. ’96
Roy Geiger ’72, M.Ed. ’77, Ed.S ’86, Ed.D. ’94 has roots in Williamsburg that are long and deep, with three generations of affiliation with William & Mary. His grandfather, the first Roy Geiger, was a philosophy professor for the College in the early part of the 20th century. His father graduated from William & Mary and went on to become the executive director of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Roy met his wife Wendy Meadors Geiger ’72, M.A.Ed. ’75, M.S. ’85, Ed.S. ’93, Ed.D. ’96 while they were both undergraduates at William & Mary. Between them, they have nine degrees from William & Mary, culminating with doctorates in educational leadership from the School of Education. So when the Geigers consider giving to William & Mary, the question is not if, but in what ways.
Fundamentally, Roy and Wendy believe in the importance of giving back. Their first gift, as newly minted graduates from the School of Education, was $10.
“We didn’t give much at first because we were poor educators,” he observed wryly, “but by the time I retired, with Wendy still working after 46 years in public education, we started to give more.”
The Geigers have given continuously over the decades, increasing their gifts as their income and life circumstances allowed. Geiger has also served as Chair of the School of Education Development Board, exemplifying giving in action coupled with over 30 years of regular financial giving.
“I’ve always felt that you try to give back to the school if you believe in its mission and the ways it is making a difference in the lives of others, and William & Mary has been doing all that now for a couple of centuries,” he explained.
Roy spent most of his career in administrative leadership in public schools in New Kent County, retiring from the role of Superintendent for the schools there, while Wendy has been working through the Virginia Department of Education. Their commitment to supporting public education is as long as their careers have been.
“Public education holds hope for us as a democracy,” he said, pointing out that William & Mary is itself a public state university which depends on a blend of state funds and gifts to provide educational excellence and opportunity. “If we are going to live out our dream as a nation, which is to be a place where people can share the American dream and have a good life and give back from the blessings they have received, the opportunity inherent in that dream ought to be open to everyone. Society will continue to benefit if we have the sense to support public education at every level.”
Geiger has grandchildren attending the WJCC public schools, and said he is continually impressed with the academic rigor and increased accountability he’s seen grow in public education.
“Public education is much more demanding than it used to be. The children are learning at a faster rate, and are challenged in ways I was not when I was in school,” he said.
His education through William & Mary and his ongoing association with the university have afforded him and Wendy the opportunity to be part of enhancing public education in the state.
“With every step that I’ve taken professionally, whether it was teaching or becoming a high school principal, the preparation I’ve received through W&M was invaluable to me. It kept me abreast of major trends in education and put me in contact with movers and shakers in the state,” he said.
