Photo by Joselyn King Students participating in the Beyond Education program at Wheeling Park High School get treated to an early morning breakfast and some words of encouragement from local educators. The school’s staff recruited students to participate in the program who they think will make excellent teachers in the future.

WHEELING — Madison School Principal Andrea Trio acknowledges she struggled with math and standardized testing as a high school student, and it almost stopped her from pursuing a career in music education that led to her being named a Milken Scholar last year.

Ritchie School Principal John Jorden said he was good at math while in high school, and initially had aspirations to become an accountant. The former West Virginia Principal of the Year went on to lead Ritchie Elementary School to some of the top standardized test scores in the state, and to its recent designation as a Blue Ribbon School.

Ohio County teachers and administrators came together Wednesday to inspire many of today’s students at Wheeling Park School to go “beyond education” after high school, become accredited teachers and then return to Ohio County Schools.

Students specifically selected as having the best aptitude for careers in education were invited to participate in this year’s kick off of the “Beyond Education” program at the school.

Additionally, this year’s program has been expanded to include sophomores, as well as juniors and seniors.

The goal is to transition the sophomores into the school’s “Grown Your Own” program, which sees Ohio County Schools partnering with West Liberty University to offer dual credit education opportunities to students while at WPHS after they become juniors.

WPHS Principal Meredith Dailer told those invited to “Beyond Education” they were selected because they are seen “as someone who is a leader, someone who is charismatic, and someone who is passionate about school and enjoys being here everyday.”

“We don’t expect every single kid who is here today to become a teacher,” Dailer added. “We do, however, want to open your eyes and expose you to this profession that we love so much.”

Ohio County Schools Assistant Superintendent Rick Jones told the students of the teacher shortage happening in the world right now.

“For some reason, people have gone away from wanting to be teachers and there aren’t that many out there,” Jones explained. “Public schools are tough sometimes, and a lot of stuff happens. Other times, they just found they could make more money somewhere else.”

But he added teachers’ pay is improving, and some testing requirements needed for certification have been relieved.

Jones said he has been in education for 27 years, and an administrator for the past 21 years. His wide array of experiences has included teaching in a youth detention center, working with a traumatically brain injured student who had been shot in the head, and being a classroom teacher, principal, administrator and coach.

He noted there is a special need to attract more males into teaching, as well as a pool of educators representing a variety of ethnic backgrounds.

“I’ve done all kinds of things in education, and I’ve loved every second of it,” Jones told the students.

Jorden said he has been principal at Ritchie Elementary for 21 years, and an educator for 39 years.

He explained after entering the former West Liberty State College he wasn’t so interested in being an accountant, and decided he would rather teach children about numbers rather than crunch them.

“I didn’t like it,” he said. “I couldn’t imagine being just up in an office all day.”

Jorden noted that in the past, a teaching position posted at Ritchie School might have attracted anywhere from six to 14 applicants.

“But that’s not the case now,” he said. A recently graduated college student with a degree in education who has achieved all requirements and is in good standard “is almost assured to get a job,” he added.

“And it’s not always the highest GPA that we’re looking for,” Jordan said. “We are looking for people who work hard, love the children and love the profession,”

Trio agreed the best educators “have the heart to love on somebody” and form strong relationships and bonds with students.

She spoke of when she was a student at Bellaire High School she excelled as a singer, but often struggled academically. Trio very much wanted to enter West Virginia University’s music education program, but her scores on college entrance exams were not high enough. She told the students she was crushed when she was rejected.

But Trio spoke frequently with then-Bellaire High School Vice Principal Mike Sherwood – himself a former WVU football quarterback and noted alumnus. After talking to Trio’s parents, they agreed Sherwood could drive Trio to Morgantown for an in-person singing audition with the WVU music department.

After her tryout, she received a full scholarship to WVU that enabled her to achieve a career in education.

Some opportunities in education aren’t necessarily in the classroom, indicated Betsy Jones, counselor at WPHS.

Betsy Jones had started out as a math teacher when she began her educational career 25 years ago. But then she overheard a student telling another student about some stresses he was having at home, and how he didn’t have a stable place to live. She realized that was likely why he wasn’t getting his math homework completed.

“I decided then I wanted to work with kids in a different way,” Betsy Jones said.

She added that she just likes “to make it happen” for students after more than two decades in education.

“After all these years, there’s still fun to have in this job, and I don’t think you have that in most jobs,” Betsy Jones said.