Stankus

Stankus

BUCKHANNON — The Upshur County Superintendent of Schools will be heading to Charleston at the end of the month to become a deputy superintendent with the West Virginia Department of Education.

Dr. Sara Lewis-Stankus, who was named the Upshur superintendent in May 2018, will begin her work with the WVDE on Aug. 31.

“We are pleased to have Dr. Stankus join our efforts at the West Virginia Department of Education,” State Superintendent of Schools David L. Roach said. “She is an esteemed educator with a heart for teaching, learning and children. She will be a great asset as we continue to focus on issues of student achievement and as we advance public education in our state.”

Stankus will join Deputy Michele Blatt as part of the Department’s executive leadership team.

Throughout her career, Stankus has served in multiple counties as a teacher, special education teacher, counselor and principal.

Originally from Queens, she has over 30 years of educational experience. She was the principal at Union and Rock Cave Elementary Schools, and a counselor at Buckhannon-Upshur High School and Union and Hodgesville Elementary Schools.

She began her career at East Main Elementary School, which is now the Stockert Youth Center. She strongly believes in community involvement and that schools are a reflection of their community.

Stankus, an educator with 32 years of experience, earned a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from West Virginia University, a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Marshall University and an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and Special Education from West Virginia Wesleyan College.

Stankus was recognized as a distinguished alumnus and received the WVWC Martin Luther King Community Partner of the Year Award. Professionally, she also served as an executive member of the West Virginia Association of School Administrators Board, vice-chair of the Fred Eberle Career Technical Center Administrative Council, past president of the West Virginia Elementary and Middle School Principal Association, and a member of the Upshur County Development Authority, Rotary Club and Family Resource Network Board of Advisors.