Mr. Saunders:
Congratulations on your appointment to Superintendent of Hancock County Schools, sir, and while we know you’ve stepped into a difficult situation that’s made headlines across the state of West Virginia, we are confident in your abilities because, well, we know you well and we hate to see you leave your native Ohio County.
Most recently, you’ve served as the director of federal programs and assessment for Ohio County Schools, but we’ve watched you teach our kids, lead our kids, and care about each and every one of our kids as an educator and administrator during one of the most challenging eras of public education. Since you began your career, we’ve witnessed an unfortunate erosion in the traditional family structure, and that’s forced teachers, staff members, and admins to step forward and assume roles never intended to be part of those job descriptions.
Not only have you stepped up, Walt, but you’ve never quit on our kids either. Thank you for that.
You believe in the “second chance” because failure is one of the most important ingredients to the learning process, and you also believe in the “last chance” because honest effort is an all-way street when it comes to a young person’s development. In other words for all to clearly understand, you’ve also taught “Life” without an officially catalogued class with a textbook that leads those lessons.
And we’re going to miss your contributions and dedication, Walt, and that’s why Ohio County’s Assistant Superintendent Rick Jones may have put it best with his Friday Facebook update: “Hanock County got a great one.”
Sincerely,
Your Little League Teammates (and everyone else, too)
