MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — 13 years later, Monongalia County Superintendent of Schools Frank Devono is putting a bow on a long career in education.
The Harrison County-born educator announced his retirement Tuesday night at a Monongalia County Board of Education meeting, saying the time was right to spend more time with his wife, six children, and six grandchildren.
“This is one of the toughest calls I think I’ve ever had to make,” Dr. Devono said Wednesday on WAJR’s Morgantown AM. “I really think I don’t want to do this. I just certainly know that it’s the right time and the right opportunity for me to go.”
Devono comes from a family of educators, including a brother who is also a superintendent in West Virginia and a son on the Harrison County Board of Education.
The decision comes after months of debate, but a decision not to say anything until after the statewide teacher work stoppage that claimed nine instructional days of school came to a conclusion.
“I didn’t want that being thought of as this is the reason Devono’s going and that kind of thing,” he said.
The Monongalia County Board of Education plans to begin a search in relative short order, preferably in time to have Devono’s successor named by June 1, according to The Dominion Post.
Devono reflected on his 13 years positively, praising voters for the school levy bond vote of 2003, the implementation of that bond thereafter, building a successful relationship with the School Building Authority, technological advances allowing for the widespread use of digital Chromebooks in grades two through twelve, and high standards comparative to the rest of the state in English and Language Arts.
“If you point to any one thing, it would be a disservice,” he said. “What you try to do is look at the totality of it. And, if I can say anything, Devono’s not done this alone.”
Devono praised the Board of Education, parents, teachers, and service personnel for their work. He also praised students, citing the higher rates of college participation and overall preparedness for higher education.
He’s particularly happy with the staff built following a number of retirements during his early years on the job.
“The Board saw this, I think a couple of years ago,” Devono said. “One of my goals was, as retirement came through… so the replacement of those people has been paramount.”
Devono praised several members of the staff, including Assistant Superintendent Donna Talerico.
With his last day set for June 30, Devono said he hopes to be of help during a search that could potentially cast a wide net. He suggested the next superintendent must communicate well with the community, continue to advance the use of social media as an educational tool, have an active understanding of bureaucracy and state politics, and be the face of education in the community.
And still, Devono said, there’s more to being a successful superintendent.
“I’ve always said that in my position, it’s important that I have the breadth of everything, but not necessarily the depth,” Devono said. “That’s where you have great people around you that give you that depth, and you have a basic understanding of those things.”
The Board of Education has yet to determine if their search will be regional or national.