Pocahontas BOE Narrows Superintendent List To Five Candidates

Marlinton, WV – The Pocahontas County Board of Education narrowed the list of finalists for the Superintendent position during a work session Monday night prior to the regular board meeting. Starting with 10 applications, they pared the list down to five candidates. The public will have a chance to hear from them during a forum at Pocahontas County High School on April 15th.

Dr. Howard O’Cull, Executive Director of the West Virginia School Board Association, will conduct the public forum interviews. The Pocahontas County Board of Education will also interview the candidates that night, but in private.

Two of the candidates are already familiar with Pocahontas County schools. Ruth Bland is Principal of Green Bank Elementary Middle School, a position she’s held for about 7 years according to current school Superintendent Dr. Patrick Law.

CC Lester, a retired educator, was the Principal of Marlinton Middle School for 2 years, prior to the county offering the job to Joe Riley. Lester was very highly thought of by the staff of MMS.

The other three candidates are from outside Pocahontas County. George L Aulenbacher is currently the Principal of Stonewall Jackson Middle School in Charleston, WV. He’s also the recipient of a 2007 Milken Family Foundation award, a prestigious honor given annually to outstanding elementary and secondary educators.

Tab J. Mathis is the Principal of Tolsia High School in Fort Gay, WV in Wayne County. He’s also a member of the Principals Leadership Academy, a professional training group within the West Virginia Center for Professional Development.

Chris A Perkins, from Fayetteville, WV is the Superintendent of Schools for Fayette County. He’s also the Safe and Drug Free School coordinator for Fayette County schools.

The public forum to hear from the Superintendent finalists is Thursday, April 15th at 6pm at Pocahontas County High School.

In other business, the board also heard from some of the county winners in the Young Writers Contest. Marlinton Elementary School teacher Jamey Weber, coordinator of the county program for 20 years, introduced the winners in attendance, who read their entries. They are first-second grade winner Abram Leyzorek, third-fourth grade winner Michela Williams, and seventh-eighth grade winner Miranda McMillion.

Other county winners not present at the meeting are Kaitlyn Barnes, the fifth-sixth grade winner and Clayton Irvine, representing the high school. All the winners received a $25.00 check from the Pocahontas County Reading Council, an Academic Excellence Ribbon and a plaque honoring their achievement from the Board of Education.