All new faculty and staff hires were instructed to attend Thursday and Friday’s New Employee Orientation at the Wood County Technical Center. (Photo by Matty Lamp)

PARKERSBURG — Thursday marked the start of the school year for faculty and staff at Wood County Schools as new hires attended their first day of orientation.

Wood County Schools New Employee Orientation was taking place Thursday and today at the Wood County Technical Center. All new Wood County Schools employees, including teachers, aides, custodians, and other staff were instructed to attend their required sessions.

There are 49 new staff members hired by Wood County Schools for the 2025-2026 school year.

Thursday morning’s schedule included a review of the official school calendar and contract dates, presentations of policies and resources available to staff and faculty, and information on payroll and insurance. After that, professional employees and service personnel were split up into their respective groups for additional training.

Today, new substitutes will attend their orientation at the Technical Center, and new teachers will receive information on curriculum and instruction materials at the Bailey Board Room in the Wood County Schools Board of Education building. Service personnel are also given the opportunity to shadow a current Wood County Schools employee in their profession.

Members of Education West Virginia-Wood Amelia Roederscheimer, Catricia Martin, Michelle Talbott and Ronnie Talbott hosted a table full of snacks and other goods for new hires at the Wood County Schools New Employee Orientation on Thursday. (Photo by Matty Lamp)

Ashlee Beatty, Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Wood County Schools, said the goal of the orientation is to kick off the start of the school year and establish the standards that Wood County Schools expects of its employees.

“We feel strongly about the work we do and the impact we have on the community and the kids in our community. We are setting the tone today that this is the most important job,” Beatty said. “Whether you’re driving them to school, making their lunch, or teaching them in the classrooms, every role is critical to our system functioning as a whole.”

Beatty said additions were added to the curriculum for Social Studies and Pre-K.

Dennis Craig previously worked in Wood County Schools and then worked for cyber charter schools around the state of West Virginia. He said he came back to teach as a business computer teacher at Parkersburg South High School because he wants to positively impact students in his own community.

“Yes, what I was doing was helping students around the state, but it’s just different when it’s your home,” Craig said. “I’m a product of Wood County Schools, and it just made sense to come back.

West Virginia Professional Educators provided a table with Dunkin’ Donut Munchkins and other goods at the Wood County Schools New Employee Orientation on Thursday. (Photo by Matty Lamp)

“No one joined education to get rich. We joined because we want to make a difference for kids. It’s being there in the classroom in person and seeing their excitement that makes everything worth it,” Craig said.

Rodrick Marks will be an instructor for the new Industrial Manufacturing program at Wood County Technical Center, where students can prepare for working at a manufacturing plant.

Marks recently retired from Chemours Washington Works, where he worked for 28 years, and said he wants to encourage Wood County students to learn about what it takes to operate a plant.

“The hiring pool has decreased over the years because we just haven’t had a lot of skill around the tasks associated with working in a manufacturing facility. So, I’m excited about bringing that experience to them,” Marks said.

Marks said he is also excited to give students a head start on learning about industrial manufacturing by giving them opportunities to shadow workers in different manufacturing jobs, such as maintenance workers, electricians, and engineers.

“I didn’t have that opportunity when I was hired on 28 years ago,” Marks said.

After the orientation sessions conclude, staff members will still participate in workshops and other professional development events until school starts. Wednesday, Aug. 20, will be the first day that Wood County Schools are open to students for the 2025-2026 school year.

More information about Wood County Schools faculty and staff can be found at woodcountyschoolswv.com/staff.

Matty Lamp can be reached at intern@newsandsentinel.com.