Michele Blatt served as deputy state superintendent before being appointed as the new superintendent by the West Virginia Board of Education. Blatt has spent more than 25 years in education with prior experience as a teacher and principal prior to joining at the state level and her focus has centered on turning around low-performing schools. The move comes after former state superintendent David Roach announced he was retiring from the position and that will become effective on June 30. Blatt will take over the position July 1.