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When Dr. Michael Benson stepped into his role as president of West Virginia University (WVU), he did so with a clear mission: to honor the legacy of the institution while preparing it for a bold, forward-facing future. With more than two decades of leadership in higher education and a rich personal history shaped by travel, family and a love for learning, Benson brings to Morgantown a deep appreciation for the power of education to change lives.

With new growth, investments, expansions and partnerships emerging throughout the region, the Eastern Panhandle is experiencing remarkable growth. Through efforts that help business thrive, education advance and communities flourish, progress is steady in this tight-knit corner of the Mountain State.

Most children follow a traditional academic calendar: nine months of classes followed by a two-month summer break before advancing to the next grade. Year-round schools, however, take a different
approach—students receive the same number of days off, but their breaks are divided into shorter, three-week intervals spread throughout the year. In West Virginia, Piedmont Elementary is the only school currently running on a year-round schedule.

In 2018, Christian Asam was recognized as a West Virginia Executive Young Gun, an early acknowledgment of his leadership
and vision at the Bavarian Inn. Since then, he has actively worked to expand the inn and enhance its amenities.

Most children follow a traditional academic calendar: nine months of classes followed by a two-month summer break before advancing to the next grade. Year-round schools, however, take a different
approach—students receive the same number of days off, but their breaks are divided into shorter, three-week intervals spread throughout the year. In West Virginia, Piedmont Elementary is the only school currently running on a year-round schedule.

“I just didn’t see a path for myself,” says Anthony. “I was making Bs and Cs in school, but I wasn’t excited about anything. I had no real goals after high school, and I definitely didn’t think much was possible for me in West Virginia.”

For generations, West Virginia’s families have watched their state rank near the bottom in national education outcomes. According to U.S. News & World Report, West Virginia sits at 46th in pre-K-12 education, a sobering place for a state with deep community roots and fierce pride.

Education is expanding in the Mountain State but not just in traditional classroom or collegiate settings. Programs offering unique methods of learning are giving West Virginians of different ages, backgrounds and skill sets the opportunity to learn in ways that are fun, interactive and best suit their goals.

The future of education in the Mountain State is being shaped not only by educators and curriculums but also by the spaces where learning takes place. Across West Virginia, education leaders and architectural firms are reinventing the wheel when it comes to meeting the needs of a new generation of students. Modern school buildings must be flexible, technology-driven, safe and welcoming to students and the communities they serve.

A strong education system is not only important at the family level but also necessary for a thriving economy, as students represent the future workforce. There is no question that many challenges persist for public education across the state, but many key leaders are working toward a better future for West Virginia’s
education system.

Few educators have transformed classrooms across the U.S. quite like Ron Clark. From his early years teaching in some of the most challenging schools in the nation to co-founding the internationally renowned Ron Clark Academy (RCA) in Atlanta, Clark has built his career on one simple principle: aim high and bring every student along. His energy, creativity and no-excuses commitment to
excellence have transformed not only his own students’ lives but also the work of thousands of teachers who carry his methods back to their schools.

When roadsurfer expanded into the U.S., the company invited a West Virginia adventurer to take one of its vans into the American West. The result: a journey that blended travel, partnership and perspective.