Dr. Mark Manchin’s professional career is pretty much set in one area – education. For roughly 45 years, he has served either the state or various parts of it in an educational venue.

 

The last six years have been spent in Harrison County. During that time, he has served as the Superintendent of Harrison County Schools.

 

The last day of that tenure was yesterday.

 

“The best six years of my professional career have been here,” said Manchin.

 

Manchin’s contract concluded officially June 30, which was Tuesday. His next stop is as the new president of Glenville State College in Gilmer County, not far from Harrison County and not too far from where he grew up in Marion County.

 

For those wondering why Manchin would leave behind what he calls his “best” years in the education arena for another challenge, he recalls the words of his father – former teacher and well-known West Virginia Secretary of State A. James Manchin.

 

“My dad’s advice was always to leave when no one wants you to leave as opposed to having to leave when everyone wants you to leave,” Manchin joked.

 

How Manchin is viewed through history’s local lens will be left to the discretion of those holding the camera, which is always the case for someone in a heavily scrutinized public position. There are some things, however, that are fact that will have Manchin’s name attached to it. And one of the biggest facts involves Johnson Elementary School.

 

“There’s a couple of things that I think about when I look at Bridgeport during my time here,” said Manchin. “It’s nearly a $20 million building that’s state of the art and provides a 21^st century education to the students in that attendance area … Johnson Elementary being built, particularly being able to get the money needed, was one of the shining and crowning achievements for the Board of Education during my time.

 

“People see the building, but the demolition of the old school and the parking lot addition were both significant projects,” he continued. “It’s still not done. You’re still going to see the addition of some trees in and around the area, particularly the parking lot, and some landscaping.”

 

There was one other thing Manchin said stands out about his time with the BOE and his dealings with Bridgeport. And that, he said, is the community itself.

 

“The City of Bridgeport was so supportive, and that includes its residents and the actual governing part of the city,” said Manchin. “I think it’s fairly well documented how the city worked with us through the entire process, such as waiving the B&O tax and helping with the traffic patterns.”

 

“When that school opened, you had to deal with one of the most frequently traveled and congested streets in the county in Johnson Avenue, and the city and their police stepped up to make it work,” he continued. “Let’s put it this way, had we not had the relationship with, a coalition so to speak, I doubt if we build that school and I guarantee you the gymnasium doesn’t get built.”

 

The Johnson Elementary School project was the biggest venture during Manchin’s time. He has also been part of the beginning of projects for elementary schools in Gore and Lost Creek.

 

“Working on projects and helping communities see achievement in their schools is wonderful. As much as I enjoy that, it’s always the students that made me want to keep going,” said Manchin. “The student, the families, the communities, every part of it, has been wonderful to be part of. It has been an honor.”

 

Editor's Note: Trio of Graduation photos, including Dr. Mark Manchin doing the Pledge of Allegiance with student Carson Winkie and Principal Matt DeMotto, are by Ben Queen Photography. Manchin is also shown during one of countless Board of Education meetings he's headed during the past six years.