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Klesel named Wood County Schools Teacher of the Year

BOE recognizes National Board Certified educators

By Tyler Bennett 3 min read

PARKERSBURG -- The Wood County Board of Education announced the district's 2022 Teacher of the Year, recognized new and renewed National Board Certified teachers and received an update on the Wood County Technical Center's cosmetology program during a board meeting on Tuesday night.

Parkersburg South High School's Sara Klesel was named the 2022 Teacher of the Year. Klesel has been a mathematics teacher at South for the past 10 years, with 15 years of teaching experience in total.

"This is quite an honor, especially in a year when every teacher has truly gone above and beyond. I couldn't do it without my family, who's been super supportive this past year," Klesel said. "Helping out when I've been losing my mind. The administration has been truly supportive and even National Board Certified teachers who I've met throughout this year (have) been a lifeline."

Wood County Schools received more than 300 online nominations over a two-week period, narrowing to six teachers that were interviewed by a committee of educators, community members and former Teachers of the Year.

Klesel will have the opportunity to compete with teachers from around the state for West Virginia Teacher of the Year.

The board recognized three teachers receiving their National Board Certification, from a voluntary assessment program designed to develop, retain and recognize accomplished teachers and embed ongoing improvement in schools nationwide. While state teacher credentialing programs set the basic requirements to teach in each state, National Board Certified teachers must demonstrate advanced teaching knowledge, skills and practices.

The newly certified teachers are Marley Jolly (middle childhood generalist, Neale Elementary), Jennifer Tennant (early childhood generalist, Mineral Wells Elementary) and Christine Walker (exceptional needs specialist, early childhood through young adult, Parkersburg High School).

Teachers that had their certification renewed were Jimmy Stewart (middle childhood generalist, technology integration specialist, Curriculum and Instruction Department), Mary Blaker (English language Arts, adolescence and young adulthood, Parkersburg High School) and Corinne Full (English language arts, adolescence and young adulthood, Parkersburg High School).

Lisa Smith, facilitator of the Wood County National Board Cohort, said teachers who pursue and achieve the title of National Board Certified teacher choose to engage in a rigorous process that takes one to five years to complete. The components are content knowledge, differentiated instruction, teaching practice and learning environment and effective and reflective practitioner. Candidates on average engage put 200 to 400 hours into the certification process.

Wood County ranks second in West Virginia with 108 teachers who have achieved certification and six currently pursuing.

Also during the meeting, West Virginia University at Parkersburg President Chris Gilmer affirmed the college's commitment to a partnership allowing high school students to participate in the college's cosmetology program. While some details still need to be worked out, he hopes to have the program ready by the fall of 2022.

The program will not only teach students a trade, but supply them with an associate's degree, entrepreneurial skills and business management skills, Gilmer said.

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