Blatt takes oath of office to be 34th state school superintendent – WV MetroNews

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Just a few short weeks since being selected by the West Virginia Board of Education, Michele Blatt is now officially the new state school superintendent.

Blatt took the ceremonial oath of office Wednesday, surrounded by friends, family, and coworkers.

She was appointed to be the new state school superintendent last month by the state Board of Education. State School Board President Paul Hardesty said during their vote back on June 23, they knew they made the right decision after seeing so many people show up and offer their support for the decision.

“Our employees are comfortable with Michele Blatt and the superintendents around the state are comfortable with Michele Blatt,” Hardesty said the day of selecting Blatt.

Blatt expressed her gratitude to those in attendance for the ceremony. She said she got messages sent to her from people all across the state congratulating her on the new role.

“I want to thank all the board members for their confidence in me to take this position,” Blatt said Wednesday. “I would also like to thank my family and all of my friends across the state.”

Blatt, most recently the deputy superintendent, has been with the state department since 2007. She will become the 34th state school superintendent in state history. Previously, she was a teacher and then a principal before working for the state. Her education career spans over 25 years.

Blatt replaces longtime educator David Roach who only held the superintendent’s job for about 10 months. His departure from the position is due in part to the situation involving the handling of federal pandemic relief money in Upshur County, and his lack of communication with the state board about the situation. The state seized full control of the Upshur County school system last month.

The new superintendent said she expects big things for the state and knows with the staff they have, that that will be the case moving forward.

“I just know with that with the support I have from the board along with my colleagues across the state, we’re going to be able to do great things for West Virginia,” Blatt said.