Former McDowell Schools Superintendent George Cortellesi Dies at 77

George Michael Cortellesi, 77, of Tazewell, Virginia, and a native of War in McDowell County, died December 29, 2025, the family announced in an obituary published January 2, 2026. Cortellesi’s life spanned military service, advanced study, and an extended career in McDowell County Schools that included classroom teaching and senior district leadership.

Cortellesi attended McDowell County schools and graduated from Big Creek High School in 1966. He served with the 9th Infantry in Vietnam and was wounded during the Tet Offensive, a formative wartime event that affected many young veterans of his generation. After returning from service, he pursued higher education, earning a BS in Elementary Education from Bluefield State College and later obtaining multiple master’s degrees from West Virginia University.

His professional career remained rooted in McDowell County. Cortellesi began as a teacher and advanced to principal before taking on district-level responsibilities as Title IX supervisor, personnel director, and assistant superintendent. He ultimately served as superintendent of McDowell County Schools, a role that placed him at the center of hiring, policy implementation, and school administration for the county’s public schools.

Cortellesi’s progression from classroom teacher to superintendent meant he influenced multiple layers of the local education system: instructional practices in individual classrooms, building-level leadership, personnel decisions affecting teacher recruitment and retention, and districtwide policy oversight. For a community where schools are central to civic life, his stewardship shaped career paths for staff, academic experiences for students, and the institutional memory that guides district decision-making.

The obituary notes that funeral and visitation arrangements are being handled by Peery & St. Clair Funeral Home in Tazewell. Family and community members were invited to offer condolences and make memorial contributions as described in the published obituary.

As McDowell County reflects on Cortellesi’s death, his long tenure in public education underscores how local leaders with deep ties to the community contribute to stability and continuity in struggling rural districts. The loss of a superintendent who also served as a teacher and principal removes a source of on-the-ground experience that can be difficult to replace in districts balancing staffing needs, policy compliance, and educational outcomes.