🥶🌬School Alert 🌬🥶
about 2 hours ago, Dr. Leatha Williams, Superintendent of Schools
graphic regarding a 3-hour delay for 2.9.2026
❄️🥶School Alert🥶❄️
3 days ago, Dr. Leatha Williams, Superintendent of Schools
Announcement that school is closed on February 6, 2026
🌟 FREE Parent Coaching! 🌟

Pocahontas County Schools is excited to partner with the Cook Center for Human Connection to offer FREE, confidential Parent Coaching for all families.

💬 What is Parent Coaching?
It’s a supportive, one‑on‑one service that connects parents and caregivers with trained coaches who help navigate real-life challenges such as:
✔️ Child or teen anxiety
✔️ School stress
✔️ Social or emotional concerns
✔️ Behavior challenges
✔️ Communication struggles
✔️ Parenting strategies & routines

🧑‍🏫 Completely free. Completely confidential. Available to every PCS family.

📅 Parents can participate from home, on a schedule that works for them.

💛 Our goal is to support stronger connections, healthier families, and student well-being—together.

➡️ Learn more or sign up here: cookcenter.info/coaching

#PocahontasCountySchools #CookCenter #ParentCoaching #FamilySupport #PCStrongerTogether #StudentSuccess
3 days ago, Kristi Hamons
“Graphic promoting ParentGuidance.org’s free coaching for parents. The design features winter-themed snowflakes, the headline ‘Coaching for Parents,’ and the message ‘One-on-one support makes the winter days feel brighter.’ A QR code and link to cookcenter.info/coaching appear at the bottom, along with a photo of an adult and child embracing.”
🚌 Happy Love the Bus Month, Pocahontas County! 💛

February is nationally recognized as Love the Bus Month, a time to celebrate the yellow school bus and the incredible transportation professionals who keep our students safe every day. Here in Pocahontas County Schools, our drivers and transportation staff go above and beyond—navigating mountain roads, greeting students with a smile, and ensuring every child arrives ready to learn.

This month, we honor their commitment, care, and responsibility. Safe, reliable transportation is essential to student access, learning, and success, and we are grateful for the dedicated team behind every route.
Help us show appreciation—share a thank‑you message, photo, or shout‑out for your favorite bus driver below! 💛🚌

#LoveTheBus #PocahontasProud #PCStrongerTogether
4 days ago, Kristi Hamons
A collage of school bus–themed photos celebrating Love the Bus Month. The top-left image shows a group of young students and several adults standing in front of a yellow Pocahontas County Schools bus. The bottom-left image shows a bus driver seated behind the wheel of a school bus. The bottom-right image features a yellow school bus parked outdoors with a staff member standing beside it. The top-right panel includes the Love the Bus Month logo with the text “Education, Delivered.” and “February 2026.” A sketch-style illustration of a school building overlays the center of the collage.
❄️❄️School Alert❄️❄️
5 days ago, Dr. Leatha Williams, Superintendent of Schools
graphic for 3-hour delay on February 4, 2026
Happy National School Counseling Week! 💙

This week we celebrate the important work of our Pocahontas County Schools student support team. Thank you to our school counselors, Missy Hill and Janessa Henderson, for the care, guidance, and encouragement you provide our students every day.

We also appreciate Dana Cutlip, whose support as our district social worker makes a tremendous difference for students and families across the county.

Take a moment this week to thank the people who help our students grow, feel supported, and stay on track. 💛📚

#PCStrongerTogether #PocahontasCountySchools #NSCW #ThankACounselor
5 days ago, Kristi Hamons
“Graphic for National School Counseling Week from the American School Counselor Association. The text reads: ‘National School Counseling Week – School Counselors Amplify Student Success.’ Below is a colorful, wavy soundwave design. A teal circle shows the dates ‘Feb. 2–6, 2026.’ At the bottom, large text reads: ‘Thank You, School Counselors.’ The background is dark blue.”
Missy Hill
Janessa Henderson
Dana Cutlip
🌬🥶School Alert🥶🌬
7 days ago, Dr. Leatha Williams, Superintendent of Schools
graphic announcing 3-hour delay
🥶🥶Alert🥶🥶
10 days ago, Dr. Leatha Williams, Superintendent of Schools
closed announcement
🌬🥶Closure Alert🥶🌬
11 days ago, Dr. Leatha Williams, Superintendent of Schools
closure alert for 1.29.26
🥶🌬School Alert🌬🥶
12 days ago, Dr. Leatha Williams, Superintendent of Schools
graphic announcing snow day closure on January 28, 2026.
🥶🌬School Closed🌬🥶
13 days ago, Dr. Leatha Williams, Superintendent of Schools
graphic announcing school closed on 1.27.26
🌬❄️🥶 Alert 🌬❄️🥶
14 days ago, Dr. Leatha Williams, Superintendent of Schools
graphic announcing school closed on January 26, 2026.
🏆 Celebrating Our PCHS Fall All-State Athletes 🏆

Pocahontas County Schools proudly recognizes our Pocahontas County High School fall student-athletes who earned All-State honors during the 2025 season. These athletes were recognized at the Board of Education meeting on January 20, 2026 for their outstanding achievements.

Although all of the student-athletes were not able to attend the meeting in person, we are proud to celebrate all of our All-State honorees. The photos shared today include recognition from the BOE meeting and additional photos provided by PCHS so we can honor every deserving student.

🏈 Football – Honorable Mention

Griffin Taylor – QB, LB, K
Haydon Moore – RB, DB, P

⚽ Boys Soccer
1st Team

Wade Garber – Forward

2nd Team

Tristen O’Steen – Defender

Honorable Mention

Kaden Wayne
Quincy Sharp
Luke Taylor

⚽ Girls Soccer
2nd Team

Shayla Bennett – Goalkeeper
Ramona Hardy – Midfielder

Honorable Mention

Riley Cassell
Chloe Annett
Allyson Taylor

👏 Congratulations to these PCHS student-athletes for their dedication, leadership, and excellence on and off the field. You represent your school and community with pride!

#PCSProud #PCHSAthletics #AllStateAthletes #StudentAthleteExcellence
16 days ago, Kristi Hamons
PCHS fall all state athletes
athlete being recognized at meeting
BOE members with student athlete
Hayden Moore
❄️❄️❄️Delay Alert!❄️❄️❄️
20 days ago, Kristi Hamons
Snow Landscape with house and snowman and text: Pocahontas County Schools will operate on a 3-hour delay on 1.20.26 due to frigid temperatures and wind chill factors
📢 Reminder for Families and Staff

Pocahontas County Schools and the Central Office will be closed on Monday, January 19th, 2026, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

We will see everyone back on Tuesday!

Thank you, and enjoy the day of reflection and remembrance.
23 days ago, Kristi Hamons
“Graphic announcing Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a stylized illustration of a man in a suit, a red and blue American flag icon, and the Pocahontas County Schools logo. Text reads: ‘Martin Luther King Jr Day — Monday, January 19th, 2026. All Pocahontas County Schools and the Central Office will be closed in observance.’”
❄️🥶 3-hour delay alert 🥶❄️
24 days ago, Dr. Leatha Williams, Superintendent of Schools
3-hour delay for January 16, 2026
An update from the desk of Pocahontas County Schools Superintendent, Dr. Leatha Williams
24 days ago, Kristi Hamons
Dear Community Members, School Staff, and Families, As a child growing up in Neola, West Virginia, I am very familiar with small-town life. In many ways, small towns offer some of the very best our country has to offer. They are unique in that everyone knows your name, and there is always a friendly face willing to help when needed. I am also aware that in small towns, the school system is the heart of community activity—the soul of engagement—and often the topic of dinner-table conversations and social media discussions. The world has changed significantly since the pandemic, particularly with the rapid growth of social media platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, and others. These platforms are often used as sources of news and as outlets for individuals to share thoughts and opinions on a wide range of topics. Much of what is read, however, reflects personal perceptions that may or may not be rooted in facts or a full understanding of processes and laws. I am writing to provide a mid-year update and to ensure that we are all working together toward the shared goal of developing a strong school system that remains free from state control. We have been working diligently to address both the Special Circumstance Review and the Special Education Monitoring requirements, mandated by the West Virginia of Education in the takeover. The first phase of this work focused on increasing staff awareness of identified issues. The next phase involved countywide training to address those issues and establish appropriate policies and procedures. These initial stages, while important, are the easier parts of the process because they involve the intake of information. The most challenging stage is implementation. This phase requires us to change practices and explore new ways of thinking to ensure our school system is both high-functioning and high-performing. As part of this process, I am closely reviewing our operations to ensure that all schools are following required policies, procedures, and processes in accordance with State Code. There will be times when I must make clear and decisive decisions as superintendent to ensure the health, safety, and effectiveness of our school system. Recently, I addressed spending processes within our schools. We were not consistently following state guidance related to procedures and accounting. These concerns were presented to the Pocahontas County Board of Education during a special meeting on January 9. I am also currently evaluating vacant positions across the county. Some positions have remained unfilled for the entire school year—and in certain cases, for two or more years because there were no certified teachers to hire. As a result, long-term substitutes or uncertified educators have been placed in these roles. While I am grateful for every retired teacher and substitute who supports our schools, this situation means that students may not be receiving instruction from a highly qualified, certified teacher in that subject area. Additionally, using substitutes in long-term roles creates daily staffing shortages, resulting in classrooms being covered by other staff members. This reality requires me, as superintendent, to examine our programs and job postings and ask, “What can we do better to serve our students?” That is exactly the work I am doing. I have also been reviewing opportunities that are currently unavailable to our students, particularly in terms of course offerings. For example, we do not have a full-time high school counselor due to a lack of applicants. Rather than continuing to post a position we cannot fill, I have abolished that position and replaced it with a full-time graduation coach. This change will help alleviate the workload of our part-time counselor while providing students with strong support in planning their futures and navigating college applications. Looking ahead, I hope to implement additional opportunities next year, including a Practical Nursing Pathway, a Medical Assisting Pathway within our Career and Technical Education programs, and a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program. Some of these offerings will allow students to graduate with an associate degree and directly enter high-need fields within our community. This means our high school will produce career-ready graduates who do not have to leave the community to pursue higher education. I believe this is an exciting step forward for our students, our schools, and our community. To make these opportunities possible, I must carefully review school schedules, staffing, and finances. I began this process by examining positions that are currently vacant or have been vacant for multiple years. These unfilled positions will be abolished for the 2026–2027 school year. No one has lost a job as a result of these changes. By repurposing these positions, we are creating the financial flexibility needed to expand programs while maintaining responsible stewardship of our finances. This approach will ultimately strengthen our school system and broaden opportunities for our students. In closing, I encourage our community to stay engaged by attending or watching Board of Education meetings (https://boe.pocahontas.k12.wv.us/page/board-of-education-links) where I regularly provide updates on our progress. I also urge everyone to remember that secondhand information shared on social media is not always accurate. My door is always open, and you are welcome to stop by my office at any time. My email address is lgwillia@k12.wv.us and my office number is 304-799-4505. I will respond to you as appropriately and timely as I can. As I continue getting to know the community, I would welcome the opportunity to talk with you about our school system and the work we are doing together. There is no greater resource in Pocahontas County than our children.  The children we serve are our priority in all regards.  As my team and I manage our school system, in all ways, our constant focus will always be on how to meet student needs and to help each child succeed.  The sacred service to children is a constant commitment and focus of the school system in collaboration with our supportive communities.  We are STRONGER TOGETHER!
Dear Community Members, School Staff, and Families, As a child growing up in Neola, West Virginia, I am very familiar with small-town life. In many ways, small towns offer some of the very best our country has to offer. They are unique in that everyone knows your name, and there is always a friendly face willing to help when needed. I am also aware that in small towns, the school system is the heart of community activity—the soul of engagement—and often the topic of dinner-table conversations and social media discussions. The world has changed significantly since the pandemic, particularly with the rapid growth of social media platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, and others. These platforms are often used as sources of news and as outlets for individuals to share thoughts and opinions on a wide range of topics. Much of what is read, however, reflects personal perceptions that may or may not be rooted in facts or a full understanding of processes and laws. I am writing to provide a mid-year update and to ensure that we are all working together toward the shared goal of developing a strong school system that remains free from state control. We have been working diligently to address both the Special Circumstance Review and the Special Education Monitoring requirements, mandated by the West Virginia of Education in the takeover. The first phase of this work focused on increasing staff awareness of identified issues. The next phase involved countywide training to address those issues and establish appropriate policies and procedures. These initial stages, while important, are the easier parts of the process because they involve the intake of information. The most challenging stage is implementation. This phase requires us to change practices and explore new ways of thinking to ensure our school system is both high-functioning and high-performing. As part of this process, I am closely reviewing our operations to ensure that all schools are following required policies, procedures, and processes in accordance with State Code. There will be times when I must make clear and decisive decisions as superintendent to ensure the health, safety, and effectiveness of our school system. Recently, I addressed spending processes within our schools. We were not consistently following state guidance related to procedures and accounting. These concerns were presented to the Pocahontas County Board of Education during a special meeting on January 9. I am also currently evaluating vacant positions across the county. Some positions have remained unfilled for the entire school year—and in certain cases, for two or more years because there were no certified teachers to hire. As a result, long-term substitutes or uncertified educators have been placed in these roles. While I am grateful for every retired teacher and substitute who supports our schools, this situation means that students may not be receiving instruction from a highly qualified, certified teacher in that subject area. Additionally, using substitutes in long-term roles creates daily staffing shortages, resulting in classrooms being covered by other staff members. This reality requires me, as superintendent, to examine our programs and job postings and ask, “What can we do better to serve our students?” That is exactly the work I am doing. I have also been reviewing opportunities that are currently unavailable to our students, particularly in terms of course offerings. For example, we do not have a full-time high school counselor due to a lack of applicants. Rather than continuing to post a position we cannot fill, I have abolished that position and replaced it with a full-time graduation coach. This change will help alleviate the workload of our part-time counselor while providing students with strong support in planning their futures and navigating college applications. Looking ahead, I hope to implement additional opportunities next year, including a Practical Nursing Pathway, a Medical Assisting Pathway within our Career and Technical Education programs, and a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program. Some of these offerings will allow students to graduate with an associate degree and directly enter high-need fields within our community. This means our high school will produce career-ready graduates who do not have to leave the community to pursue higher education. I believe this is an exciting step forward for our students, our schools, and our community. To make these opportunities possible, I must carefully review school schedules, staffing, and finances. I began this process by examining positions that are currently vacant or have been vacant for multiple years. These unfilled positions will be abolished for the 2026–2027 school year. No one has lost a job as a result of these changes. By repurposing these positions, we are creating the financial flexibility needed to expand programs while maintaining responsible stewardship of our finances. This approach will ultimately strengthen our school system and broaden opportunities for our students. In closing, I encourage our community to stay engaged by attending or watching Board of Education meetings (https://boe.pocahontas.k12.wv.us/page/board-of-education-links) where I regularly provide updates on our progress. I also urge everyone to remember that secondhand information shared on social media is not always accurate. My door is always open, and you are welcome to stop by my office at any time. My email address is lgwillia@k12.wv.us and my office number is 304-799-4505. I will respond to you as appropriately and timely as I can. As I continue getting to know the community, I would welcome the opportunity to talk with you about our school system and the work we are doing together. There is no greater resource in Pocahontas County than our children.  The children we serve are our priority in all regards.  As my team and I manage our school system, in all ways, our constant focus will always be on how to meet student needs and to help each child succeed.  The sacred service to children is a constant commitment and focus of the school system in collaboration with our supportive communities.  We are STRONGER TOGETHER!
Dear Community Members, School Staff, and Families, As a child growing up in Neola, West Virginia, I am very familiar with small-town life. In many ways, small towns offer some of the very best our country has to offer. They are unique in that everyone knows your name, and there is always a friendly face willing to help when needed. I am also aware that in small towns, the school system is the heart of community activity—the soul of engagement—and often the topic of dinner-table conversations and social media discussions. The world has changed significantly since the pandemic, particularly with the rapid growth of social media platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, and others. These platforms are often used as sources of news and as outlets for individuals to share thoughts and opinions on a wide range of topics. Much of what is read, however, reflects personal perceptions that may or may not be rooted in facts or a full understanding of processes and laws. I am writing to provide a mid-year update and to ensure that we are all working together toward the shared goal of developing a strong school system that remains free from state control. We have been working diligently to address both the Special Circumstance Review and the Special Education Monitoring requirements, mandated by the West Virginia of Education in the takeover. The first phase of this work focused on increasing staff awareness of identified issues. The next phase involved countywide training to address those issues and establish appropriate policies and procedures. These initial stages, while important, are the easier parts of the process because they involve the intake of information. The most challenging stage is implementation. This phase requires us to change practices and explore new ways of thinking to ensure our school system is both high-functioning and high-performing. As part of this process, I am closely reviewing our operations to ensure that all schools are following required policies, procedures, and processes in accordance with State Code. There will be times when I must make clear and decisive decisions as superintendent to ensure the health, safety, and effectiveness of our school system. Recently, I addressed spending processes within our schools. We were not consistently following state guidance related to procedures and accounting. These concerns were presented to the Pocahontas County Board of Education during a special meeting on January 9. I am also currently evaluating vacant positions across the county. Some positions have remained unfilled for the entire school year—and in certain cases, for two or more years because there were no certified teachers to hire. As a result, long-term substitutes or uncertified educators have been placed in these roles. While I am grateful for every retired teacher and substitute who supports our schools, this situation means that students may not be receiving instruction from a highly qualified, certified teacher in that subject area. Additionally, using substitutes in long-term roles creates daily staffing shortages, resulting in classrooms being covered by other staff members. This reality requires me, as superintendent, to examine our programs and job postings and ask, “What can we do better to serve our students?” That is exactly the work I am doing. I have also been reviewing opportunities that are currently unavailable to our students, particularly in terms of course offerings. For example, we do not have a full-time high school counselor due to a lack of applicants. Rather than continuing to post a position we cannot fill, I have abolished that position and replaced it with a full-time graduation coach. This change will help alleviate the workload of our part-time counselor while providing students with strong support in planning their futures and navigating college applications. Looking ahead, I hope to implement additional opportunities next year, including a Practical Nursing Pathway, a Medical Assisting Pathway within our Career and Technical Education programs, and a Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program. Some of these offerings will allow students to graduate with an associate degree and directly enter high-need fields within our community. This means our high school will produce career-ready graduates who do not have to leave the community to pursue higher education. I believe this is an exciting step forward for our students, our schools, and our community. To make these opportunities possible, I must carefully review school schedules, staffing, and finances. I began this process by examining positions that are currently vacant or have been vacant for multiple years. These unfilled positions will be abolished for the 2026–2027 school year. No one has lost a job as a result of these changes. By repurposing these positions, we are creating the financial flexibility needed to expand programs while maintaining responsible stewardship of our finances. This approach will ultimately strengthen our school system and broaden opportunities for our students. In closing, I encourage our community to stay engaged by attending or watching Board of Education meetings (https://boe.pocahontas.k12.wv.us/page/board-of-education-links) where I regularly provide updates on our progress. I also urge everyone to remember that secondhand information shared on social media is not always accurate. My door is always open, and you are welcome to stop by my office at any time. My email address is lgwillia@k12.wv.us and my office number is 304-799-4505. I will respond to you as appropriately and timely as I can. As I continue getting to know the community, I would welcome the opportunity to talk with you about our school system and the work we are doing together. There is no greater resource in Pocahontas County than our children.  The children we serve are our priority in all regards.  As my team and I manage our school system, in all ways, our constant focus will always be on how to meet student needs and to help each child succeed.  The sacred service to children is a constant commitment and focus of the school system in collaboration with our supportive communities.  We are STRONGER TOGETHER!
🥶❄️Non-traditional Learning Day Alert☃️🥶
25 days ago, Dr. Leatha Williams, Superintendent of Schools
announcement for non-traditional learning day on 1.15.26
❄️❄️❄️Delay Alert❄️❄️❄️
25 days ago, Dr. Leatha Williams, Superintendent of Schools
announcement 3 hour delay
🎉 Shout-Out to Our 2025–2026 County Science Fair Participants! 🧪🔬

Pocahontas County Schools is proud to recognize the outstanding students who participated at this year’s countywide Science Fair! Students in grades 3–12 participated, with 35 projects representing schools across the county.

👏 Congratulations to our first-place winners, who will advance to the Regional Science Fair on January 24 at Eastern Greenbrier Middle School:

🔬 Hillsboro Elementary School (HES)
🌟 Annabel
🌟 Jonah & Sadie
🌟 Fenna

🔬 Green Bank Elementary–Middle School (GBEMS)
🌟 Rufus & Braxton
🌟 Madalyn, Noah, & Lucas
🌟 Brayden
🌟 Jenifer
🌟 Noah & Ethan

🔬 Marlinton Middle School (MMS)
🌟 Lane
🌟 Jackson

🔬 Pocahontas County High School (PCHS)
🌟 Julia

A heartfelt thank you to the Green Bank Observatory staff for serving as judges and for supporting STEM learning and opportunities for our students. Your time, expertise, and encouragement help inspire the next generation of scientists! 🌌✨Additionally, we would like to thank the various PCS staff that went the extra mile to make this Science Fair a great one!

We are incredibly proud of all our Science Fair participants and wish our advancing students the best of luck at regionals! 🧠✨

#PocahontasCountySchools #ScienceFair #STEMSuccess #FutureScientists #ThankYouGBO #PCSShines
27 days ago, Kristi Hamons
image of county science fair winners and participants
image of HES sceince fair winners
students presenting at science fair
students presenting at science fair
students presenting at science fair
students presenting at science fair
students presenting at science fair
students presenting at science fair
students presenting at science fair
students presenting at science fair