The Randolph County Board of Education could soon be looking for a new Superintendent.
Current Superintendent Dr. James Phares, who reportedly leads the list of possible state Superintendent candidates, says he’ll submit his resignation on Monday night.
That resignation will take effect Wednesday, the day the state Board of Education is expected to meet to decide on a replacement for former state Superintendent Jorea Marple who was fired less than a week ago.
Hours after Marple was dismissed, state Board President Wade Linger said, during an emergency meeting, he wants Phares to have the job.
Phares calls the recommendation an “honor.”
“I love the state of West Virginia and I’m an advocate of public education,” Phares told The Elkins Intermountain on Friday. “I want to offer my skill set to better the school experience of every student in the state.”
His resignation, he said, should not come as a complete surprise for school officials in Randolph County. “They did have a heads up that this might occur,” Phares told the paper. “They may not have known that it would happen this fast.”
Prior to becoming Randolph County’s Superintendent in 2009, Phares held the same position in Marion County and Pocahontas County. His career in education includes 25 years as a teacher and coach in Virginia as well.
The Randolph County Board of Education meets at 6 p.m. Monday