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Wood County BOE recognizes students, staff

By Douglass Huxley 5 min read

PARKERSBURG -- The Wood County Board of Education held its regular meeting Tuesday night at the board offices on 13th Street.

The board held numerous recognitions for students and staff.

A group of Jackson Middle School students recently submitted a video they worked on with Simonton Windows for a Explore Student Video Contest. The group won first place for the most creative video and shared it with the board.

"I'm here to share our video which highlights manufacturing in West Virginia," Jackson student Evan McCleary said. "We decided to focus on the funny side because that's what we remember in ads. We are very proud of our video and we learned a lot from our project."

The board also recognized recent winners of the WV Science and Engineering and Social Studies Fair.

"I just want to say congratulations to the students recognized tonight," board member Judy Johnson said during board comments. "We're so proud that you represent Wood County Schools in your endeavors."

"I would like to express how great it is to see the students that are being recognized, and the fact that we do recognize them," board member Sarah Townsend said during board comments. "Because they really do a great job for our schools."

A full list of all the winners can be found on the online version of this story.

Superintendent Christie Willis talked about a group of maintenance employees who helped keep the roof on at Parkersburg South High School during some recent wind storms that passed through the area.

"It was a pretty dangerous situation and there were four people who were up there to make sure that roof was going to stay on and help that school to stay intact as much as possible," Willis said.

Greg Taylor, from TriState Roofing, Nicholas McPherson, Mike Radcliff and Martin Best from the maintenance department were all recognized as Wood County School Heroes. TriState Roofing was also recognized as a Wood County Schools Outstanding Supporter.

"It's good that they're a part of the community," board member Ron Tice said during board comments. "And they come to our need when we really, really have to have it."

Sarah Jacobs, director of clinical practice and data management for Marietta College, talked to the board about developing a deeper partnership between the two educators. Jacobs said when she moved to the area three years ago she moved into what she said felt like a "full community." She said she lives in Marietta, shops in Vienna, worships in Williamstown and attends cultural events in Parkersburg.

"I wanted the relationship between Marietta College and Wood County Schools to kind of represent that community that we have," Jacobs said. "A community that's not necessarily divided by a river, or state borders, but really represents the reality of what our community is. We work together often, and a lot."

Jacobs said Marietta College has a dual licensure program for students looking to teach K-9 that provides both general education and special education license for all of their graduates. She said they are starting two new programs that will expand that to potential high school and physical education teaches. She also said the college is starting a "Post Bacc" program that offers an affordable and timely option for recent college graduates and career-changers to pursue teaching licenses in high-need fields.

"We have nine scholarship opportunities available," Jacobs said. "Nine full-ride scholarships, that in one year, they can be a licensed teacher."

The board voted to approve a Memorandum of Understanding) with Marietta College during the consent agenda. The board also voted to approve the creation of two new jobs within the central offices. The Assistant Superintendent of Academics and Leadership position will take the place of the former job title of Assistant Superintendent of Teaching, Learning, and Accountability and the Assistant Superintendent of Operations position will fill the Assistant Superintendent of Support Services role.

During public delegations Fairplains Elementary Principal Julie Gibson talked about getting some more security cameras installed in the school and Betsy Smith talked to the board Tuesday night about not having seats at a recent track meet she attended at Williamstown Middle/High School and the uncomfortable seats in the Parkersburg South High School auditorium.

Willis said the next meeting of the Board of Education will take place at Blennerhassett Elementary School May 9 at 6 p.m. The meeting is open to the public and will be streamed online.

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Jackson Middle School Explore Student Video Contest winners:

Jenna Beane

Ella Collins

Julia Fairchild

Taylor Haught

Adalee Jones

Evan McCleary

Caydrian Miller

Chloe Mulligan

Regan Rauh

Audrey Singer

Chloe Thomas

Baylee White

Teachers: Cherish George and Ronald Talbott

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WV Science and Engineering Fair Winners

Quincy Jesser – Williamstown Elementary School – 1st Place, Division I, Animal Science

Gabe Floyd – Jackson Middle School – 1st Place, Division II, Behavioral and Social Sciences

Izzy Earley – Edison Middle School – 1st Place, Division II, Chemistry

Smit Babariya – Parkersburg High School – 1st Place, Division III, Systems Software

James Lewis – Parkersburg High School – 1st Place, Division III, Systems Software

Blake Riggs – Parkersburg High School – 1st Place, Division III, Systems Software

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WV Social Studies Fair Winners:

Michelle Sampson – Parkersburg South High School – 1st Place, Division III, Psychology

Chloe Robinson – Parkersburg South High School – 1st Place, Division III, Sociology

Lillian Farinash – Parkersburg High School – 1st Place, Division III, World History

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