MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia is taking a new approach to teacher recruitment.

A new two-year relocation program, Teachers Ascend into West Virginia is calling for educators across the country to move to the Mountain State and receive incentives to teach in select K-12 schools.

Based at West Virginia University, applications are being accepted now for the first-of-its-kind national effort.

Program recruits will receive a $6,000 stipend with the opportunity to obtain an additional $4,050 in tuition assistance through the WVU College of Applied Human Sciences for those continuing their education.

West Virginia Public Education Collaborative Director Donna Peduto said those at WVPEC put their heads together to get the program started as a response to the ongoing teacher shortage.

“The board was meeting and we wanted to help with the teacher shortage in some way, we work very closely with the West Virginia Department of Education, and we thought there would be some way to help them,” Peduto said.

Peduto said the successful remote worker program, Ascend WV provides a blueprint for the new initiative. That program was started a couple of years ago by former Intuit CEO and Marshall University President Brad Smith and his wife Alys Smith that offers incentives to people to come and work remotely in the state.

She said after some debate, they finally agreed that the idea just might work in applying it to teachers as well.

“At first it seemed like it would be difficult to do because of course as teachers can’t work remotely like the original Ascend can, and you know, there were different incentives and that kind of thing, but we all saw a glimmer of hope in it and we just started to plan it,” she said.

So far, Peduto said they have received a positive response from teachers across the nation. She said they have received three dozen applications so far from teachers from 15 states.

In addition to the incentives, Peduto said the teachers joining the program will also have plenty of social and outdoor recreation opportunities as well.

She said they will receive mentorship, professional development and coaching, and a chance to collaborate with other educators. Participants will also have access to an outdoor adventure package that includes free opportunities for recreational activities in the New River Gorge National Park and the various state parks.

Peduto said based on her own experience as an educator in the state, she sees this program being a great success as it helps alleviate the teacher shortage and even elevate the profession as a whole.

“I know as a teacher for 24 years I was never really given a stipend to do anything or tuition assistance, or even dedicated time to collaborate with my cohorts, and I think that’s going to be a big part of this,” she said.

So far, Peduto said they are launching a pilot program for Teachers Ascend in Monongalia and Preston counties.

She said those coming in for the opportunity will get to experience West Virginia for what it’s becoming– a destination.

“Those of us who have lived here a long time know that it is, not only the recreation and the beauty of it, but the warmness of the people, and I think this is really going to be something that sells West Virginia,” said Peduto.

Interested participants can apply by going to WVPEC on the website.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va (WDTV) – Mon Health is making historic strides as the first hospital in West Virginia to offer a dual chamber leadless pacemaker.

According to Mon Health officials this new technology will provide a new minimally invasive option to treat the near 80 percent of people who require pacing in two chambers of their heart.

“Pacemakers have been around for 70 years now,” said cardiologist Dr. Salam Sbaity.

“They have changed and saved the life of many. They have also evolved a lot over the years both in terms of function and size. However this is the first revolutionary change in their function that will set the pace to the future.”

“With a new device we have both chambers with dual chamber capability,” said Dr. Matthew Gaskill.

“We go in through a groin and implant pace makers which are just about the size of a triple A battery through the groin so that involves a functional pacemaker just the same so no need for incision and very low risk of infection. They still have a very long battery life. With a leadless pacemaker a single chamber alone they can last up to 20 years.”

The cardiology duo says this new technology will expand just another option for a pacemaker for patients with a higher risk of infection.

“Sometimes the veins in people’s chests are not that amendable,” said Dr. Gaskill.

“This immediately gets rid of that difficulty with being able to plant the pacemaker and no risk of infection and no incisions will be needed.”

“We want to continue to set the gold standard for heart rhythm care in the state and serve our patients with the best technology,” said Dr. Sbaity.

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FRANKLIN, W.Va (WHSV) – check out these cool clouds seen with a slow moving storm in West Virginia Tuesday evening.

The Mammatus cloud, looking like a bubble or a balloon, or pouches. Typically these kind of clouds form at the bottom of the anvil in a cumulonimbus cloud. It’s very common for these kind of clouds to be associated with thunderstorms but typically when you see these, the storm has already passed or you may see them from a distant storm. So it’s not a precursor or a storm moving in. This also does not mean a tornado is nearby.

These can also form without a thunderstorm but typically you would see them with a thunderstorm nearby.

These clouds can form when water droplets from the anvil of a storm starts to sink, and that evaporates as it falls into drier air. That evaporation cools the air and has this sinking effect that you can see.

As these clouds spread out, they allow warm air to move upwards into the bottom of the cloud. Warm air rises and cold air sinks, so when warm air rises upward into the cloud, parts of the cloud begin to sink as they stay cooler than some other parts of the cloud. This creates the pouch pattern they have.

While these clouds are associated with thunderstorms, they are harmless. They are much more vibrant when coupled with brilliant colors at sunset.

They are a rare treat here, especially being so vivid and illuminated by the colors of the sunset.

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