Highland County Hires New Schools Superintendent, Ending A 40-Day Search
Forty days after Highland County school officials suddenly learned their superintendent was resigning, school board members have found a successor.
On Aug. 4th, the three-member Highland County School Board voted unanimously to hire Dr. James “Nick” Nycum, the Executive Director of Transportation for Augusta County Schools.
Board Chairman Jason Wilfong said Nycum, who was not in attendance, is scheduled to start on Aug. 21st and will attend the next school board meeting.
“We’re excited to have him,” Wilfong said after the vote. “I think he’s going to make some good improvements and give us good leadership.”
Nycum will replace former Highland Schools Superintendent Dr. Drew Maerz, who resigned June 26th just four days before he was to renew his contract. Maerz has said he needed to return to retirement to help care for his mother.
Board members said Nycum was one of three applicants who sought the position.
“Every candidate was impressive and was absolutely worthy of our consideration,” said Board Vice Chair Sherry Sullenberger.
Board Member Kenny Hodges noted that Nycum came “highly recommended” by the Augusta County Schools superintendent. “He’s very impressive,” Hodges added.
While Nycum owns property in Highland County, he will commute from his home near Buffalo Gap to lead the state’s smallest school system.
According to Nycum’s resume, he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from Bridgwater College in 2005, a master’s degree in education from Shenandoah University in 2008 and a doctorate in education from Virginia Tech in 2022.
Before becoming Augusta County Schools’ Executive Director of Transportation in 2023, Nycum served as principal at Stuarts Draft High School for eight years and principal at Craigsville Elementary School for three years.
After Nycum’s hire was announced, Wilfong said eight other hires, including a third-grade teacher, a music teacher, a special education teacher and five substitute teachers, have been finalized. While all the new hires have Bachelor degrees, none are licensed by the state to teach but have pledged to obtain state certification within the next three years, he added.
“We’re just not getting licensed teachers to apply,” Wilfong said, explaining that, once again, the county will have to utilize a “grow-your-own” program to fill teacher vacancies with teachers who eventually will be certified by the state.
“We’re going to invest in these people,” Wilfong continued, explaining the county school system will help fund on-line certification courses that must be completed by the newly-hired teachers.
After the hearing, Sullenberger acknowledged parents have expressed concern in the past over their children being taught by unlicensed teachers. But she defended the hiring of teachers who pledge to become certified.
“How many teachers who now are certified in Highland County Public Schools started this very same way?” Sullenberger said, suggesting reporters survey the current teaching staff. “You’re going to find 80 percent started this way.”
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