NEW CUMBERLAND - Innovation is sprouting in Hancock County, and the appearance of the assistant principals from two county schools at Monday's board of education meeting proves it.
Weir Middle School Assistant Principal Joe Paolo and Oak Glen High School Assistant Principal Jeffrey Woofter paid a visit to the board to share the results of their participation in the Education Alliance Student Educational and Economic Success program.
In Charleston on Friday, Gov. Joe Manchin III and First Lady Gayle Manchin announced the five newest schools to be included in the SEEDS program. Weir Middle School and Oak Glen High School were included in that announcement.
To be a part of the SEEDS program, new principals must graduate in the top 25 percent of the New Principals Leadership Academy. Of that 25 percent, five principals and their schools are chosen to participate.
After their schools were selected, Paolo and Woofter were assigned a business mentor and a small group of academic coaches, who assisted them in the six-month program. Their task was to write a business plan to start a program or practice within their school designed to improve student achievement and school management.
WMS and OGHS will each receive $25,000 per year for two years to support the business plan. After the two-year period has ended, one of the five schools chosen will be selected as an outstanding SEEDS school and the principal who participated in the program for the outstanding school will receive a $4,000 personal incentive.
"When you only have five schools in the state (named for the program), and Hancock County has two of those schools, that's something to be proud of," School Superintendent Suzan Smith said.
Woofter stated his plan asked the state department of education to "leave us alone," so that the staff and faculty could have time to implement some of their own ideas, rather than focusing on the many state-implemented educational initiative programs that are frequently introduced to West Virginia schools.
"The consultants really liked that, they liked the fact that we wanted to be left alone, to work with our staff and faculty," Woofter said.
Woofter explained that his business plan was created as part of the program's encouragement to "think outside the box."
Paolo's plan differed slightly from Woofter's in that Paolo chose to focus on what can be done after the school day is over.
"As Mr. Neely said, you have to think inside the box; there are only so many hours in the school day," Paolo said, citing Assistant Superintendent Wayne Neely.
Paolo requested the implementation of an evening Internet program which would allow teachers to offer homework help to students, similar to some home schooling systems.
"They were looking for innovative ideas as part of the grant writing," Paolo said. "It was just an opportunity to look at different ways to provide help for the students outside of the school day."
(Matsick can be contacted at jmatsick@reviewonline.com)
