LOGAN, WV (WOWK) — Three county school systems that are under state control will soon have new superintendents.
The West Virginia Board of Education announced in a press release on Friday that Logan, Mingo and Nicholas County school systems will each have a new leader, while Tyler will keep its current superintendent.
Logan County Schools Superintendent Jeff Huffman will step down on June 30 and the state has appointed Dr. George Aulenbacher as the new county schools boss. Aulenbacher is currently the assistant superintendent in Kanawha County.
Logan County has been under state control since October 2022 and Huffman has been the superintendent since the takeover began.
“Mr. Huffman has performed an excellent job addressing the issues in Logan County Schools and creating a system that focuses on student learning and professional growth of staff. He will transition into a leadership role to support the WVDE in its oversight of counties under WVBE control,” State Superintendent Michele L. Blatt said in a press statement.
The state board announced the new Mingo County superintendent will be Dr. Joetta S. Basile, who has served as the Monroe County superintendent of schools for the past 13 years. Basile replaces Dr. Johnny Branch, who has been the superintendent since 2021 and his contract expires on June 30. Mingo County has only been under state control for a few weeks.
Nicholas and Tyler counties were taken under state control on May 14.
Scott Cochran will be the new Nicholas County superintendent, according to the press release. He has been the Doddridge County superintendent since 2024 and previously led Webster County Schools for nine years. The state board fired Nicholas Superintendent Terrance Beam last week.
Tyler County Superintendent Shane Highley was rehired and will remain in his job, the press release said. Highley has been the Tyler schools leader for the past six years.
“These appointments are important as our counties prepare for the upcoming school year,” Superintendent Blatt said in the press release. “The superintendents will begin to immediately address the issues identified in the counties to ensure student learning and well-being remain the central focus of our school systems. We look forward to working closely with county leadership to address the needs of our students, educators and staff.”
Special Circumstance Reviews and other materials are available on the WVDE Office of Accountability web page.
