News & Updates

Press Release: Regents School Announces New Athletic Director

Thursday, March 19th, 2015

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, March 19, 2015 – Regents School of Charlottesville, the first classical Christian school in the Charlottesville area, announces that Travis Johnson will become their new Athletic Director in August of 2015.  Johnson, a native of Charlottesville, has extensive experience in high school sports, particularly basketball, here in central Virginia.  Johnson is a graduate of Charlottesville High School and has served the past nine years coaching varsity basketball at The Covenant School.  Additionally, Johnson has been a member of the coaching and training staff for the Virginia Basketball Association (VABA).  Regents’ current athletic director, Doug Smethurst, will be moving to western Pennsylvania to accept a full-time position as Associate Director of Summer’s Best Two Weeks, a Christian sports and wilderness camp. In addition to serving 33 years in Christian education and administration, Smethurst and his family have been involved with the camp for more than twenty years.  Summer’s Best Two Weeks will celebrate its 50th anniversary this summer.

“I cannot imagine a better successor to take my place in building an athletics program here at Regents School than Travis Johnson,” said Smethurst.  “Travis is an outstanding person with both a passion for education and for shaping students’ character and shepherding their hearts toward a sincere faith in God.  We are all rejoicing that Travis has decided to take over the reins of the budding athletic program here at Regents.  He will be a great asset to the school and a wonderful role model to our students.” 

After retiring in 2012 from the Covenant School where he served for 20 years as athletic director, Smethurst joined the Regents School staff as its founding Athletic Director and Director of Student Life.  Regents School opened its doors in August of 2010 with seven students and one teacher.  As of September 2014, enrollment has grown to 96 students and 18 full and part-time teachers.

Johnson and Smethurst formed a great friendship while coaching together at The Covenant School. “It is quite an honor to have the opportunity to continue what Doug started here at Regents,” said Johnson.  “I am excited about the future of Regents athletics and looking forward to developing our basketball, volleyball, wrestling and cross country teams and expanding our teams into wrestling, lacrosse, tennis, soccer and other sports in the near future.” 

“Classical Christian education has grown exponentially across the country over the past 20 years as evidenced by the increased number of classical Christian schools and substantial numbers of those who homeschool with a classical Christian curriculum,” said Courtney Palumbo, Head of School for Regents School of Charlottesville.  “We are thrilled that there are so many families in Charlottesville who have a high value for an education that is not only academically rigorous but also seeks to develop students into young men and women with hearts to serve the Lord. Athletics is an important component to an educational program, particularly as students approach the Logic School age (grades 7-8).  We are so grateful to Doug Smethurst for the leadership he has provided our school by spearheading our athletics department.  Travis Johnson is the perfect choice for leading our athletic program for the future. “

Regents School of Charlottesville is a K-11 classical Christian school located at 3045 Ivy Road in the Christian Aid Mission building.  Regents is founded upon and informed by a biblical worldview that equips our students to know, love, and practice that which is true, good, and excellent and challenges them to live purposefully and intelligently as servants of the Lord Jesus Christ for the benefit of man and the glory of God. We currently serve 96 students from Charlottesville and the surrounding counties.  For more information regarding our school, please refer to our website at www.regents-school.org.


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