East Panhandle Times

Berkeley County Schools' Superintendent, Ryan Saxe, has been officially recognized as the West Virginia Superintendent of the Year at the National School Superintendents Association Conference. The event was held in New Orleans, Louisiana, from March 6-8, where Saxe, along with other state superintendents, gathered.

The announcement of Saxe's award was initially made in June of the previous year, just before he transitioned from Cabell County to Berkeley County Schools on July 1, 2024. This recognition allows state superintendents like Saxe to be candidates for the national title. The program acknowledges the significant leadership demonstrated in the field of education across the country.

Saxe expressed his gratitude for representing West Virginia, viewing the accolade as not just a personal achievement but a testament to community efforts in prioritizing education. "Being named State Superintendent of the Year is not just a personal honor," Saxe remarked. "Every member of the community contributes to our sole mission to educate our students. To me, this award belongs to the folk in both Cabell and Berkeley County."

With a background spanning 19 years in education, Saxe has served in various roles, including 4-H counselor, FFA advisor, assistant principal, principal, and as a coordinator at the West Virginia Department of Education. He later became the superintendent of Cabell County Schools for seven years. Saxe emphasized the importance of teamwork within the education system for achieving student success, saying, "We value every role in education...Success is built through the teachers, service personnel, maintenance workers, and, of course, our board of education members."

For further information about Saxe and the other 2025 state winners, more details can be found at the official website https://soy.aasa.org/winners-2025.