Athletic Director Spotlight: Tyler McFarland, Union High School | Part 2 of 3

Behind every successful athletic program is someone working tirelessly behind the scenes to make it all happen! In Part 2 of our Athletic Director Spotlight series, Wise County Public Schools is proud to feature Mr. Tyler McFarland, Athletic Director at Union High School!

A proud Union High School graduate, Tyler has dedicated nine years to education, combining his passion for athletics, coaching, and student success with a strong commitment to leadership. His educational journey includes degrees from Mountain Empire Community College, UVA Wise, and Lincoln Memorial University, where he earned his master's degree and Education Specialist degree in educational leadership. He is currently pursuing his Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership at the University of the Cumberlands, with an anticipated graduation in spring 2027.

Tyler's experience in athletics spans multiple sports, including baseball, boys' basketball, volleyball, and golf. Throughout his coaching career, he has served in several roles, including assistant coach and head coach at the junior varsity and middle school levels. One of his career highlights came in 2021 when he was part of the coaching staff for Union's state championship boys' basketball team!

For Tyler, becoming an athletic director was a natural next step. His years of teaching and coaching helped prepare him for the organizational demands and daily challenges of managing an athletic program. From preparing facilities and coordinating game officials to organizing ticket sales, concessions, transportation, and countless behind-the-scenes details, Tyler works to ensure student-athletes, coaches, and visiting teams have a positive experience.

But what makes the job most rewarding? Supporting coaches and student-athletes and watching them grow into successful individuals. Tyler believes athletics teach lessons that extend far beyond the playing field, including how to overcome adversity, respond to failure, celebrate others' successes, and work toward a common goal.

One experience that stands out is Union's girls' basketball team's journey to the state championship game last year. Tyler was especially proud of the way the community rallied around the team, helping provide tickets and meals for more than 100 students to attend the championship in Richmond. With three pep buses, a cheer bus, a band bus, and the team making the trip, the community demonstrated the incredible support and school spirit that make Union special!

Tyler emphasizes that successful athletic administration requires organization, established routines, flexibility, and trust in the people working alongside you. While challenges are inevitable, teamwork and preparation help keep everything moving in the right direction.

Outside of school, Tyler enjoys spending time with his wife of seven years, Erika, a reading specialist at Union Primary, and their children, Piper and Liam. The family loves visiting Dollywood and attending events together. Tyler also serves as parliamentarian on the UVA Wise Alumni Board and is a member of the Big Stone Gap Planning Commission.

Thank you, Mr. McFarland, for your dedication to Union High School, your student-athletes, and the community you serve! Your commitment to leadership, teamwork, and student success makes a difference both on and off the field.

Stay tuned for Part 3 of our Athletic Director Spotlight series as we continue recognizing the outstanding leaders who help our student-athletes and athletic programs thrive!

Athletic Director Spotlight: Jeremy Salyers

Eastside High School | Part 1 of 3

Behind every successful athletic program is someone working hard behind the scenes to make it all happen. At Wise County Public Schools, we want to recognize and celebrate our athletic directors, who balance the many demands of leading school athletic programs while also serving as assistant principals at their respective high schools.

This three-part Athletic Director Spotlight series highlights the people behind our athletic programs and the many responsibilities that come with the role. From managing financial budgets and securing sponsorships to coordinating transportation, directing tournaments, recognizing district, regional, and state honors, ensuring compliance and student eligibility, and helping move legislation forward with the Virginia High School League (VHSL), athletic directors wear many hats. All of this is in addition to their daily responsibilities as assistant principals.

Our first spotlight features Jeremy Salyers, Athletic Director and Assistant Principal at Eastside High School!

A graduate of Pound High School, Mr. Salyers has dedicated 24 years to education, including 22 years as a teacher. His educational journey includes studies at Radford University, Walters State Community College, UVA-Wise, and Mountain Empire Community College (MECC). He also brings approximately 20 years of experience as a head baseball coach at Powell Valley, Union, and Central. In his role as an athletic director, he has also served as district secretary.

We asked Mr. Salyers to share more about his journey, the responsibilities of his role, and what makes being an athletic director so rewarding.

What inspired you to become an athletic director, and what has your journey in education and athletics looked like?

“I love sports. I've always enjoyed sports and being around them. I've done AD duties at three different schools and have enjoyed helping alleviate some of the daily stresses from our coaches by doing the ‘behind-the-scenes’ things so they don't have to.”

What does a typical day look like for you as an athletic director? What are some responsibilities people may not realize you manage behind the scenes?

“Ensuring referees are assigned to each of our home games, our athletes have current physicals on file, our athletes are academically eligible, making sure gatekeepers are scheduled for home games, among many other things.”

What is the most rewarding part of your job, and is there a particular moment or experience that stands out in your career?

“The rewarding part of the job is ensuring each student that attends Eastside has the opportunity to participate in an extracurricular activity. We offer something for every student if they wish to participate.”

What is one of the biggest challenges athletic directors face, and how do you work to balance the many demands of your role?

“The biggest challenge, in my opinion, is that the workload has increased as technology has improved. Technology like Arbiter and Luxedo is wonderful, but it has increased the amount of time I spend daily on AD duties during the school day. It does take away time from my assistant principal duties. It's a tough balance to manage.”

What do you hope student-athletes learn from participating in school athletics beyond the game itself?

“Athletics closely resemble life. You may work hard to achieve a desired outcome, but you may not always reach your goal.”

Outside of school, Mr. Salyers enjoys spending time with his wife, Amber Salyers, who serves as an assistant principal at JWAC. Together, they enjoy camping, bike riding, attending church, and traveling.

Wise County Public Schools appreciates Mr. Salyers and the dedication he brings to Eastside High School. The work of an athletic director extends far beyond the playing field, requiring countless hours of planning, coordination, problem-solving, and support to ensure students and coaches have the opportunities and resources they need to succeed.

Thank you, Mr. Salyers, for your commitment to our students, coaches, and school community!

Stay tuned for Part 2 of our Athletic Director Spotlight series as we continue celebrating the dedicated professionals who help make our school athletic programs possible.

🚌 National School Bus Safety Week | October 19–23, 2026 🚌

This week, Wise County Public Schools joins school communities across the nation in celebrating National School Bus Safety Week and recognizing the everyday heroes who help our students arrive at school and return home safely!

Our school bus drivers play an important role in the lives of our students. Their dedication, patience, and commitment to safety make a difference every single day. We are grateful for the care they show our students and the responsibility they carry on every route.

📸 Over the next five days, we’ll be sharing posts and pictures celebrating our valued school bus drivers! We hope you’ll join us in recognizing these dedicated members of our WCPS family who work hard each day to make a difference in the lives of our students.

🚦 Let’s all do our part to keep students safe!

Stop when a school bus has its red lights flashing and stop arm extended.

Slow down and watch for children near bus stops and school zones.

Remind students to wait safely, follow their driver’s instructions, and use caution when boarding and exiting the bus.

To our WCPS bus drivers and transportation team, thank you for all you do to keep our students safe. We appreciate you today and every day!

Rooted in Coeburn: A Hometown Leader With Passion for Education, Leadership, and Service | Dr. Deventae Mooney, Coeburn Middle School

For Dr. Deventae Mooney, serving the Coeburn community is more than a career or civic responsibility. It is a lifelong commitment to the place he has always called home.

A lifelong resident of Coeburn, Virginia, Mooney attended Coeburn Primary School and Coeburn Middle School before graduating from Eastside High School in 2013. Today, he serves as principal of Coeburn Middle School (CMS) and mayor of Coeburn, bringing his passion for education, community involvement, and student success into every aspect of his work.

Mooney’s dedication to lifelong learning is reflected in his educational achievements. He earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Virginia’s College at Wise in 2016, a master’s degree in school counseling from the University of West Alabama in 2020, and an Education Specialist degree in instructional leadership from Lincoln Memorial University in 2022. In 2026, he successfully defended his doctoral dissertation at the University of the Cumberlands, earning his Doctor of Education degree.

His commitment to community leadership began during his freshman year of college in 2014, when he decided to run for Coeburn Town Council. In 2022, fellow council members appointed him mayor, a position he continues to hold.

“I think it’s important to be involved in your community, and my role as an educator and serving the town—it’s all intertwined, which allows us to work together to support one another to be successful,” Mooney said.

That philosophy also guides his career in education. Mooney spent four years teaching middle school English before becoming an elementary school counselor for three years. He later served as assistant principal and athletic director at Central High School before returning to Coeburn Middle School, where he served as assistant principal for one year before becoming principal.

Returning to CMS brought Mooney full circle, allowing him to lead a school that helped shape his own childhood. He fondly remembers his fifth-grade year as the best of his school career, recalling teachers Sharon Rogers, Kim Teglas, and Suzi Atwood, along with staff members who made a lasting impression.

He also remembers Kaye Greear, a former teacher and guidance counselor, and Karen Salyers, the school’s bookkeeper. Because Mooney disliked milk, Salyers kept Sprite in the refrigerator for him each day—a small kindness he never forgot.

Greear has had the privilege of watching Mooney’s journey unfold from an early age. After teaching his mother and serving as a guidance counselor to his siblings, she remembers seeing young Deventae walking through the school hallways. “I watched him walking down the school hallways to his class in his little suit and thought what a special person he was, even at age five. I have been blessed to see many of his dreams come to fruition and be part of his journey,” Greear recalled. She described him as highly motivated and determined to succeed, affectionately giving him the nickname “Mr. Pres." "Had he chosen a political path, I have no doubt he would have been President,” she said.

Greear is grateful that Mooney chose education, where he continues to encourage students and make a difference in their lives. “Deventae has a heart to serve, and shows compassion to everyone. I am so thankful to continue to be a part of his life.”

The encouragement Mooney received as a student now influences his leadership as principal. He remembers educators who took him under their wings, cared about his well-being, and wanted him to succeed. Today, he strives to provide that same support to his students, with some of his former teachers still working in the school system.

“We are a family here at CMS,” Mooney said. “Everyone supports one another.”

He believes that sense of family extends beyond the classroom through clubs, athletics, and activities that allow students to support one another and build lasting relationships. Outside the school day, Mooney also dedicates many evening hours to officiating Virginia High School League contests, continuing his commitment to supporting students and school activities beyond the classroom.

Mooney’s service reaches beyond education and local government. He is actively involved with Virginia’s Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), serving on its alumni board, chairing its foundation board, and serving as president-elect of its board of directors.

From his early school days in Coeburn to his leadership roles as principal and mayor, Mooney’s story is one of coming full circle. The community that helped shape him is the same community he now works to strengthen.

For Dr. Mooney, success is measured not simply by degrees earned or titles held, but by the relationships he builds, the students he encourages, and the community he continues to serve.

Early Dismissal & Fall Break Reminders:

All Wise County Public Schools will dismiss early at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, October 9, in observance of the end of the first nine weeks grading period. Following dismissal, teachers are expected to participate in scheduled professional development activities until 3:30 p.m.

Wise County Public Schools will then be closed on Monday, October 12, for Fall Break.

We wish all students, staff, and families enjoy a safe, relaxing, and well-deserved long weekend!

Recognizing Excellence in Student Care

Wise County Public Schools would like to recognize the valuable contributions of two bus drivers, three school nurses, and two administrators who responded to a recent student medical emergency on a school bus in transit on Thursday, October 1, 2026.

Bus Driver Sherry Stanley responded to the emergency with calmness, care, and professionalism, immediately pulling the bus over and beginning emergency care. She was assisted by Bus Driver Robyn Yates, who provided additional support.

Their response was strengthened by the annual medical emergency training provided to bus drivers by Nurse Vivian Meadows. This training, completed prior to the start of the school year, prepared Mrs. Stanley and Mrs. Yates to respond quickly and appropriately when the situation arose.

Upon arrival, school administration responded immediately, accompanied by school nurses Kelsey Fleming and Amanda Griffin, who continued providing medical care and support.

This situation demonstrated the importance of preparation, professional development, communication, and teamwork. Because of the staff's training and thoughtful execution, the student was able to begin receiving care immediately.

Wise County Public Schools extends our sincere appreciation to bus drivers Sherry Stanley and Robyn Yates, nurses Vivian Meadows, Kelsey Fleming, and Amanda Griffin, and the two administrators who responded for their immediate response, professionalism, teamwork, and commitment to the health, safety, and well-being of our students.

Thank you to these individuals for being prepared, responding with care, and putting our students first.