Anna Bryson
John McGinty and Leigh Dunavant (Henrico Citizen/ Anna Bryson)
The Godwin Commons at Mills E. Godwin High School have been renamed in honor of a beloved former principal, John McGinty.
The Henrico School Board voted Thursday to name the commons for McGinty, who was in attendance at the school board meeting.
“We want to make sure that persons have the opportunity to see and smell their flowers while they still can,” said School Board Chair Roscoe Cooper III. “Thank you for the tremendous sacrifice and service… to the Godwin community as well as Henrico County as a whole.”
McGinty served as the school’s first assistant principal from 1983 to 1991, and then principal from 1991 to 2003.
“He was just an amazing leader,” said Leigh Dunavant, the current principal of Godwin who attended the school as a student under McGinty.
McGinty is remembered as a principal for his dedication to his students. Many alumnus wrote letters of support of the name change that detailed their principal spending time in the commons area connecting with students.
“Knowing his kids, knowing about his families, and having a connection to everybody in the Godwin community,” Dunavant told the Citizen. “He really made a lasting impact on the school. It’s important that we recognize that.”
