It is truly an honor to stand before you and reflect on the progress, accomplishments, and continued growth of Doddridge County Schools.
Over the past year, we have embraced a clear purpose—one grounded in our mission: United to Make a Difference. This year, we brought that mission to life through our theme, Mission in Motion. These are not simply words on a banner or a slogan attached to a school year. They represent the collective effort of students, staff, families, and community members working together every single day to move our district forward.
While I officially returned to Doddridge County Schools as Interim Superintendent in May of 2025 before beginning my contract on July 1, this district has been part of my life and heart for many years. Having previously served as superintendent from 2016 through 2024, I have had the privilege of watching this district grow, overcome challenges, celebrate successes, and continually put students first.
Because of that history, returning to Doddridge County Schools was never simply about stepping back into a position—it was about returning to a community and a school system I deeply care about and believe in wholeheartedly.
Over the years, I have witnessed firsthand the resilience, dedication, and pride that define Doddridge County Schools. I have seen staff members consistently go above and beyond for students, often without recognition and often long after the school day has ended. I have seen teachers pour their hearts into instruction, service personnel create welcoming and safe environments, counselors support students through difficult moments, and administrators work tirelessly to ensure our schools continue moving forward.
That belief in our students, our staff, and our future is what continues to drive the work we do each day.
What makes Doddridge County Schools special is not one moment, one accomplishment, or one program. It is the people. It is the culture we continue to build together—a culture where students are encouraged to achieve, staff members are valued and supported, and the entire community rallies behind its schools.
You can see it in our classrooms.
You can feel it on our campuses.
You can hear it in our gymnasiums, auditoriums, cafeterias, buses, and athletic facilities.
Most importantly, you can see it reflected in the relationships our staff members build with students every single day.
Every success we celebrate tonight begins with the dedication of the individuals who serve our students each day. From our administrators, teachers, counselors, nurses, and Holistic Child Department, to our service personnel—including aides, secretaries, custodians, cooks, maintenance staff, mechanics, bus operators, and support staff—each of you plays a vital role, and your work matters more than words can fully express.
Our staff members do far more than fulfill job responsibilities. They encourage students who need confidence, support families during difficult times, create opportunities for growth, and provide stability, consistency, and compassion that often extends far beyond the classroom walls.
It is the cooks who know every child by name and make sure no student starts the day hungry.
It is the bus operators and mechanics who safely begin and end each student’s day with care, reliability, and consistency.
It is the custodians and maintenance staff who take pride in creating safe, welcoming environments where students can learn and grow.
It is the nurses who provide comfort, care, and reassurance to students throughout the school day.
It is the aides who quietly support students behind the scenes, often without recognition.
It is the secretaries who help keep our schools running smoothly and hold everything together.
It is the counselors and members of our Holistic Child Department who walk alongside students as they navigate challenges and celebrate successes.
It is the teachers who refuse to give up on a child and continue to believe in their potential.
And it is the administrators who lead with dedication and step in each day to ensure our schools continue moving forward successfully.
Those moments may not always appear in reports or headlines, but they are the moments that define a school system.
They shape experiences.
They build trust.
And they change lives.
Because of our staff, students in Doddridge County Schools are achieving at exceptional levels academically, athletically, and personally.
One of the clearest examples of that progress can be seen in our academic growth data. After previously seeing overall decreases in grades 3rd –8th GSA performance from 2023–24 to 2024–25, preliminary reviews of the 2025–26 raw data show significant improvement across all tested subject areas.
Our district set a goal of achieving an overall 3% improvement in GSA scores, and I am proud to say that goal was met. Preliminary results show English Language Arts increasing by 6%, Mathematics increasing by 2%, and Science increasing by 9%. While official scores remain embargoed, these early indicators reflect tremendous growth and are a testament to the hard work of our students, teachers, administrators, interventionists, support staff, and families who remained committed to continuous improvement.
Earlier this year, we had the privilege of recognizing more than 175 students during our Distinguished Students Ceremony for exceeding academic expectations and demonstrating outstanding achievement. Seeing that many students celebrated for excellence was a powerful reminder of the talent, determination, and potential that exists within our schools.
This year’s graduating class has earned remarkable recognition for both academic achievement and future readiness. Collectively, our seniors earned more than $1 million in scholarships, military recognitions, and postsecondary opportunities through the West Virginia Promise Scholarship, local scholarships, college awards, and service commitments.
Eleven students also completed associate degrees or earned twelve college credits through our partnerships with Glenville State University and West Virginia University at Parkersburg. These accomplishments reflect not only the dedication of our students, but also the commitment of the teachers, counselors, advisors, and staff members who continually encourage students to pursue opportunities beyond graduation.
Those accomplishments are also being recognized beyond our county lines. Recently, Doddridge County Schools was ranked among the top school systems in West Virginia by Niche, including being named the #5 Best School District in the state. Even more meaningful, our district was recognized as the #2 Best Place to Teach in West Virginia and ranked #6 for Best Teachers. Those recognitions reflect the incredible commitment of our staff and the positive culture that exists throughout our schools.
But what makes me especially proud is that success in Doddridge County Schools extends far beyond academics alone.
Our students continue to excel in athletics, extracurricular programs, leadership organizations, music, and Career and Technical Education opportunities because they are surrounded by adults who invest in them far beyond the school day.
At Doddridge County Middle School, our football team finished the season as LKC Runner-Ups, while our cross country team captured a regional championship.
At Doddridge County High School, our football team completed an undefeated regular season, earned conference championship honors, and advanced to the state semi-finals. Our cross country program continued its strong tradition by winning the conference championship, with the boys team earning a trip to the state meet.
Our boys basketball team captured a conference championship and advanced to the state tournament, while our girls basketball team made an impressive run to the regional finals.
Our baseball team earned conference championship honors, continuing a proud tradition of Bulldog athletics.
In just its fourth year of existence, our golf team qualified for the state tournament for the first time in school history—an incredible accomplishment that reflects hard work, commitment, and growth within the program.
Our swim team sent three state qualifiers to compete at the state level, our cheerleaders once again delivered a strong performance on the state stage, and our track program continues to compete at a high level with anticipation building for another strong showing at the state meet.
The strength of our athletic programs continues to be recognized statewide as well, with Doddridge County Schools being ranked among the top school districts for athletes in West Virginia. That recognition reflects not only athletic success, but also the dedication of our coaches, sponsors, families, and student-athletes who represent our community with pride.
Beyond athletics, our students continue to shine in music, leadership, and academic organizations as well. Our band programs earned “Excellent II” ratings, including a milestone achievement for the middle school band, which earned that recognition for the first time in over a decade.
Our FFA and FBLA students continue to shine at both the state and national levels, representing Doddridge County Schools with excellence, leadership, and professionalism in competition after competition. Our FFA students also earned state championships in Agricultural Sales and Forestry, creating opportunities to compete at the national level while preparing students for future careers and leadership opportunities.
These accomplishments do not happen by accident. They are the result of staff members who dedicate countless hours to practices, rehearsals, competitions, tutoring, mentoring, and preparing students for opportunities that extend far beyond graduation.
That same commitment to supporting students extends beyond academics and activities.
At Doddridge County Schools, we understand that student success requires more than strong instruction alone. Students learn best when they feel safe, supported, encouraged, and connected. Through the work of our Holistic Child Department, counselors, nurses, interventionists, and support staff, we continue to focus on meeting the needs of the whole child—academically, socially, emotionally, and mentally.
This work is not always visible, but it is among the most important work happening in our schools each day. The care our staff members show students during difficult moments often has a lifelong impact, and I cannot thank them enough for the compassion and commitment they bring to our schools.
As we continue moving our district forward, partnerships within our community have also played a critical role in our success.
One example of that is our continued collaboration with the WVU Extension Office. Through this partnership, we were able to launch our new Summer Express Program—an initiative designed specifically to meet the needs of both students and families within our community.
Summer Express provides students in grades 1st through 4th with engaging learning opportunities, enrichment activities, and continued academic support throughout the summer months while also helping meet the needs of working families seeking structured, high-quality programming for their children.
Programs like this are only possible because of staff members willing to invest additional time, energy, and creativity into serving students and families beyond the traditional school year.
That is what United to Make a Difference truly means.
It means supporting one another.
It means building partnerships.
It means creating opportunities for students to succeed.
And it means understanding that every role within a school system matters.
It also means continuing to strengthen communication and transparency with our community. Over the last year, we have worked hard to ensure that our families and stakeholders feel informed, connected, and engaged in the work happening throughout our district.
Through expanded communication efforts, increased social media engagement, and a stronger focus on highlighting student and staff success stories, we have seen tremendous growth in community interaction and outreach. More importantly, we have created more opportunities to celebrate the incredible things happening inside our schools every day.
As we look ahead, there is still important work to do.
We will continue focusing on academic achievement, student opportunity, staff support, innovation, school safety, and strong community partnerships. We will continue asking how we can improve, how we can grow, and how we can better serve the students and families of Doddridge County.
But as we move forward, one thing remains clear: the success of Doddridge County Schools is not built by one person alone. It is built collectively—through the dedication of our staff, the determination of our students, the support of our families, and the investment of an entire community that believes in its schools.
To our staff, thank you for the countless ways you make a difference every day. Thank you for your dedication, your patience, your compassion, and your unwavering commitment to students.
The success we celebrate tonight belongs to you.
To our students, thank you for representing Doddridge County Schools with pride, determination, and excellence.
And to our families and community partners, thank you for continuing to support our mission and stand beside us as we move forward together.
Because here in Doddridge County Schools, our mission is more than words—
It is truly Mission in Motion.
Thank you.