McDowell schools: No easy replacement for Cook, Manchin
Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV
June 4, 2010
McDowell schools: No easy replacement for Cook, Manchin
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
— A local school system that is still operating under the control of the state Board of Education will soon be undergoing yet another transition.
Suzette Cook, who was appointed by the state board as McDowell County school superintendent in 2007 following the departure of Dr. Mark Manchin, is now leaving effective July 1. Cook, a graduate of Iaeger High School who also served as the assistant superintendent of elementary education for McDowell County Schools from 2002 to 2007, will be joining the state Department of Education as a Title I School Improvement Coordinator.
As part of her new job, Cook will be working with schools that have a large population of children from low-income families. Cook previously worked with the state board from 1995 to 2002 as a Title I Mathematics Coordinator and assistant director of Federal Programs.
When she accepted the superintendent’s post in 2007, Cook faced the difficult challenge of finishing the job started by Manchin in 2002. That included closing many old schools — some that dated back to World War II — and building new state-of-the-art schools outside of the flood plain in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Manchin accepted the job of executive director of the state School Building Authority in 2007. At the time of his departure, several of the new schools had already been completed, including Mount View Middle School in Welch and the new Southside K-8 School in War.
Under Cook’s leadership, other new schools were opened, including the new Bradshaw Elementary and the new River View High School also in Bradshaw. There is still one more school to be built — Iaeger Elementary — as part of the original 2001 agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. That task will fall on the shoulders of her replacement.
During Cook’s time with McDowell County Schools, the county made major changes in curriculum and finances, according to state School Superintendent Steve Paine. Advanced Placement classes were added at all high schools, and technology improvements were implemented. Five Title I schools have also been named as Title I Distinguished Schools and three schools have achieved School of Excellence status. In addition, Paine said intensive professional development for teachers was provided to further enhance student performance.
To put it in simple terms, McDowell County Schools have made significant advances under Manchin and Cook’s leadership. Now, the state board faces the difficult job of finding someone capable of continuing the job.
The state Board of Education retains partial control over McDowell County Schools. As a result, a new superintendent will be appointed by the state board. The board will meet on June 7, and the issue is on the board’s agenda for discussion.
We wish the state board members the best of luck in finding a qualified candidate capable of finishing the job started by Manchin and Cook. It won’t be easy finding a replacement for these two exceptional school administrators.
