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

Stankus looking forward to new role at the W.Va. Department of Education

Upshur County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Sara Lewis Stankus

CHARLESTON – Beginning Aug. 31, the West Virginia Department of Education will have a new deputy superintendent – Upshur County’s own Dr. Sara Lewis Stankus.

The Upshur County Schools superintendent was appointed to the position by new West Virginia State Superintendent of Schools David L. Roach, and she has accepted the position.

According to a West Virginia Department of Education press release issued Thursday, Stankus will join Deputy Michele Blatt as part of the Department’s executive leadership team.

“We are pleased to have Dr. Stankus join our efforts at the West Virginia Department of Education,” Roach said. “She is an esteemed educator with a heart for teaching, learning and children. She will be a great asset as we continue to focus on issues of student achievement and as we advance public education in our state.”

Roach, who previously served as executive director of the W.Va. School Building Authority, was appointed state superintendent of schools last Thursday, Aug. 11, in the wake of former superintendent Clayton W. Burch’s transfer to the post of superintendent of the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind.

According to the WVDE release, after receiving an undergraduate degree in elementary education and special education from West Virginia Wesleyan College, Stankus

earned master’s degree in counseling from Marshall University before completing her doctorate in educational leadership from West Virginia University.

Stankus has served as the county superintendent of schools since July 1, 2018, following more than 30 years of educational experience which includes being the principal of Union and Rock Cave Elementary Schools and a counselor at Buckhannon-Upshur High, Union Elementary and Hodgesville Elementary School. She began her teaching career at the former East Main Elementary School which is now the Stockert Youth & Community Center.

Growing up in Queen, Stankus attended a two-room school where she loved her teacher – the person whom she credits with instilling her first love of teaching and education.

Stankus said she’s very excited for the appointment, and her role will be to support Roach’s vision and goals, she told My Buckhannon during an interview this week.

“The Upshur County Board of Education has scheduled a special meeting on Friday at 10:30 a.m. to accept my resignation,” she said. “They will also discuss who will be the interim Upshur County Superintendent of Schools.”

The agenda for the Aug. 19 special meeting of the Upshur County Board of Education lists both the resignation of Stankus to accept the position of Deputy State Superintendent of Schools as well as an appointment of an interim Superintendent of Upshur County Schools pursuant to WV Code 18-4-1.

Share this story:

Local Businesses

RECENT Stories

Upshur County Commission partners with development authority, eyes $550k in grants for proposed rec hub

The Upshur County Commission partnered with the Development Authority and authorized applications for $550,000 in grants, as well as a joint property transfer, to support construction of the proposed John C. Allen Regional Hub recreation complex.

High Point Construction takes over lead in men’s golf league

High Point Construction took the top spot in the Buckhannon Country Club Bob Cupp Memorial Golf League after defeating Sam’s Pizza, while Highland Landscaping and Feola’s Flowers tied for second place.

Task force arrests three for selling Delta 8 to people under age 21, issues four additional warrants

After a year-long investigation, the Mountain Region Drug and Violent Crime Task Force arrested multiple individuals and issued warrants in Upshur County for allegedly selling Delta 8 THC products to individuals under 21.

ATV crash kills 65-year-old woman in Upshur County

Patricia L. Campbell, 65, of Ohio, died after being ejected from an ATV rollover crash in Upshur County on July 4; the investigation continues.

Willard Hampton Rice, Jr.

Willard Hampton Rice, Jr., 84, of Sandusky, a retired Ford Motor Company employee who enjoyed hunting and spending time with family, passed away July 3 and is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren.

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.