Photo by Steven Allen Adams Gov. Patrick Morrisey, right, appointed former Professional Charter School Board Director James Paul to an open seat on the West Virginia Board of Education Wednesday.

CHARLESTON – Gov. Patrick Morrisey selected former state charter school czar James Paul to serve as a member of the West Virginia Board of Education, with which the governor has butted heads.

In a press conference Wednesday morning at the State Capitol Building, Morrisey announced that Paul, who previously served as director of the Professional Charter School Board, will serve a nine-year term, succeeding former board member Debra Sullivan, whose term expired last November.

“I’m so excited to announce that I’m appointing Dr. James Paul to the West Virginia state Board of Education,” Morrisey said. “Dr. Paul brings deep experience in education policy, a commitment to accountability… and a clear understanding of the board’s constitutional role and obligations.”

Paul is Morrisey’s first appointment to the state Board of Education since taking office more than 13 months ago. The remaining members were appointed or reappointed by former Gov. Jim Justice, including former first lady Cathy Justice.

“The school board, a lot of the votes you’ve seen are 9-0,” Morrisey said. “Well, this is my first pick for the school board. I’m going to tell you, Dr. Paul, I’m hopeful to see some more 8-1 votes.”

Paul is the director of state education opportunity for the America First Policy Institute. In 2022, the Professional Charter School Board selected Paul to be its first executive director, where he served until the end of 2025. Prior experience includes work at the Education Freedom Institute, the Foundation for Excellence in Education and the Commonwealth Foundation. He has a doctorate in education policy from the University of Arkansas.

“I’m very grateful for your confidence. This is something I don’t take lightly. It’s a big responsibility,” Paul said. “The state Board of Education has a role to play here, a very clear constitutional role … and it carries out the law that the Legislature passes through rulemaking and provides general supervision over the public school system. And I intend to approach that responsibility with a lot of humility and a lot of respect for our democratic system.”

The state Board of Education includes the state superintendent of schools and the chancellor of the Higher Education Policy Commission/Council for Community and Technical Education as non-voting members. The governor appoints the remaining nine board members, with the advice and consent of the Senate, for staggered nine-year terms.

The state constitution mandates that the Legislature provide through law for a “thorough and efficient system of free schools,” but places the general supervision of the state’s 55-county school systems with the state Board of Education.

The relationship between Morrisey and the state board has been strained over the last year. Morrisey issued an executive order in January 2025 allowing for religious exemptions to the state’s compulsory vaccine law for school-age children. Last June, the state board voted to require county school systems to continue to abide by the existing law.

During a press conference last year for a lawsuit by parents in Raleigh County challenging the state board’s order, Morrisey attacked board members for being “unelected bureaucrats.” During Wednesday’s press conference, Morrisey accused the board and the Department of Education of dropping the ball on oversight of county school systems, such as the recent financial issues discovered in Hancock County Schools.

“Our state Board of Education is unelected and independent from the rest of government,” Morrisey said. “They have very long terms that are set forth under the constitution. Nine years. That’s actually far longer than other states. And I think it makes it harder for that body to be accountable when our students start to falter. We need to reform and change the system if we ever hope to improve.”

State Board of Education President Paul Hardesty declined to comment regarding Morrisey’s criticisms.