The state of West Virginia will officially have its 28th state superintendent of schools Wednesday morning.
The swearing-in ceremony for James Phares will be held at 10 a.m. in the West Virginia Board of Education Room at Building 6 at the Capitol Complex in Charleston.
Phares will replace Chuck Heinlein, a deputy superintendent who was asked to fill in after the board fired Jorea Marple in November. Heinlein will resume his duties as deputy superintendent.
Phares, who recently served as superintendent of Randolph County Schools, brings nearly 40 years of educational experience to the position and has a reputation for turning around troubled schools.
He will oversee West Virginia’s 55 county school districts, which serve about 282,000 students in preschool through 12th grade with an operating budget in excess of $2.5 billion.
In his new position, Phares will earn $165,000.