State Superintendent Announces Appointments for County Leadership
Charleston, W.Va. – West Virginia Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt has appointed the following superintendents to serve in counties currently under West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) control. These individuals will work with the WVBE and the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) to address challenges at the local level and ensure the focus remains on student achievement and success.
Logan County
Superintendent Blatt has appointed Dr. George Aulenbacher as the new superintendent for Logan County. He is currently an assistant superintendent for Kanawha County Schools. He earned a bachelor’s degree from West Virginia State University, two master’s degrees from Marshall University and a doctorate degree from Morehead State University.
Logan County has been under state intervention since October 2022, under the leadership of Mr. Jeff Huffman. "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,” said Superintendent Blatt.
Mingo County
Superintendent Blatt has appointed Dr. Joetta S. Basile to fill the Mingo County position. Dr. Basile has served as the Monroe County Superintendent of Schools for the past 13 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Concord University, two master’s degrees from Marshall University and a doctorate degree from Liberty University.
State intervention began in Mingo County in March 2025.
Nicholas County
Mr. Scott Cochran will serve as the Nicholas County Superintendent of Schools. He has served the same role in Doddridge County since 2024 and previously led Webster County Schools for nine years. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Glenville State University, a master’s degree from West Virginia University and a master’s degree from Salem University.
State intervention began in Nicholas County earlier this month.
Tyler County
Superintendent Blatt retained Mr. Shane Highley as the Superintendent of Tyler County Schools. Mr. Highley has served as superintendent in the county for six years. He earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from West Virginia University with additional credentials from Ohio Valley University and Salem University.
Tyler County was placed under WVBE intervention this month.
Special Circumstance Reviews and other materials are available on the WVDE Office of Accountability web page.
“These appointments are important as our counties prepare for the upcoming school year,” said Superintendent Blatt. “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.”