By JOSELYN KING

WHEELING — Women serving as school superintendents in the Northern Panhandle praise the support of the local community, as well as the staff and students with whom they work.

“As the Superintendent of Ohio County Schools, I have the privilege to collaborate with many people to successfully operate an excellent school system for approximately 5,000 students in pre-kindergarten to 12th grades, and 800 professional and service employees,” Ohio County Schools Superintendent Kim Miller said. “I have a tremendous opportunity for my team and me to engage with several civic organizations in Ohio County — whether it be the YMCA or the Lions Club. It is always great to be a part of the community and help in any way possible.”

Superintendent Cassandra Porter-Berner in Wetzel County said being superintendent “is a community job for sure.”

“I am tasked with making sure the students of Wetzel get equitable educational opportunities that are rigorous and high quality,” she explained. “The community is a big part of this because we are making sure that our students become productive community partaking citizens.”

Throughout Marshall County Schools, staff and administration often reference the phrase, “Educating Kids, Building Communities,” Marshall County Superintendent Shelby Haines said.

“I try to follow through with this by partnering with many civic organizations, elected officials and local businesses throughout the county,” she said. “We try to have an educational presence at events throughout the community.”

Haines would tell any young person starting out “your work ethic never goes unnoticed.”

“Work ethic coupled with good attendance and follow through will get you far in any field,” she added.

Miller said her advice to any young woman who aspires for a career in education is “to have an enthusiastic passion for learning.”

“Learning never stops in the ever-changing field of education,” she explained. “It is also valuable to be a good listener and empathetic. Cultivating empathy and a deep understanding of your students is important.

“When beginning a career in education, it is wise to surround yourself with people who will push you to be the best version of you every day. There is no room for negativity in the educational field, and I like to believe there is no room for negativity in our own lives as well. Education is an important job, and we are making decisions that will impact our greatest gift — our children.”

Porter-Berner noted that whenever she gets the opportunity to speak to female students about working hard and being able to reach their dreams, she feels “an immediate responsibility to the girls of West Virginia to help them seek their potential.”

“Growing up my mother pushed my two sisters and I to always study hard,” she continued.

“She created an atmosphere of caring and learning in our home every day. She encouraged us to go into higher education and to know that nothing was out of reach.

“All three of us girls obtained masters degrees to date. Helping students see that there are ways to do whatever they dream is my passion. My middle sister is a stay-at-home mom of two young children and my youngest sister currently serves as an assistant principal at Morgantown High School.”

Patience and compassion are key in the role of being an educational leader,” Porter-Berner continued.

“Parents and guardians and students alike need someone to listen and help them navigate whatever life throws at them,” she said. “We are living in very unique times when the value of education sometimes takes second to survival.

“The opioid epidemic has really created challenges for students and families. The value of an education can never be taken away from a young person, it’s a property right. Working with students to always want to better themselves for them and their family is key. West Virginia faces lots of challenges that many other states do not.”

Haines said the biggest challenge she has faced happened during her first year as superintendent was when the schools were shut down by the pandemic.

“We were given the unprecedented directive to educate and feed children within a week’s time,” she explained. “Marshall County Schools administrators pulled together over a weekend and began educating and feeding students on Monday. We did not take the entire week to service kids. The administrators, faculty and staff of Marshall County pulled together, developed, and implemented a plan six days ahead of the deadline.

“I also made sure to jump in and work beside people as I too delivered food, assisted with vaccination clinics, and disinfected buildings. Working alongside of others made me realize how dedicated the employees of Marshall County Schools are to the students and the community.”

A motto she lives by is “don’t count the days, make the days count.”

“I like this motto because every day is a gift and you should make the best of every day,” Haines said.

Miller said she always knew she wanted to work with people and make a difference in others’ lives.

“I loved working with children,” she said. “While at (West Virginia University), I loved working in the classrooms in block classes. (As a cheerleader) I treasured the times before football games visiting children in the hospital and nursery schools. I knew education was where I needed to be.

“In my early years of teaching, I had a colleague/mentor say to me, ‘You need to do more than be in the classroom.’ It really made me think, if I can have an impact on a classroom, why not a school? And that seemed to grow throughout my career.”

She said she surrounded herself with people who pushed her to be the best version of herself, including her husband and her family.

Miller has been married 29 years to David Miller. They have three daughters — Kayley, Kamryn and Karringtyn.

Haines is a Marshall County native who is a graduate of Cameron High School.

“I enjoy spending time with my parents, often attending musical and theatrical performances with them,” she said. “I also enjoy gardening, preserving, and exploring new hobbies.”

Porter-Berner attended Fairmont University on a swimming scholarship.

She is married to Mike Berner. He is also a lifelong educator and is technology director for Brooke County Schools.

They have a blended family of four, with a Labradoodle and a cat.

“As a family we enjoy traveling and boating, spending time together and cooking,” Porter-Berner said. “Good food is always the center of our family activities.”