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Students and parents ask board to reverse transfer of Huntington Middle teacher
Summary
Several Huntington Middle School students and a parent addressed the board to oppose a decision to change English teacher Jennifer Sowards' job description and transfer her from the school. The board said personnel matters require executive session and did not discuss specifics in public.
Multiple Huntington Middle School students and a parent urged the Cabell County Board of Education on May 20 to reverse a personnel decision they say will remove their teacher, Jennifer Sowards, from the school.
Student Cordelia Morris, who identified herself as a Huntington Middle School student, said Sowards is “an incredible teacher” and pleaded directly to the board: “Let my favorite teacher keep her job.” Margaret Conway, another sixth‑grade Huntington Middle student, described class projects and a mock trial and asked the board to repeal the decision to relocate the teacher.
Addie Rucker, a seventh‑grade student, described the emotional effect on classmates, saying she saw the teacher “crying” and that changing teachers can “affect their academic performance, their overall health.” A parent, Greg Morris, spoke in support and said his daughter benefited academically from strong English teachers.
Board members responded that personnel issues involving a named employee cannot be discussed in open session. President Polley said the board should “discuss that in executive session.” The board later moved into executive session for personnel items; after returning to open session the board ratified several personnel actions in closed session, and the superintendent recommended administrative leave in two separate personnel matters (those leaves were ratified by the board in open session following executive session).
Ending: The board did not reverse or discuss the specific teacher transfer in open session; members said they would address personnel matters in executive session as allowed by state law.
