The WCPS May 2026 Newsletter is now available for viewing.
You may access the newsletter by clicking the following link:
https://wisecova.edurooms.com/engage/wise-county-public-schools/newsletters/may-2026-newsletter
Huge congratulations to Central High School’s very own Aria Taylor Wolford! On March 28th, Aria took the stage and was crowned the VHSL Class 2 State Champion in Humorous Interpretation! 🎭✨
The celebration hit another high note today, May 11th, as the Wise County Public School Board formally honored Aria for this incredible milestone. We are so proud of the talent, wit, and hard work she brings to Central! ⚔️💪
Join us in the comments by dropping a "Congratulations!" for our State Champ! 👇
🤼♂️ STATE CHAMPION ON THE MAT! 🏆
A massive shoutout to Central High Junior, Brayden Owsley! Back on February 21st, Brayden left it all on the mat to become the 2026 VHSL Class 2 138lb Wrestling State Champion! 🥇
The hard work didn't go unnoticed—today, May 11th, the Wise County Public School Board officially honored Brayden for his grit, determination, and state title. We are incredibly proud to have this champion representing the Warriors! 💪
Join us in the comments by dropping a "Congratulations!" for our State Champ! 👇
🎓 Graduation Week has arrived!
As Graduation Week begins, we celebrate the Class of 2026 for their perseverance, achievements, and unforgettable memories made along the way. From classrooms to competitions, performances to service projects, the Class of 2026 has left a lasting legacy across Wise County Public Schools.
Join us as we celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2026 and honor this important milestone with family, friends, staff, and our community. We are proud of all our graduates and excited for the bright futures ahead!
Eastside High School
📍 Graduation Ceremony Venue: UVA-Wise
📍 Location: Wise, Virginia
📅 Ceremony Date & Time: Friday, May 15 @ 7:00pm
Union High School
📍 Graduation Ceremony Venue: UVA-Wise
📍 Location: Wise, Virginia
📅 Ceremony Date & Time: Saturday, May 16 @ 11:00am
Central High School
📍 Graduation Ceremony Venue: UVA-Wise
📍 Location: Wise, Virginia
📅 Ceremony Date & Time: Saturday, May 16 @ 4:00pm
Congratulations to all of our seniors, families, teachers, staff and administration who helped make this milestone possible!
Thank you for everything you do to keep our students safe, healthy, and ready to learn. From offering a comforting smile to handling emergencies with skill and compassion, your impact reaches far beyond the nurse’s office.
Happy School Nurse Day! We appreciate you today and every day.
Teacher Appreciation Week is Monday, May 4 - Friday, May 8. This week, the Wise County Public School division celebrates the incredible educators who inspire, support, and shape the future every single day. 🍎✨
Your patience, dedication, and passion don’t go unnoticed. Thank you for going above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of your students.
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to all the amazing teachers out there — you truly make the world a better place! ❤️📚
Today, May 1st, the Wise County Public School division celebrates our incredible School Lunch Heroes! 🍎🥪
Behind every meal served is a team that shows up early, works hard, and cares deeply about our students. From preparing nutritious food to greeting every child with a smile, you make a difference every single day.
Thank you for keeping our students fueled, healthy, and ready to learn. We appreciate you more than words can say! 💛
Today, May 1st, the Wise County Public School division celebrates School Principals’ Day!
Our principals are the heart of our schools—leaders who inspire excellence, support students and staff, and create environments where learning thrives. Their dedication, compassion, and commitment shape not only our schools, but our entire community.
Thank you to all of our incredible principals for your leadership, your vision, and the countless ways you make a difference every single day. We appreciate you today and always!
Wise County Public Schools proudly recognizes and celebrates our incredible bus drivers! 🚌💛
Thank you for safely transporting our students to school and extracurricular activities each day, rain or shine. Your patience, care, and dedication do not go unnoticed.
Behind every safe ride to school is a dedicated bus driver. We appreciate you today and every day! 🚌👏
Season 2, Episode 7 of The Pulse podcast with WCPS Superintendent Dr. Mike Goforth features two special seniors from Central High School, Sophie and Shawn.
Podcast Link: https://youtu.be/aIjezDVN6Ps?si=R-SLX4mSnjG1BH49
Administrative Professionals Week is the week of April 19-25! During this week, we will show appreciation for, both, school-level, and division-level administrative professionals who ensure the success of every student at Wise County Public Schools.
Today, we’re celebrating the incredible school-level administrative professionals who help keep our schools running every single day!
From greeting students and families with a smile, to managing schedules, answering phones, and keeping things organized behind the scenes—you are truly the heartbeat of our school division.
When days get busy (and they always do), you’re the calm, the problem-solvers, and the friendly faces everyone depends on.
We see you, we appreciate you, and we are so grateful for all that you do for our students, families, staff, and our community!
Later on this week, on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, WCPS will celebrate and show appreciation to our central office administrative professionals who work tirelessly to ensure the success of every student!
On Sunday, April 19, 2026, Wise County (and Wise County Public Schools) were well-represented at the VHSL Class of 2026 Hall of Fame Inductions.
Mrs. Hannah Light-Cress was inducted as a former VHSL Athlete (Softball, Volleyball, Basketball, and Track & Field), representing Coeburn High School, Coeburn, VA.
Hannah Light-Cress | Athlete
High School: Coeburn High School
Sports: Softball | Volleyball | Basketball | Track
Earned 16 varsity letters from 2006-10 ... 4 in softball, 4 in basketball, 4 in volleyball, 3 in track and field ... VHSL All-State Pitcher of The Year in 2010 ... Two-time 1st team and 2nd- team VHSL All-State ... Three-time All-Region and All-District pitcher of the year ...4x all district first team pitcher 4x all region first team pitcher ... 2010 All-State Female Athlete of the Year ... 2010 Wendy's High School Heisman Finalist ... Ranks top 5 in VHSL history with 1,092 career strikeouts, 15 consecutive shutouts, 8 career perfect games, 25 strikeouts in one game, and consecutive no hitters (3) ... 46 career shutouts.
Mrs. Natasha (Belcher) Holt was inducted as a former VHSL Athlete (Girls Tennis, Volleyball, and Girls Basketball), representing J.J. Kelly High School, Wise, VA.
Natasha (Belcher) Holt | Athlete
High School: J.J.Kelly High School
Sports: Girls Tennis | Volleyball
The first girls state tennis singles champion across all classifications to win three straight titles (1993-95) ... The Belcher/Kelly Dorsey doubles pair won the school's first-ever state title in 1995 ... Compiled a 4-year singles record (79-0) and doubles record (67-3) ... Never had a singles match go three sets ... Won three straight district and regional singles and doubles championships ...Led team to four consecutive state titles (1992-95) ... District and Region POY three straight years ... Coalfield Progress Athlete of the Year three consecutive years.
Mrs. Jan Thompson was inducted as a VHSL Coach in Theatre and Speech, representing J.J. Kelly High School and Central High School, Wise, VA.
Jan Thompson | Coach
School Affiliation: Central High School (Wise); J.J. Kelly
Sports: Theatre | Speech
During her 47 years in education and 21- year career Academic Activities Coach at J.J. Kelly and Centrals she has set the bar for other academic programs to reach fo, in Southwest Virginia ... She has won 11 state titles, 10 regional titles, and 15 district titles in both One Act and Speech (formerly Forensics) ... Has coached 22 All State Outstanding Actors and 75 All State Individual or Duo Award winners ... Her speech teams have won four state titles (2015-16, 2016-17, 2018-19, 2020-21 and 5 runners-up (2013-14, 2014-15, 2017-18, 2021-22, 2022-23) ... Her One-Act Theatre troupe has won 7 titles (2007-08, 2012-13, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2019-20, 2021-21, 2023-24) and 4 runners-up (2010-11, 2013-14, 2017-18, 2021-22) ... Virginia Association of Speech, Drama & Debate Virginia Teacher Director of the Year in 2014.
Coach Robin Dotson (VHSL HOF, Class of 2016) accompanied these individuals on their induction day. Please join us in congratulating these VHSL Hall of Fame inductees on an incredible day!
The WCPS April 2026 Newsletter is now available for viewing.
You may access the newsletter by clicking the following link:
https://wisecova.edurooms.com/engage/wise-county-public-schools/newsletters/april-2026-newsletter
Position: 26-27 Guidance Counselor - Central High School
Employment Link: https://wiseva.schoolspring.com/?jobid=5642992
Job Description:
Wise County Public Schools is seeking a compassionate, student-centered School Guidance Counselor to support the academic, social-emotional, and behavioral development of students in grades 9 through 12. The ideal candidate will collaborate with school staff, families, and community partners to promote a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment that helps all students reach their full potential.
Key Responsibilities:
Provide individual and group counseling to address students’ academic, social, and emotional needs.
Support positive behavior and social skill development through proactive, preventative strategies.
Assist students in developing coping skills, self-regulation, and conflict resolution strategies.
Collaborate with teachers, administrators, and support staff to identify and respond to student needs.
Participate in the development of behavior intervention plans (BIPs) and 504 Plans when appropriate.
Provide crisis intervention and short-term support during emergencies or trauma-related incidents.
Maintain accurate and confidential student records and documentation in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations.
Foster effective partnerships with families and connect them to school or community-based resources when needed.
Promote a culturally responsive counseling program that respects and values diverse student backgrounds.
Qualifications:
Master’s degree in School Counseling or related field from an accredited institution.
Valid Virginia Postgraduate Professional License with an endorsement in School Counseling (PreK–12).
Demonstrated knowledge of child development, counseling techniques, and current best practices in elementary school counseling.
Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
Experience working with young children in a school setting preferred.
Commitment to confidentiality, equity, and student advocacy.
The Wise County School Board is an equal opportunity employer, committed to nondiscrimination in recruitment, selection, hiring, pay, promotion, retention or other personnel actions affecting employees or candidates for employment. Therefore, discrimination in employment against any person on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, political affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, marital status, status as a veteran, genetic information or disability is prohibited. Personnel decisions are based on merit and the ability to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Terms of Employment: Full Time
Contact Information:
Mr. Elijah Helton
Principal
CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
Phone: 276-328-8015
Email: ehelton@wisek12.org
Position: 26-27 Special Education Teacher Central High School
Employment Link: https://wiseva.schoolspring.com/?jobid=5642994
Job Description: Must have a current Special Education teaching license issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The Wise County School Board is an equal opportunity employer, committed to nondiscrimination in recruitment, selection, hiring, pay, promotion, retention or other personnel actions affecting employees or candidates for employment. Therefore, discrimination in employment against any person on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, political affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, marital status, status as a veteran, genetic information or disability is prohibited. Personnel decisions are based on merit and the ability to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Terms of Employment: Full Time
Contact Information:
Mr. Elijah Helton
Principal
CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL
Phone: 276-328-8015
Email: ehelton@wisek12.org
