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Charleston, W.Va. — State Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt announced the selection of the inaugural Super STARS (Students Taking Action for Readiness and Success) Council during the August meeting of the West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE). This new statewide student advisory group is designed to elevate student voice among education leaders and strengthen engagement in public education across West Virginia.
The council, comprised of 15 students in Grades 6-12, represents regions throughout the state. Students were selected through a competitive process that included an application, administrator recommendation and video submission addressing key issues facing West Virginia schools.
“We must take student involvement seriously, and not only listen to them, but also address their concerns and recommendations. This will lead to stronger student engagement and will strengthen our system as a whole,” Blatt said.
The inaugural Super STARS Council members are:
- Amber Arora, Cabell Midland High School, Cabell County
- Rhaina Botticher, Berkeley Springs High School, Morgan County
- Alexander Dennison, Braxton County High School, Braxton County
- Hannelore Devine, North Marion High School, Marion County
- Natalie Grace Farmer, Pikeview Middle School, Mercer County
- Juliann Gallaher, Clay County High School, Clay County
- Jake Gregg, Spring Valley High School, Wayne County
- Anthony Hall, Cameron High School, Marshall County
- Ross Pownell, Pendleton County Middle High School, Pendleton County
- Lilliana Robinson, Capital High School, Kanawha County
- Naim Smith, Keyser High School, Mineral County
- Logan West, Tyler Consolidated Middle School, Tyler County
- Kailyn Williams, Richwood High School, Nicholas County
- Hydee Wykle, Greenbrier East High School, Greenbrier County
- Angela Yao, Morgantown High School, Monongalia County
“I am grateful that so many students submitted applications and for those who will serve in this charge. They are providing a unique service to me, my team and the education community,” Blatt said.
Council members will participate in four meetings during the 2026-2027 school year, and Blatt will host regional education meetings throughout the year.
For more information about the Super STARS Council, visit the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) website.
County schools interventions
Wyoming County Schools
The WVDE conducted a Special Circumstance Review of Wyoming County Schools (WCS) in June 2026 to assess compliance with laws and policies, investigate concerns and verify the accuracy of reported data and procedures. The review included interviews, document analysis and data review across governance, leadership, personnel, finance and operational areas.
The review found issues related to county board governance, transparency, meeting management and public confidence. Challenges with central office leadership included interference with the WVDE’s investigation and a lack of prioritization of academics over facilities. Further concerns included expenditures, staffing sustainability and limited oversight over purchasing processes.
In response to the WCS review, the WVBE declared a state of emergency in the county and directed the county board to submit a corrective action plan within the next 30 days. The county board is also required to attend additional training to address findings and areas of concern. The WCS Board of Education and county leadership will attend the WVBE’s December meeting to provide updates.
Marion County Schools
The WVDE received reports of controversy surrounding Marion County Schools (MCS) and Marion County Board of Education earlier this year. The WVDE Office of Accountability conducted interviews of county personnel and board members, which resulted in a number of findings. MCS submitted a corrective action plan; however, recent activities prompted the WVBE to add a discussion item to the August agenda.
The WVBE directed Blatt to assign a liaison to work with the county and ensure a recently approved corrective action plan is implemented to best serve students.
Logan County Schools
The State Board also received an update from Logan County Schools (LCS). The WVBE voted to return control of federal programs back to the county. Previously, the State Board returned control of local board policy-making authority to the county; however, other areas will remain under state control. LCS reported that it will start the school year with a full slate of math-certified teachers, and it reported more stability among key areas, including county finances and personnel.
County reviews and interventions are posted on the WVBE meeting page, and reports are available on the WVDE’s Special Circumstance Review page.
Due to changes in the 2026-2027 WVBE meeting schedule, the next meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, October 14, 2026, in Building 6, Suite 600, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East, Charleston.
Documents presented during the August meeting are available on the WVBE August meeting webpage.
