McNinch Primary School

MOUNDSVILLE — McNinch Primary School has appointed a new principal following a special meeting of the Marshall County Board of Education on Tuesday night.

The personnel action comes amid fallout from allegations that a special education teacher strangled a 6-year-old non-verbal autistic student in mid-September, an incident that has sparked significant concern among parents and the local community.

Jessica Robinette — a Marshall County native — was named the school’s new principal during the board’s 6:30 p.m. special session, which had originally been scheduled as a student expulsion hearing but was expanded to include the principal vacancy.

Retired educator Scott Varner had been serving as substitute principal at the school until Robinette’s hiring.

“I am excited to be at McNinch Primary,” Robinette said. “I look forward to transitioning into my new role with the support of Mr. Varner and the county administration. I am eager to meet the students and their families along with the faculty and staff. Marshall County is a community I love and I feel privileged to be here.”

For Robinette, her new role is a homecoming of sorts. A graduate of John Marshall High School, she holds master’s degrees from West Virginia and Robert Morris University. Robinette is certified in elementary education, mathematics and educational administration. She previously taught at Hilltop Elementary and Sherrard Middle, and most recently, was principal at Heights Primary School in Brooke County.

“Marshall County welcomes Mrs. Robinette and looks forward to her leadership and commitment to students, staff and families at McNinch Primary School,” Marshall County Schools Superintendent Shelby Haines said.

The leadership change follows the departure of former principal Jane Duffy and criminal charges connected to the abuse allegations.

According to court filings and reporting, the teacher, Kiersten Nicole Moses, faces multiple felony charges including strangulation, two counts of felony battery and assault of a disabled child and felony child abuse. Prosecutors allege video shows Moses placing both hands on the child’s neck and squeezing during a classroom incident.

In addition to the teacher’s charges, authorities also charged two administrators in connection with the case. Duffy pleaded not guilty in Marshall County Magistrate Court to a misdemeanor count of failure to report child abuse or neglect. Marshall County Schools’ director of special programs, Erin Cuffaro, faces a range of charges, including eight felony counts of gross neglect of a child creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury, as well as misdemeanor counts including failure to report child abuse and obstruction of law enforcement. Both Duffy and Cuffaro previously pleaded not guilty and were suspended without pay by the school board. Moses has resigned and is no longer employed by Marshall County Schools.

Marshall County Schools Superintendent Shelby Haines said interviews to replace Duffy were conducted throughout Monday and a recommendation was made to the board. The board’s action on Tuesday formalized that process.

District officials previously emphasized that student safety remains a top priority as the legal process plays out and as the district cooperates with ongoing investigations.