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ELKINS – An unexpected personnel move has left Elkins Middle School without a principal early in the 2026-27 school year.
During the most recent Randolph County Board of Education meeting, the BOE unanimously approved EMS principal Dawn Kittle’s transfer to a teaching position at Jenning Randolph Elementary School.
Randolph County Superintendent Dr. Derek Lambert confirmed to The Inter-Mountain that Kittle has taken the teaching job at JRES, and that Elkins High School Athletic Director Ross Ware was substituting in her place as Elkins Middle School principal.
“Miss Kittle decided to take a teaching job at Jennings and that was approved at the last Board meeting,” Lambert said. “She was excited for that opportunity to get back into the classroom.”
Lambert said the posting for the open principal position at EMS ended at midnight on Friday.
“We have several applicants for the position,” Lambert said. “We plan to do interviews next week and potentially have a special Board meeting at some time next week to hire a new one.”
Lambert also debunked rumors that have been surfacing on social media that Elkins Middle School was also currently without any of its assistant principals at the school.
“Mr. (Ernie) Gooding and Mrs. (Kayla) White are still in place at Elkins Middle School,” Lambert said. “I have no idea where that rumor came from.”
Another rumor that has surfaced in the community was that former Tygarts Valley Principal Steve Wamsley would be helping out at Elkins Middle School.
Wamsley told The Inter-Mountain that he spoke with Lambert about the situation, but said he was not interested in any open positions and that his main focus now is on his campaign for the Randolph County Commission.
Wamsley retired at the end of the school year in June after 43 years of service in the Randolph County School system. He was the principal at Tygarts Valley High School for 19 years, from 2007 to 2026.
The next regular Randolph County Commission meeting is scheduled for Oct. 6 at 5:30 p.m.