All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

Accomplishments of B-UMS art teacher Virginia Hicks and her students in the spotlight at Upshur BOE meeting

Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School student Allie Frye received an Upshur Star from Superintendent Dr. Sara Lewis Stankus for her outstanding artwork which was on display at the Upshur County Board of Education Central Office. Allie is pictured with B-UMS art instructor Virginia Hicks.

FRENCH CREEK – Upshur County Board of Education meetings always start with recognizing employees, students and community members for helping make Upshur County Schools strong, and Tuesday’s BOE meeting was no exception.

First, BOE members recognized the artists of the year and their instructor from Buckhannon-Upshur High School, Virginia Hicks. Student artists recognized include Lorena Diaz, Allie Frye and Wyatt Morris.

Hicks showed a painting created by Allie Frye which was of a pumpkin. She said the piece was created during a still life unit.

“The students learn to create contour lines, cross hatching, values and stippling,” Hicks said. “Then we go into a pastel project where we learned to blend and layer pastels to create different colors. The outline was created with glue, which is difficult to learn, but they did well. They also learned about the contrast between warm and cool colors.”

Superintendent of Upshur County Schools Dr. Sara Lewis Stankus then recognized Hicks and presented her with an Upshur Star.

“We are so proud of what you do for your students and all that you do,” Stankus said of Hicks. “It’s inspiring to see how you inspire young artists. They come to you as sixth-graders, and it’s great to see how they come to you and they leave as amazing artists.”

Upshur County Superintendent Dr. Sara Lewis Stankus presents Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School art teacher Virginia Hicks with an Upshur Star during Tuesday’s Upshur County BOE meeting at French Creek Elementary. Three of Hicks’s students were also recognized for their creations during the meeting.

Stankus recognized Erin Anderson, fifth-grade teacher from Tennerton Elementary School, who was selected as the West Virginia Teacher of the Year. Anderson will represent Upshur County and West Virginia in the National Teacher of the Year Contest.

Anderson thanked those gathered for recognizing her again for being named WV Teacher of the Year.

“Although the past two weeks have been somewhat of a blur, the past six months and this whole process of winning Teacher of the Year at Tennerton to winning WV Teacher of the Year two weeks ago have been a time of appreciation and reflection,” Anderson said. “I am sure in the next 15 months I will have time to dive even deeper into my teaching philosophy.”

Anderson said she is overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from the community.

“What I know today is that teachers need their students,” Anderson said. “I call it our teacher identity – it is who we are. When I am in front of a classroom full of kids, or half full of kids or staring at their heads on a Teams Meeting, I am more me in that moment than I am at any other time.”

She said that she is forever grateful for the honor of being named WV Teacher of the Year.

Erin Anderson, fifth-grade teacher at Tennerton Elementary School, is the 2021 WV Teacher of the Year. She is congratulated by Upshur County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Sara Lewis Stankus and members of the Upshur County Board of Education.

“What I know today is that awards and big checks and a new car does not define me. I am proud to be the 2021 WV Teacher of the Year and as I prepare to lead, I hope you will always see me as you see me today – vulnerable and hard-working, compassionate and authentic, covered in chalk dust with a rubber band bracelet – as real as it gets,” Anderson said. “What I know today is if you are patient and obedient, God will bless your socks off, too.”

Stankus said everyone is proud of Anderson and all she represents not only for Upshur County but for the State of West Virginia.

“We are working now on her national application,” Stankus said. “As she enters into that competition, she has the heart of our teachers and I want to congratulate and thank her again.”

The BOE also recognized the Schoology completers, including Amber Posey, Kimberly Gaunt, Christine Hull, Lauren Machamer, Jessica McQuain, Christine Robelo, Jennifer Sandberg, Amberly Stump and Sharon Walton.

French Creek Elementary School teacher Beth Johnston is recognized for earning her Apple certification during Tuesday’s Upshur County BOE meeting. Johnston and eight other FCES teachers each earned the Apple certifications.

Finally, Upshur County BOE members recognized teachers at French Creek Elementary School who earned their Apple certification. Those included Mandi Neely, Kimberly Gaunt, Amber Posey, Amberly Stump, Beth Johnston, Christine Robelo, Rena Zirkle and Jessica McQuain.

Share this story:

Local Businesses

RECENT Stories

Buckhannon Banter: Get the local lowdown for July 2, 2025

This week in Buckhannon, local organizations plan events and clinics — including a big July 4th celebration — and several community initiatives aim to engage residents of all ages.

Emergency agencies stress need for coordinated incident plans during large events with road closures

Emergency officials emphasized the need for incident action plans and coordination with public safety agencies for large events that close major streets, citing upcoming car shows and other street-closure events to ensure fast, safe emergency responses.
BUHS Sports

B-U now in Class AAAA in all sports; moved to new South Region after WVSSAC restructuring

Buckhannon-Upshur High School will compete in Class AAAA — the highest division — for all sports and has been moved to the new South Region under a two-year realignment by the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission.

Stockert Youth and Community Center Board Meeting Agenda: July 3, 2025

The Stockert Youth and Community Center Board will meet July 3, 2025, with an agenda set to discuss organizational matters and upcoming events.

Buckhannon Waste Board Agenda: July 3, 2025

The City of Buckhannon Waste Collection Board has released the agenda for its upcoming meeting on July 3, 2025.

Woman arrested on six felony charges after allegedly shooting at a man in Upshur County

Jocelyn M. Krum, 28, of Charleston, was arrested on six felony charges after allegedly entering a Mt. Lebanon Road residence in Upshur County with a rifle and shooting at a man before fleeing the scene.

Buckhannon man sentenced to 11 to 21 years for Bailey Ridge Road shootout

Austin W. Arbogast, 26, was sentenced to 11 to 21 years in prison after pleading guilty to four felony charges stemming from a March 2024 shootout on Bailey Ridge Road while attempting to retrieve his child.

Mountain East Conference extends invitation to Shawnee State University

The Mountain East Conference has approved Shawnee State University as its 12th full-time member, with the school set to join in 2026 pending NCAA Division II acceptance and expanding league competition in 19 sports.
Davis and Elkins College

Davis & Elkins College students recognized for high academic honors for Spring 2025 semester

Davis & Elkins College has announced the Spring 2025 president’s list, for students earning 4.0 GPAs, and dean’s list, for those earning 3.6 to 3.99, honoring academic excellence campus-wide.