Shuler Stakem

WHEELING – Karen Shuler Stakem is running for Ohio County Board of Education to bring new ideas and new energy to the school system by using her extensive professional background and by drawing on her experiences as a parent and volunteer.

Shuler Stakem began a career in public service working for the U.S. Congress in Washington, D.C.

Since her time in public service, and for over 25 years, Shuler Stakem has served as a consultant for numerous non-profit and for-profit clients, in both the public and private sector. Shuler Stakem has led public affairs campaigns, executed large scale events, conducted media outreach and spearheaded fundraising and grant writing efforts for her clients.

“As a parent of three children who all attended Ohio County Schools, I have witnessed firsthand the quality of education our system provides, but I also have seen some of the challenges,” she said. “Our school system mirrors our community and now more than ever our teachers, service personnel and administrators are being asked to serve in various roles to meet the ever-changing needs of our students. We must ensure they have the equipment and training necessary to help all students achieve.”

Shuler Stakem believes the community is only as strong as the school system.

“What COVID-19 has shown us is we need to be prepared,” she said. “Our administrators, teachers and service personnel stepped up to the challenge during this difficult time. We are fortunate in Ohio County, but we need to keep pushing. We must lead in providing the best resources, technology and facilities so our students can aggressively compete in the workforce.

“Public education has a responsibility to prepare all students for the future, whether that future is college, a skilled trade, the military or the workforce. And it has a responsibility to prepare our students for what our evolving economy needs.”

Shuler Stakem, who is running in District 2, believes her extensive professional experience will be an asset to the Ohio County Board of Education. Previously, Shuler Stakem served on the West Virginia Educational Broadcasting Authority, West Virginia Humanities Council and was a former President of the YWCA of Wheeling, where she still serves as a board member today.

“My parents and grandparents were teachers, so I was shown early on the importance of a strong public education system,” she said. “It is important to me to continue to improve the community that has helped shape me and my children.”

Beginning in 2004, when her oldest child started kindergarten, Shuler Stakem began volunteering in the PTA at Woodsdale Elementary, and she continues to serve today as a volunteer throughout Ohio County Schools.

She currently serves as president of the Wheeling Park Athletic Boosters, a member of Wheeling Park Girls Basketball Boosters, and is a community representative for the Local School Improvement Council (LSIC) at Woodsdale Elementary. Previously, she served on the LSIC at Triadelphia Middle School and served in booster organizations for football, boys’ basketball and girls’ soccer programs at Wheeling Park High School.

Shuler Stakem received her bachelor of science in political science and a master’s degree in public administration from West Virginia University.

She is a 1988 graduate of Wheeling Park High School, and resides in the Woodsdale neighborhood of Wheeling with her husband, Eric, and three children — Katie, a sophomore at West Virginia University; Jack, a freshman at the University of Charleston; and Maggie, a junior at Wheeling Park High School.