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Oak Glen Middle receives grant

NEW CUMBERLAND — Oak Glen Middle School was designated an Innovation in Education school by the West Virginia Board of Education.

“I am thrilled for the students, teachers and administrators of Oak Glen Middle School upon the acceptance of their STEM venture, Project Open Road, as a WVDE Innovation in Education Grant award winner,” Hancock County Schools Superintendent Kathy Kidder-Wilkerson said. “This most worthy project will provide autonomy for our students to confidently take part in positively directing their future educational journey.”

The Innovation in Education program was created by the West Virginia legislature and backed by former Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin to encourage schools to implement innovational education priorities and improve student outcomes. Schools may apply to redesign instruction to become more flexible and increase engagement and achievement, if they demonstrate innovation in science, technology, engineering and math; community-school partnership; entrepreneurship; career pathways; and the arts.

“We received several outstanding applications requesting an Innovation in Education designation,” Clayton Burch, West Virginia Department of Education Chief Academic Officer and review committee member, said. “The seven schools receiving designations have proposed inventive ideas that encompass the goals of the Innovation in Education Act.”

More than 40 elementary, middle and high schools and career technical education center applied to the program and were assessed by a selection committee including West Virginia Board of Education members, West Virginia Department of Education members Governor’s Office representatives and Marshall University representatives. The committee also included county representatives, curriculum facilitators, educators and administrators.

“We are very excited to begin the implementation of our grant,” Ginger Greene, Oak Glen Middle principal, said.

“Utilizing real-world projects and collaboration with local professionals, our students will learn the skills necessary to be successful in a highly competitive workplace.”

Schools receiving the Innovation in Education designation will receive more than $1.6 million in special funding.

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