Wood County Schools Superintendent Christie Willis, right, presents Whitney Dobson, left, with a certificate naming her Wood County Schools’ 2024 Teacher of the Year. Dobson will represent Wood County in the West Virginia Teacher of the Year competition in September. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

PARKERSBURG — The Wood County Board of Education held their regular meeting Tuesday night at the Wood County Schools Central Office at the corner of Plum and 13th streets in Parkersburg.

The meeting opened with a performance by the WVMEA (West Virginia Music Educators Association) All-State Children’s Chorus, which consisted of students from Criss, Lubeck, Madison and Neale Elementary. A full list of students’ and teachers’ names can be found in the online version of The Marietta Times.

“It means a lot. You just don’t know what it means to a child when you take the time to recognize them,” Board member Ron Tice said during board comments. “It kind of chokes me up, I taught for 30 years, and I tell you, just a little pat on the back goes a long way. I’m glad we are taking the time to do that. It means so much.”

The board then recognized a newly National Board Certified teacher and others who have completed the National Board’s Maintenance of Certification, which allows current National Board Certified Teachers to extend their certificate for five years from their current certificate’s expiration date. A full list of these names can also be found in the online version of the Times. The Chamber of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley sponsored the awards the teachers received. Lynn Reins, chief executive officer for the Boys and Girls Club and member of the chamber, was on hand to give the awards to the teachers.

“Our National Board Certified Teachers are truly among the top educators here in Wood County,” Board President Justin Raber said. “Congratulations to our new National Board Certified teacher as well as those that have maintained. That’s a huge feat. That’s not an easy task.”

Parent Misti Sims and Wood County Schools Superintendent Christie Willis present Amy Ramsburg, center, teacher at Parkersburg High School, as one of Wood County Schools’ Impactful Educators. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

“The lady that started the National Board Certification program in the county is Dr. Freda Owen, and is with us tonight,” Board member Judy Johnson said. “Congratulations, it’s so wonderful, and I hope you have many happy years.”

Michael Erb, coordinator of communications, announced Whitney Dobson as Wood County Schools’ Teacher of the Year.

Dobson is a pre-kindergarten teacher at Blennerhassett Elementary School and has nearly 15 years of teaching experience. Dobson has a bachelor’s in Child Development and Family Studies/Pre-Kindergarten Education from West Virginia University and is a National Board Certified teacher. Dobson will go on to the West Virginia Teacher of the Year competition in September.

Dobson said Willis was her student teacher in 6th grade and when she came back to Wood County to apply for a teaching job, Willis and Johnson interviewed her.

“It was pretty tough, but I made it through,” Dobson said. “Thank you guys for believing in me and hiring me.”

The WVMEA (West Virginia Music Educators Association) All-State Children’s Chorus was recognized by the board Tuesday night. From left: Criss Elementary teacher Anna Carpenter, Rachel Brady, Allie Tamm, Sadie Geary, Lubeck teacher Adina Bibbee, back, Braden Whitlach, Sophia McVay, Owen Hayek, Lily Longoria, Lea Tanner, Neale Elementary teacher Danielle Taylor, back, and Karli Johnson. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

The board also recognized Sara Klesel, Parkersburg South High School math teacher, and Amy Ramsburg, teacher at Parkersburg High School, as Wood County School’s Impactful Educators.

Klesel has been a Mountaineer Mathematics Masters Teacher (M3T) fellow for two years and recently presented at the West Virginia Council of Teachers in Mathematics.

“She’s not only impacting the teachers in Wood County, and helping students, she’s impacting them across the state of West Virginia,” Willis said. “That’s to be commended. So, thank you, Sara.”

Ramsburg has championed for policy on behalf of students with dyslexia and as collaborated with the West Virginia Department of Education and West Virginia legislators to assist in creating policy that has a component for dyslexia screening in elementary grades.

Misti Sims, a Wood County parent, said her son was diagnosed with dyslexia two years ago. She said when Ramsburg found out her son had dyslexia he was reading at a kindergarten level in 2nd grade.

Teachers who completed the National Board’s Maintenance of Certification, or became certified, were recognized by the board of education Tuesday night. From left: Janette Walker, Lisa Smith, Diana Mundorff, Joanna Mulligan, Linda Hindman, Kelly Hendrickson, Whitney Gesell, Tracy Fauber and Heather King. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

“Because he has gotten the help that he needs, and now every child in West Virginia from Kindergarten to 3rd grade is going to be screened, it is going to change their life,” Sims said. “I’m proud to say because he got his help, and everyone else will get their help, he is now in 4th grade and reading at a high 3rd grade level in the past year and a half. Amy, thank you on behalf of myself, (my son), my entire family, and every child that is going to have their life changed because of you.”

A presentation on new world language text books Spanish 1-4, “Que Chevere” from Carnegie Learning, and French 1 – 3 “Entrecultures” by Wayside Publishing. The board later approved the adoption and purchase of the textbooks during the consent agenda.

The board heard a presentation from Tom Pearcy, of Bowles Rice, on the Supplemental Bond Authorizing Resolution. On March 23 the board received a letter from Andy Neptune, executive director of the School Building Authority of West Virginia, notifying them the School Building Authority approved the board’s letter of commitment for the Wood County Board of Education’s construction of three new elementary schools in the amount of $21,000,000.

The resolution will amend, modify and supplement the Prior Resolution and all Exhibits to reflect an issuance date of the Bonds in calendar year 2023 but the letter advised this does not prelude the process the board is still required to take in submitting their request for 2024 NEEDs funding for actual funding commitment. The board voted to approve the resolution during the consent agenda.

“Not as exciting as teacher of the year ceremony or school choir, but still very good news,” Pearcy said.

Wood County Schools Superintendent Christie Willis presents Sara Klesel, math teacher at Parkersburg South High School, as one of Wood County Schools’ Impactful Educators. Klesel has been a Mountaineer Mathematics Masters Teacher (M3T) fellow for two years and recently presented at the West Virginia Council of Teachers in Mathematics. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

Jason Potts, director of curriculum and instruction, gave a presentation about WVU-P’s proposed plan to have theatre as a dual credit class at PHS and West Virginia University has agreed for PHS teacher Sam Vincent’s classes Sports in American Culture and the Olympics to be eligible for dual credit. Potts also gave a presentation for a plan to move STEAM from the Caperton Center to Blennerhassett, Jackson and Williamstown Middle Schools for the 2023-2024 school year. The board later approved Student Success Interventionist for those middle schools during the consent agenda.

“We’re growing, we’re expanding, and adapting as student needs change,” Potts said.

Potts said future plans include trying to get students access to associate degrees.

“We’re really excited about the area of growth from going to a few classes four years ago to the opportunity we have at Parkersburg High School with maybe 42 credits you could earn by the time you left the building,” Potts said. “Which I think is fantastic.”

Jason Hughes, director of the Wood County Technical Center, gave the board an update on the Embedded Credit program.

“I’ve been kind of using the term, when we recruit students, that we’re offering values-added education,” Hughes said.

Hughes said as students are working on their programs there are embedded academics in English and math. He said the school has a teacher for both and contextualizing English and math into the programs the students are taking.

“It really brings those academic pieces alive,” Hughes said. “The benefit to students is they are able to fit more courses and programs into their schedule.”

Justin Hartshorn, director of elementary education, proposed to use accrued time on Tuesday, May 30 so students do not have to report to school and their last day would be May 26. Hartshorn said there was one snow day this school year and that accrued time can be utilized so that students do not have to report for one day after Memorial Day weekend. The board approved this during the consent agenda.

During the consent agenda the board approved a number of personnel matters and financial transactions. The board approved increasing the previously approved Sorenson Communications purchase order by $90,000 to provide a contractual licensed sign language interpreter services for the 2022-2023 fiscal year to meet the needs of students bringing the total cost to $410,000.

The board also approved to extend TSS contracts up to 30 days for collection and preparation of iPads for the next school year and for professional development, Apptegy, and preparation for the 2023-2024 school year.

The board approved a change order #2 for Advanced Communications Company in the amount of $20,150 for phones at Neale Elementary bringing the total to $222,264.00 and to Matheny Motor Truck Co for 2 one-ton trucks with/plows in the amount of $5,475.00 bringing the total cost to $123,862.

The board also approved an emergency purchase order issuance to Tri-State Roofing & Sheet Metal Company for the PSHS 1000 Building Roof that was damaged during a storm on March 31 at a total cost of $276,000 which includes temporary securement of membrane and complete replacement.

The board voted 4-1, with Tice dissenting, to approve Justin Bosley as the new Director of Finance and Treasurer effective April 12. The board also approved consulting assistance from Tyler County Finance Director Jeff Davis and former Finance Director Whitni Kines for assistance with treasurer responsibilities and former Purchasing Director Amy Nahley for assistance with purchasing responsibilities.

Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com

WVMEA (West Virginia Music Educators Association) All State Children’s Chorus

Rachel Brady- Criss Elementary

Edie Klemick – Criss Elementary

Allie Tamm- Criss Elementary

Teacher- Anna Carpenter

Sadie Geary- Lubeck Elementary

Anna Kaufman- Lubeck Elementary

Connor Wenmoth- Lubeck Elementary

Braden Whitlatch- Lubeck Elementary

Teacher: Adina Bibbee

Sophia McVay- Madison Elementary

Khloe Porter- Madison Elementary

Natalie Salizzoni- Madison Elementary

Teacher: Anna Carpenter

Owen Hayek- Neale Elementary

Lily Longoria- Neale Elementary

Lea Tanner- Neale Elementary

Karli Johnson- Neale Elementary

Teacher: Danielle Taylor

National Board Certified Teacher Recognition

Newly Certified:

Heather King, NBCT

Literacy: Reading-Language Arts, Early & Middle Childhood

Maintenance of Certification:

Tracy Fauber, NBCT- World Languages, Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood

Whitney Gesell, NBCT- English Language Arts, Adolescence and Young Adulthood

Kelly Hendrickson, NBCT- World Languages, Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood

Linda Hindman, NBCT- English Language Arts, Early Adolescence

Joanna Mulligan, NBCT- Literacy: Reading-Language Arts, Early and Middle Childhood

Diana Mundorff, NBCT- Generalist, Middle Childhood

Sarah Robinson, NBCT- English Language Arts, Early Adolescence

Lisa Smith, NBCT- Generalist, Middle Childhood

Janette Walker, NBCT- Generalist, Early Childhood