Martirano announces final year as state superintendent

West Virginia State Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Michael Martirano announced Tuesday, Sept. 20, that he will resign his position on June 30, 2017, in order to move closer to his family in Maryland.
“After much consideration and heartfelt discussion with my family, I have decided to resign my position as the State Superintendent of West Virginia,” Martirano said. “The past two years have been the most rewarding of my career and I could not be more proud of the work we’ve accomplished on behalf of our young people. Unfortunately, I have been challenged with personal family matters outside of my control and it is necessary for me to move closer to my family and my children and seek employment opportunities near them. It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve as West Virginia’s Superintendent and I would like to thank our State Board for being my partner in education and for their confidence and support.”
Martirano was named the 30th State Superintendent of Schools in September 2014. Martirano is guided by the principle that he is a teacher first and foremost and believes children must be kept at the center of all decision making. During his tenure, Martirano has worked to create an aligned system of standards, assessment and accountability. He outlined a five-year strategic plan which includes measurable goals and objectives for the Mountain State. His vision and strategic plan are based on the core value that all children can and will learn. Under Martirano’s leadership, West Virginia has observed notable success in the areas of early childhood literacy, graduation rates and career technical education.
“It is with a heavy heart that I accept Dr. Martirano’s resignation,” said State Board of Education President Mike Green. “Dr. Martirano has done an outstanding job as our State Superintendent, has had positive impact on the state’s educational system and has mapped out a clear path for continuous improvement. Under his leadership, we have codified our College and Career Readiness Standards, we finally have a consistent and continuous assessment and accountability system plus our students have shown gains in proficiency on assessments.”
By making this announcement now, the State Board of Education will have ample time to seek a new state superintendent. Martirano plans to work tirelessly in his final year to carry out his core mission of ensuring a world-class education for all students in West Virginia.