CHARLESTON, W.Va. — State School Superintendent Dr. Jim Phares recently told state lawmakers he fully expects the nearly 500 central office staff members with teaching degrees to get back into the classroom before the end of the school year.
A new state law requires central office staff in all 55 counties to be a substitute teacher for three days a year. Phares said as of mid-November 10 of 482 superintendents, assistant superintendents and others had completed the requirement. He said another 155 had partially completed the requirement. Phares said the numbers are changing weekly.
The superintendent expects the compliance numbers to really climb next spring.
“As we get into hiring season they will be going out and substituting to relieve these faculty senate teams who will participate in the hiring practice,” Phares said. The new hiring rules are also part of the new education reform law.
Phares said those central office employees who have gone back to the classroom have described it as a “breath of fresh air.”
“There’s nothing like going into a kindergarten class when you are a superintendent because once they find out what you do they love you. And you know what that one thing is?” Phares asked state lawmakers. “Snow day. They love ya.”