William "Chuck" Bishop steps into the role of Superintendent for Jefferson County Schools on July 1. The Board of Education voted on May 24 to hire Dr. Bishop from a pool of 17 applicants to replace the outgoing superintendent, Bondy Gibson-Learn, who resigned on short notice earlier this year. Bishop earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from Virginia Tech and his Master's and Doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Virginia and has thirty years of experience in K-12 education. The Observer spoke with Dr. Bishop as he was preparing to start his new role. Read the Full Story >>
Bondy Shay Gibson
Confusion on Plans for Water & Sewer at New Shepherdstown Elementary School
Jefferson County Board of Education has many questions about plans to provide water and sewer utilities to the new Shepherdstown elementary school site. Read the Full Story >>
Navigating A Difficult Road
The Observer asked Stephen Willingham to explore how the local public school system is managing through the current public health crisis. The author interviewed the Superintendent and also spoke with teachers about their experiences in the classroom and online. Read the Full Story >>
JCPS Responds to Rise in Special Education Needs with New Student Support Center
In April, Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) announced in a press release that, due to a significant increase in both the number of students and the level of student needs served in the past decade—particularly, the intensive needs of students requiring special education services—they were moving forward with the development of a regional student support center to meet those needs in a way that creates a more positive and productive experience for students, families, and staff. Read the Full Story >>
Area School Systems Eye New Year on the Horizon
With schools slated to re-open on August 20, both Jefferson and Berkeley County (WV) school systems are continuing to see an upward trend in enrollment, which they are juggling while rolling out new programs for both students and faculty. Read the Full Story >>
March for Our Lives Solidarity Events Occur | Schools Prepared for Future Threats
Chilly winds and winter-like temperatures didn’t deter approximately 600 students from participating in a demonstration in front of Washington High School (Jefferson County, WV) on March 14, one month after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida, which claimed 17 lives. Read the Full Story >>