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Superintendent C.C. Lester isn't new to Pocahontas County, he is a former principal at Marlinton Middle School, but he is new to being in charge of an entire county's school system.

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On the first day of school, teachers, principals and students weren't alone in returning to the classroom. Lester and his staff visited the schools to show their support and to welcome the students.

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"It was really rewarding for me on the first day of school to visit all the schools," Lester said. "I sent my staff out too, one school each. It was energizing to see classes actually engaged in the first day of school, it impressed me."

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Although all schools find themselves facing difficult issues, Lester is positive this year will be a great year overall. Every Pocahontas County school met AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) last year.

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Lester said he feels that with this boost of confidence, the students will meet all challenges head-on.

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The first day of school proved to Lester the students were ready for the year.

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"At Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, it amazed me, when the students were making a class change, the fifth grade came out right down the hall to the bathroom like they were in the middle of the year [instead of the first day of school]," he said. "I thought it was really refreshing to see the kids actually engaged."

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Keeping the students best interests at heart, Lester has made several decisions for changes and additions to the school system.

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"We just posted a job similar to what my wife and I did in Nicholas County," he explained. "It's a student interventionist, not for academics, but someone to be involved with the kids and make sure they are ready to graduate, or work with them on issues at home or issues with peer relations, things like that."

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Lester plans to have an interventionist at the middle schools and the high school to work with the students.

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"The students are our number one resource, so we need to make sure they are getting all they need out of the school system," Lester said.

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