Wyoming County, WV (WOAY) – Mullens Elementary School had an exciting April 29, 2025, celebrating its selection as a 2025 Exemplary Practice School, one of the top three in the state.
The recognition is for the school’s efforts to improve student achievement and growth.
“It solidifies the hard work that’s gone on here the last few years,” said Principal Kara Shumate. “That’s a credit to the teachers and aides in this building who come in every day and work so hard and love these kids so hard and just put them at the forefront of what we’re doing.”
West Virginia Department of Education’s Jordan McBride is honored to be from Mullens.
“I went to middle school here. My parents’ house is behind this school. Two tiny pieces of my heart are behind me, and my nephews go here,” McBride, district and school support office coordinator, said. “I’ve had these teachers. I’ve grown up with these people. It makes me emotional to get to see my people recognized for something so huge; I’m so proud.”
Being named an Exemplary Practice School is a big honor for small-town Mullens Elementary with only 140 students from K-4.
“Nice to be recognized as one of the smaller schools because that typically doesn’t happen,” said the principal. “We’re down here in Southern West Virginia, and sometimes we’re overlooked, it feels like. But for the Department of Education to recognize the great things going on here is really an honor.”
And a new Mullen’s Pre-K through eighth grade is going to be built, with 2026 the last year of Mullens Elementary School. The two schools will be combining.
“It means even more that they’re in their last years,” McBride said. “So what’s coming up for them is a beautiful new state-of-the-art building, and they’ll get to transition into that as exemplary students.”
