Blatt replaces Roach as state schools superintendent
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CHARLESTON - The West Virginia Board of Education appointed from within a new state superintendent of Schools Friday after formally accepting the resignation of David Roach following questions about his handling of a financial scandal at Upshur County Schools.
After an executive session, the board appointed Deputy Superintendent of Schools Michele Blatt as the new superintendent effective July 1 at a salary of $230,000 in a unanimous vote.
“I’d like to thank our President (Paul) Hardesty and all of our state board members for their confidence in me and my abilities to lead our public education system,” Blatt said. “I look forward to leading the work that we have all started and progressed through over the last several years.”
Prior to selecting Blatt, the state board accepted Roach’s resignation effective June 30. Roach announced his resignation June 14 after a board meeting in which members placed the Upshur County school system into a state of emergency following revelations of misuse of COVID-19 dollars.
Blatt, who became a deputy superintendent of schools in 2020, began working for the Department of Education in 2007 and has more than 25 years of education experience as a teacher and principal. She has worked her way up in the department, joining as a leadership development coordinator and serving as executive director of the Office of School Improvement, chief accountability officer and assistant superintendent for the Division of Support and Accountability.