Meet our Members
Our members strive everyday to make our
West Virginia schools successful.
We are classroom teachers, college professors, student teachers, cafeteria workers, school secretaries, retirees, bus drivers, custodians and paraprofessionals. No matter the job title, we all are equal contributors to the education of West Virginia’s students. Meet some of our members and learn why they are proud members of WVEA.
BRIAN LAUCK
Music Teacher
Logan County Education Association
"WVEA not only supports educators, but it gives us vital resources. WVEA gives us connections to others who can help us become better educators for our schools, for our students, and for the community. I’m proud to be a WVEA member because it’s an organization that supports our educators, it supports our communities, and it supports our state."
JOHN R. PEACHER
Custodian
WVEA Education Support Professional
"WVEA is the premier organization for public employees. They watch out for our interests, for our retirement and benefit issues, and our job security."
WVEA Education Support Professional
MICHELLE HARDIN
1st Grade Teacher
Wood County Education Association
"WVEA is important to me, because it gives me the security I need as a professional. This organization allows me to be in the classroom while they are working hard to be an advocate for me. WVEA makes a difference in education."
LESLIE HAYNES
Title I Reading Specialist
Jackson County Education Association
"ESP’s are vital to our schools, because without our support professionals, we cannot carry out our daily tasks to serve each and every child. Dedication means putting children first and doing what’s in their best interest."
CINDY WELSH
Kindergarten Teacher
Berkeley County Education Association
"I’ve been a WVEA member for 26 years. I joined my first year of teaching, because I knew it was important to be part of an organization that was going to be the voice for teachers, for all educators, and for the students."
PHILIP TEE
Pre-K Teacher
McDowell County Education Association
"Being dedicated means going the extra mile for your school, for your classroom, for your fellow teachers. Dedication is doing what needs to be done to make sure the kids come first."
AKIRA GOULD
WVSEA President
Student Teacher
"WVEA is important to me, because it connects me to people within my profession who are great role models. I take advantage of the WVEA conferences to network and get tips on how to become a great teacher."
JOHN GUERINI
Social Studies Teacher
Fayette County Education Association
"I feel it’s important to be a part of WVEA, so I can have a voice in Charleston and be protected in the classroom by a dedicated organization. Being a teacher, while not being a WVEA member, is like playing football without a helmet, it’s like playing baseball without a glove, it’s like putting a child in a car without a car seat. WVEA provides me with professional protection and development."
DALE LEE
WVEA President
"I’m proud to be a WVEA member, because we are the people who stand up for the children of West Virginia. We take pride in our profession, and we stand up and advocate for our profession, for our members, and most importantly for our children in West Virginia."
GWENDOLYN LACY
2nd Grade Teacher
McDowell County Education Association
"WVEA is well respected in West Virginia. I’m proud to be a part of this organization because of the work they do on the behalf of students. Plus, being a part of WVEA means you’re connected to the NEA. Both provide wonderful member benefits."
MEREDITH HOOD
1st Grade Teacher
Brooke County Education Association
"I’m a proud member of WVEA. I appreciate the support system it provides me and my fellow educators. WVEA puts educators first."
KATHY MILLER
5th Grade Teacher
Kanawha County Education Association
"I’m happy to be a part of a growing organization. WVEA is important to me because it provides security and advocacy for educators. It’s a great support system. "
FRED FARRIS
Math Teacher
Raleigh County Education Association
"I’m proud to be a WVEA member, because WVEA is one of the only organizations that speaks entirely for teachers. It gives me a voice; it gives me a connection with agencies and legislators that impact my job as an educator."
BRIAN CRIM
Music Teacher
Berkeley County Education Association
"I’m proud to be a WVEA member, because they are a supportive group of people. It’s a professional organization that cares about both the teachers and the students. The students come first in our lives, and I’m proud to be part of an organization that puts students first too."
KAY SMITH
Computer Tech Support
Jefferson County Education Association
"Belonging to WVEA empowers me; it empowers all educators in West Virginia. I’m proud to belong to this organization because it gives me a voice, and it gives me protection."
ALICE ANN GUYON
Educator
Grant County Education Association
"WVEA is more than an association; it’s a family. They’re there for me, and I can count on them. The WVEA Help Center is always there to answer your questions and to help you with concerns. WVEA helps young teachers with their National Board of Certification. Plus, there’s the Access Card that offers wonderful member benefits."
LINDA ARBOGAST
Title I Reading Teacher
Brooke County Education Association
"WVEA is my voice in Charleston for all of the issues that impact what I do in the classroom. Being a member is like insurance, you have car insurance, home owners insurance, you need WVEA as your professional insurance."
EILEEN POLING
Gifted Teacher
Tucker County
"Membership in the West Virginia Education Association is not all about the benefits. It's about the camaraderie of teachers around the state, resources to help you become a better teacher, quality professional development and, a lot of times, just plain old fun."
SARAH HOLLIDAY
Recent Teacher Graduate
"I love teaching, because it’s great to see the light bulb go off whenever students 'get it.' I love seeing that 'aha' moment. It's amazing! I'm a member of the WVEA, because I feel this group of people, working together, makes education better in the classroom."
WAYNE SPANGLER
2nd Grade Teacher
Peterstown Elementary School
"I'm proud to be a member of WVEA because, for over 150 years, WVEA has been at the forefront of quality education in West Virginia. That gives us the insight and knowledge to create great public schools for West Virginia students."
JESSICA ALFONSO
Special Education Teacher
Martinsburg Elementary School
"I'm proud to be a member of WVEA. As a new teacher, WVEA taught me a lot about educational policy that I wouldn't have learned otherwise. I now know my rights as a public school teacher in West Virginia. I also receive the benefits of a higher salary and protection of liability issues. I also get opportunities to meet with other professionals around the state and country."
DANIELLE LEE
Middle School Teacher
Mercer County
"WVEA is committed to teacher quality. It’s so important because we need teachers who will meet the needs of all students. We need to set the bar high and allow each of our students to reach their highest potential. If we, as teachers, are highly qualified and highly motivated then our students will succeed and become some of the best students in the nation."
THOMAS FLETCHER
Title 1 Reading Teacher
Berkeley Heights Elementary School
"I encourage others to join WVEA, because not only are we the spokespeople for education, but we support teacher involvement, we support parent involvement for our students, and we’re always looking for adequate funding for our schools."
MELANIE DONOFE
Teacher of Gifted Education
Hancock County Schools
"Teachers need to be proud of their profession, and WVEA makes me proud to be a teacher. Everybody looks to the WVEA members because we have the answers. I'm proud to be a member of the WVEA, because not only am I a great teacher, but these people are advocating for me while I’m teaching students. They are my support system while I'm in the classroom."
