CHARLESTON, W.Va. — New state Schools Superintendent Michele Blatt says in addition to tacking issues of alleged pandemic relief misspending in Upshur County, she plans on focusing her attention on better reading outcomes in early education statewide.
“We have to find a way to make sure all of our students have the skills they need to be successful in reading so they can move on and do things in the future,” Blatt said on Monday’s MetroNews “Talkline.”
The Legislature approved a reading program earlier this year that makes changes to improve reading levels for students in grades K-3 so that fourth graders are reading at grade level.
“This is the critical work that we’re just now beginning,” Blatt said.
The program focuses on the science of reading and adds teacher aides in the classroom. Much of it mirrors what the state of Mississippi is doing.
“I think if we can get our teachers to focus on what the skill weakness are for our kids, then we can get our students where they need to be,” Blatt said.
Blatt most recently served as the state deputy superintendent. She’s been with the state Department of Education since 2007. Blatt said she’s always had a passion for teaching and working with kids.
“Education is all I can ever remember wanting to do from the time I was a little girl,” she said. “My mother and two of my aunts were educators. There was never a question that I would be anything else.”
Another challenge Blatt will face as the new leader of public schools in West Virginia is the ongoing teacher shortage. Blatt said she hopes to bridge the gap with the state’s Grow Your Own campaign.
“We really got to look within and get people interested and motivated to make an impact and let them see the importance of public education and how they can move straight into a career in their home county,” she said.
Blatt replaces former superintendent David Roach who announced his retirement this month. It came after state Board of Education members expressed concern with Roach’s delay in telling them about spending issues in Upshur County. Roach held the superintendent’s job for about 10 months.