Davis Loses Fight To Keep Her Job At PCHS
Marlinton, WV – Billie Davis did her best, but in the end was unable to persuade the Pocahontas County Board of Education to allow her to keep her job as the Agricultural teacher at the high school. She presented her case to the board Monday night.
Greg Bailey, attorney for the board, questioned PCHS Principal Tom Sanders about Davis’ performance as a teacher. Sanders says that an evaluation of Davis in March of 2009, showed several areas that needed improvement. He testified that her lesson plans were incomplete, she was not posting information on a parent-student website, and there were safety lapses in her shop classes.
Enlisting the help of former Agriculture teacher Joe Riley, now Principal at Marlinton Middle School, and business teacher Cammy Kesterson, Davis was formally put on an improvement plan. But despite repeated observations and evaluations, Sanders says Davis did not improve to the required level.
During the three hour plus non-renewal hearing, the board also heard testimony from Riley, Davis, former student Stacy McPaters, and present student Sarah Shears. Davis’ attorney William Turner tried to assert that Sanders was prejudiced against Davis because of her out of wedlock pregnancy. But that argument and others presented by Turner and Davis were not enough to sway all the board members. In the end, the board voted 3 to 2 to remove Davis from the rehire list. Board members Ruth Taylor, Tom VanReenan and Board president Kenny Vance voted for the removal. Board members Leslie Cain and Margaret Worth were opposed.