Wetzel County Schools in New Martinsville, West Virginia, received the Southern Regional Education Board’s District Leadership Award for its commitment to the continuous improvement process at every level, leading to improved student achievement.  

The district will be presented with the award July 18 at the 2023 Making Schools Work Conference in Orlando, Florida. 

SREB’s District Leadership Award recognizes local school districts that implement continuous improvement processes that help schools transform their school and classroom practices, establish and sustain change, and increase student achievement.  

The district established school improvement priorities after an SREB curriculum and instruction review in 2021. The resulting “Wetzel Way” strategic plan helped build a shared vision for all members of the learning community, from the superintendent to the students. The district is putting the plan into action with professional learning communities for teachers, West Virginia’s math4life and SREB resources such as Powerful Instructional Practices and Technology Centers That Work.  

On the 2022 West Virginia state assessment, Wetzel County was one of the only districts to increase achievement across English-language arts, math and science. 

The Southern Regional Education Board works with states and schools to improve education at every level, from early childhood through postsecondary education. SREB’s annual Making Schools Work Conference provides educators opportunities to participate in professional development, network with colleagues from across the country and build school and district leadership capacity. 

SREB media contact: Janita Poe, SREB News Manager, (404) 879-5516.