Since 2014, this lifelong educator has applied her knowledge from a nearly 38-year career with our local education system to guide her decisions as a member of the Board of Education for Richmond County Schools. A 1966 graduate of the former Rockingham High School, Bobbie Sue Ormsby is devout advocate for public education and Richmond County.
In 1976, she graduated from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke with the highest academic honor, summa cum laude, with a bachelor’s of science in early childhood education. Upon graduating, she accepted a position at L.J. Bell Elementary as a second-grade teacher.
Ten years later, she added another educational accomplishment to her resume when she graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte — where she also earned an add-on certificate to become a reading specialist — in 1986 with a master’s degree in school administration. After 12 years in the classroom as a teacher, Ormsby put her new credentials to use and transitioned to administration as the assistant principal at L.J. Bell in 1989. She was promoted to principal of the school in 1998, where she remained until her retirement in 2013 after 37 and a half years in Richmond County Schools.
In addition to serving as the vice chair of the Board of Education, Ormsby serves as a director on the boards for the Richmond County Partnership for Children and the Richmond Community College Foundation. Honoring her impact on education, fellow educator Sandy Bryant established the Bobbie Sue Ormsby Scholarship at RCC in 2016.
Ormsby is well known in Richmond County and supports countless initiatives in the community. She is the familiar supportive face at awards, ceremonies, community functions, fundraisers, graduations, school programs, sports, and every event in between in Richmond County.
When she isn’t busy attending an event, supporting a cause, or fulfilling her board duties, she enjoys playing bridge and tennis with her friends and walking. Additionally, Ormsby is an active member of First Baptist Church in Rockingham.
Other less-known facts about Ormsby, she started working in downtown Rockingham at Bobby’s Ltd at 14 years old, and she was a cheerleader at Rockingham High School.
Join us today in celebrating the continued commitment of this leading lady for her lifelong dedication to the public education system in Richmond County.
Meghann Lambeth is executive director of the Richmond County Tourism Development Authority. Republished from visitrichmondcounty.com. Throughout March, Visit Richmond County will feature a local leading lady in honor of Women’s History Month.
