Editor’s note: The following is a guest column written by newly appointed Upshur County Superintendent Christy Miller.

This evening I would like to take this opportunity to share with all present a little about myself and how moving forward we will operate and rise above the designation of being a state takeover county.

I was born in Cumberland, Maryland and just about the time I was turning 3 moved to Fairmont where my dad was taking a job as assistant registrar at Fairmont State College. He remained in that position while returning to school to obtain his doctorate from WVU, providing an opportunity to become a professor in the education department training those who were becoming educators. He remained at Fairmont State until his retirement in 1997.

My mother, also an educator later in her life, provided a stable home life for my 2 brothers and me. She went on to a 25-year career, ultimately being named WV Teacher of the Year in 1983. I was the only one of the three that chose education as my career. I graduated in December of 1984 from Fairmont State going on to serve school systems in Fairfax County Virginia, Wood, Marion and Taylor counties in West Virginia. I have been a classroom teacher, teacher of the gifted, school administrator, executive director and the last five years as superintendent in Taylor County.

I also learned from my parents and faith leaders the importance of giving back. Together with my parents, we served as leaders of the 2014 United Way Campaign, volunteered at many events throughout the county, raised funds for many organizations, and served where there was a need. Today I still serve with the United Way and as a member of the Board of Governors at Pierpont Community and Technical College.

My immediate family is a wonderful blend of 3 girls and 2 boys spread throughout this great country forging their path in engineering, law enforcement, law, pharmaceuticals, and in service with our Veterans in the WV Veterans Nursing Home. I am a grandmother of five with another on the way in October, and a great-grandmother of 3. My husband is a retired West Virginia State Trooper who has been and continues to be my greatest cheerleader and supporter. I am truly blessed.

This brings me to a new day in Upshur County Schools. I sent an email out to all employees last Friday and shared with them that I look at what lies ahead like the planting of a seed, cultivating it with fertilizer, water and sun ultimately seeing the fruits of our labor in a strong, vital plant that can withstand any storm that comes our way.

We will have to embrace change and sometimes navigate rough waters in decisions that we may all not agree with but will see why they were made as we grow into the strong educational system that is here for our kids. Sharing this with you, I also will ask for blessings, grace and patience as we learn how to improve a system that has employees ready to meet the challenges before us today so we can have a stronger system that sends students prepared into the world for post-secondary studies, work, the military or trade school.

You may still have questions; that is to be expected. I still have many, and some with no answers today. The one thing I can assure you of this evening is we will work diligently every day to find answers and build a system that everyone in Upshur County can be proud of and want to become a part of, while following policy. While the board operates differently now, in the future, we will see a stronger united front that truly has students’ best interests guiding the decisions made for today but also for tomorrow following policy.

~Upshur County Superintendent of Schools Christy Miller