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Putnam County Schools superintendent honored by state
WINFIELD, W.Va. -- The West Virginia Association of School Administrators has awarded Putnam County Superintendent of Schools Harold "Chuck" Hatfield with the honor of West Virginia State Superintendent of the Year.
In a press release, Putnam County Board of Education Director of Early Childhood Education/Community Outreach Karen Nowviskie said Hatfield's career began with teaching elementary school in Putnam County in 1973. Throughout the years, he has served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, director of curriculum and instruction for elementary education, assistant superintendent for personnel, and deputy superintendent prior to holding the position of superintendent of schools.
Hatfield also serves as chairman on the Legislative Committee of the West Virginia Association of School Administrators and as chairman of the board of RESA III, which includes Boone, Clay, Kanawha and Putnam counties, positions in which he advocates for public education and affects public policy and practice.
Nowviskie said Hatfield's journey from substitute teacher to school chief has been filled with challenges, rewards, and accomplishments. As a teacher, she said he earned the respect of his students, their parents, and his colleagues. As a school administrator, he distinguished himself as an instructional leader, and in 1980, he was given the challenge of opening a new elementary school, Eastbrook Elementary.
As a central office administrator, Nowviskie notes Hatfield was instrumental in recruiting and hiring one of the most qualified and celebrated education workforces in the state and determining the direction of the system's strategic plans. As superintendent of schools, he has overseen the highest-achieving academic program in the state of West Virginia and the largest facilities improvement program since the 1980s.
"I'm blessed with a good community, good teachers, a good staff and a good board," Hatfield said in response to the recognition he's received. "It's because of them that I am able to do the work that I do."
Hatfield said his administration's greatest achievement is opening the lines of communication between the school system and the community.
"By making ourselves open and available to the public and bringing everyone to the table, so to speak, we have been able to truly respond to the needs of our citizens," he said. "I think that has been our greatest accomplishment."
As Superintendent of the Year, Hatfield will represent West Virginia at the National Association of School Administrators in San Francisco in February 2009.
