CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Department of Education is poised to take a new direction, swearing in Dr. Michael Martirano as the state’s 30th superintendent of schools Monday.
Hired in July after a nationwide search, Martirano comes from Maryland where he was the superintendent of St. Mary’s County public schools.
“He’s made a great first impression,” said Gayle Manchin, the state Board of Education president. “The terms that people use: energy, enthusiasm, visionary.”
Martirano said he desired to wrap up duties in Maryland and get to know the challenges in West Virginia before his first day on the job.
“It has allowed him some time to become more familiar with our process, the set up of the state and the people who live here,” Manchin said.
Martirano has had weekly phone conversations with current Superintendent Chuck Heinlein, who stepped in after Dr. Jim Phares retired in June.
Martirano also has been in contact with board members, who feel a sense of urgency to set the state school system on a path toward better test scores and high school graduation rates. Those are things he had success with at the Maryland system.
According to the most recent state Department of Education figures, 79.3 percent of high school seniors graduated during the 2012-13 school year, which climbed from 70.8 percent in 2008-09. Still, other southern states have seen graduation rates jump more significantly.
Manchin said she has no doubt Martirano will have a positive impact on the state and its students.
“I think what you do begin to see is more hope, a greater sense of direction, and that we’re all on the same page,” she said.
The swearing in ceremony will take place Monday at the state Culture Center at 10 a.m.