Mission and Purpose of WVPEC:

As of January 2019, WVPEC is composed of twenty-four school divisions in western Virginia that include Alleghany County, Bath County, Bland County, Botetourt County, Carroll County, Covington City, Craig County, Culpeper County, Danville, Floyd County, Franklin County, Giles County, Grayson County, Henry County, Lexington City, Martinsville City, Montgomery County, Patrick County, Pulaski County, Radford City, Roanoke City, Roanoke County, Salem City and Wythe County. WVPEC’s goal is to support educational programming and student success in each of these school divisions and throughout the region, as a whole. School divisions support WVPEC efforts through student fees and through ongoing promotion of WVPEC projects and efforts.

The twenty-four school superintendents along with representatives from Virginia Tech and Radford University form the Governing Board of this legislatively approved organization. An Executive Committee of six elected superintendents (listed below) oversees and supports the organization through monthly meetings in Radford. Day-to-day operations of WVPEC are overseen and supported by an Executive Director and an Executive Assistant, both of whom are part-time employees. WVPEC offices are located in Radford University’s Corporate Park, 6226 University Park Drive, Suite 2200, Radford, Virginia 24141 (phone number 540-831-6414). WVPEC’s website can be accessed at http://www.wvpec.org and WVPEC officials may be reached by email at tarbogas@swva.net and wvpec.executive.asst@gmail.com.

As of January 2019, members of the WVPEC Executive Committee:

Voting Members:
Dr. Robert Graham, Chair (Radford City)
Dr. W. Mark Church, Vice Chair (Franklin County)
Mr. John Busher (Botetourt County)
Dr. John Wheeler (Floyd County)
Dr. Terry Arbogast II (Giles County)
Dr. Kevin Siers (Pulaski County)

Non-Voting Members:
The Honorable Greg Habeeb (R-8th)
The Honorable Joseph Yost (D-12th)
Dr. Brad E. Bizzell (Radford University)
Dr. M. David Alexander (Virginia Tech)

July 1, 2017 — Amount of money in WVPEC accounts: $28,872.77
June 30, 2018 — Amount of money in WVPEC accounts: $43,815.13
WVPEC accounts are to be reviewed by a certified public accountant and results shared with the WVPEC Governing Board during the fiscal year following the audit year.

Major WVPEC projects/initiatives completed this year:

• The Virginia School Leaders Institute (VSLI). A year-long institute, with participants meeting at the Hotel Roanoke for four 3-day workshops, the VSLI for Recently Appointed Administrators commenced in October 2005 and is a joint effort with Virginia Tech. Based on the ISLLC standards for school leaders, the School Leaders Institute is a researched-based professional development activity for newly appointed administrators.

Virginia School Leaders Institute for Recently-Appointed Administrators participants: 36 of which 24 were WVPEC participants (fall 2018)

• High School Senior Exit and Graduate Follow-up Surveys. Each spring, high school seniors in the WVPEC region’s high schools are afforded the opportunity to complete an online survey and data are then tabulated by WVPEC. Results are sent to each school superintendent detailing his/her graduating seniors’ perceptions of their high school experiences.

• The WVPEC Regional Teacher Recruitment Job Fair. WVPEC holds a regional teacher recruitment fair each year which has drawn applicants across the Commonwealth as well as from surrounding municipalities. The Job Fair is held at the beginning of each year in Salem, Virginia, a central location in our region. Candidates often complete an on-line application that is used by Human Resource departments in WVPEC divisions and divisions refer back to the database as they fill positions in all content areas.

January 2019 Teacher Recruitment Job Fair divisions attending: 21
January 2019 Teacher Recruitment Job Fair participants: 180

• Professional Development. In the spring 2011, WVPEC districts indicated they would like the organization to offer professional development workshops for their teachers and administrators and WVPEC responded to their requests. Commencing June 2011 through February 2019, WVPEC has hosted 40 Professional Development workshop/conferences with attendees from many districts across the Commonwealth (both WVPEC and non-WVPEC members). During 2017-2018, WVPEC held 5 workshops/conferences with over 369 registered.

WVPEC will continue its plan to hold at least three Professional Development conferences during its fiscal year.