CHARLESTON, W.Va. — State School Board President Paul Hardesty said he knew Friday the board had made the right decision in its selection of Michele Blatt as the new state school superintendent when he saw the hallways filled with state department workers just before the board’s vote.
“By looking back in that hallway right now I feel in my heart that I and this board made the right decision,” Hardesty said.
Blatt, most recently the deputy superintendent, has been in the department since 2007. Hardesty said everyone he has spoken with is “comfortable” with Blatt.
“Our employees–they are comfortable with Michele Blatt. The superintendents around the state are comfortable with Michele Blatt. Furthermore, House Speaker (Roger) Hanshaw and Senate President (Craig) Blair are comfortable with Michele Blatt,” Hardesty said.
In a column published earlier this week, MetroNews “Talkline” Host Hoppy Kercheval said Blatt is highly-thought-of.
“Those I talked with about her say she has a deep understanding of the complicated public education system and a strong work ethic. One person told me, “She has been doing the heavy lifting.” Another described her as “very qualified,” Kercheval wrote.
Blatt, who will be the 34th state school superintendent in state history, was a teacher and then a principal before joining the state department 17 years ago. Her education career spans 25 years. She told MetroNews Friday the support she received was “overwhelming.”
“I have a lot of relationships here at the department and I know what hard workers that each of them have been and it was very rewarding seeing them out there in the hallway ready to congratulate me,” Blatt said.
She said there’ll be some transition but not a lot.
“This will be good for the continuity of everything here at the department but also across the state because there won’t be a down time waiting to see what a new leader will come in and do and what their direction will be,” Blatt said. “We will continue with the work we are currently doing and moving things forward.”
Blatt replaces longtime educator David Roach who held the superintendent’s job for about 10 months. Roach’s early exit is tied to his communication with the state board about how federal pandemic relief money was spent in Upshur County. The board seized control of the Upshur County system last week and a number of reviews into the spending are underway including a federal criminal investigation.
Blatt said she’ll have to give up some of her current duties with the new position but she won’t be far away.
“I am a hands on person and will continue to stay very engaged with all of the work and the initiatives and the things we are leading here at the department,” she said.
One of those initiatives include the effort to improve reading skills, something that Roach began.
“That’s one of our top priorities–our Ready, Ready, Write initiative,” Blatt said.
Hardesty said he has no doubts that Blatt will move the department forward.
“She’s a proven, known commodity that can take this job July 1 and move forward for the children of West Virginia because at the end of the day we’re always here for that reason,” Hardesty said.
Blatt will be paid $230,000 a year.
State BOE member Debra Sullivan had some good things to say about Roach as he begins his retirement.
“I have found him to be a person who cares deeply about West Virginia, its educators and its service personnel,” Sullivan said.
She said Roach began initiatives to increase student achievement in reading, writing and math and worked toward improving student behavior.