A new Superintendent of Schools, John G. Hudson, has officially been sworn into office following a special meeting of the Boone County Board of Education on July 6.

The Operations Complex at Foster was packed with standing-room-only as a large showing of community support greeted Hudson. All those present Monday evening at 7 p.m. were there to witness the new Superintendent take the Oath of Office.

“I think the size of this crowd is a testament of support that John Hudson has and will continue to have as Superintendent of Schools,” Board of Education President Bobby Hale said.

There were two other past Boone County Schools Superintendents in attendance Monday evening.

Both Gary Sumpter, who served 1994-2000, and Manuel Arvon, who served on 1989–1994 offered words of congratulations to the new Superintendent.

Hudson is a Boone County native and a 1980 honor graduate from Sherman High School.

Adopted as a child, Hudson says he grew up feeling “kind of chosen, kind of picked,” and would occasionally tease his parents that he was the ‘blue light special.”

According to Hudson, his father quit school in the fourth grade and went into the mining industry, eventually retiring with 36 years experience in the mines.

“He wanted me to have what he didn’t have. I would come home with a 98 percent on a test and he’d say, ‘that’s great; but it should have been 100 percent’ He was always pushing me to succeed in my studies,” Hudson shared.

His mother, who also quit school at an early age, was a source of inspiration to Hudson. “My mom quit high school to marry my father, but she eventually went back to high school to finish her senior year,” he said.

Hudson’s mother would eventually graduate from Morris-Harvey College and earn a Master’s Degree at Marshall University. “She supported me like only a mother could. If they could be with me tonight, I know that they both would be very proud,” he said.

“I am very proud of the education I received from Boone County Schools,” Hudson said, pledging to be aggressive in furthering the goals and high standards of the 21 Global Learning Initiative.

“We can’t get into this lightly; we have to be aggressive and focus on high expectations. Every student, every day,” he said.

Dr. Steven L. Paine, State Superintendent of Schools administered the oath of office. He, too, commented on the large audience.

“By the showing tonight, it is a great testament to the leadership you’ve chosen…you’ve had a fine reputation for quality and I think that is because you put students’ needs first,” Paine said to Hudson.

“I’m very honored with the show of support here tonight. Dr. Paine has served as an inspiration to me and other educators in our school system,” Hudson said, further noting that it was through Paine’s leadership as the State Superintendent that West Virginia schools have been recognized

nationally.

“Dr. Paine has inspired me and other educators to embrace change and to be leaders wherever we live,” Hudson said.

There were many thank yous shared with members of the audience. Hudson began by thanking the Boone County Board members. He told them he was honored to serve in what he felt to be a progressive school system and promised to communicate with board members regularly.

Then, Hudson thanked his family for their support and understanding as he has often spent countless hours “burning the midnight oil” at work.

“Not everyone understands sometimes the cost you have to make for the job, so I thank them for that,’ he said, giving special recognition to his wife Linda Hudson, and their daughters Jessica, a senior at Sherman High School, and Heather, who attends the Physicians Assistant program at Alderson-Broaddus College.

“I pledge to bring to the office of Superintendent integrity and honesty. I pledge to keep the board informed and when there is a difficult decision to be made, to keep students as the top priority. I will honor my family and church family. I pledge to be a servant to the students, service members, and families of Boone County. Honored and hope to not let any of you down in the future,” Hudson said.

“Let’s begin our journey of excellence together,” he said.

“After hearing that, is there any question that we’ve made the right decision in choosing John Hudson for Superintendent?” Hale asked of the crowd.

Hale described the appointment of Hudson to the position of School Superintendent as the dawn of a new day for Boone County Schools and said, “We don’t think we could have looked anywhere else in the state for a better Superintendent.”

Hale said in addition to Hudson’s good vision for the school system and having his

priorities in the right place, the Board President was particularly impressed with Hudson’s pledge to keep the board informed.

“Full disclosure; that’s something that is very important. We’re not asking to be told every time a school bus has a flat tire, but we should know if that bus has an accident,” Hale said.

Hale shared with the audience that he met Hudson at a Board of Education meeting in 1989, and knew then that he would rise to the top and excel.

“He has always exceeded expectations and a lot of what Mr. Hudson is today is because of what Mr. Manuel Arvon instilled in him years ago,” Hale said.

Hudson had worked as a principal under the tutelage of then-Superintendent of Schools Manuel Arvon.

“Mr. Arvon, I think that you deserve a lot of the credit for his leadership and character traits,” Hale said.

Manuel “Manny” Arvon, a three-term mayor of Sylvester, told Hudson, “It is quite an honor to be here tonight to see your swearing in ceremony. You cannot know the pride in my heart to see you the Superintendent of Schools.”

Arvon shared with the well-wishers that Hudson was a person of integrity. “He’s not someone to say he is ‘this’ and then not be that. He certainly has a testimony and it is evident here tonight,” Arvon said.

“Johnny, I expect the very best from you and I know you can do it and I know you will do the very best,” he said.

Hudson said he was given valuable guidance by Arvon during his first gig as a principal at Foster, then Van Elementary School. “He taught me to reach for the skies, to work hard and remember the details. Little things make all the difference.”

“Mrs. Arvon, too inspired me,” he said, explaining that Mrs. Arvon worked in the Boone County School system as an English teacher. “She inspired me to do better; and that’s what good teachers do.”

Another former Superintendent whose leadership made an impact on Hudson was Mr. Sumpter. “He taught me that everyone has a place in Boone County schools. He told me that the decisions I made should be made with all students and families in mind.”

In this regard, Hudson believes that when schools offer students the opportunity to go on a field trip, or has extra supplies needed for academic studies, the school should pay for it.

“If there are lab fees, the students shouldn’t have to pay for them because there might be

students whose families cannot afford those things,” Hudson said, insisting that the school system should be one of inclusion, not exclusion due to financial constraints many area families may experience.

“Thank you for helping me to remember to put students as the priority,” he said.

Each board member also gave Hudson their congratulations, many verbally pledging their support to the new Superintendent.

“I know for a fact he’s a fine Christian, a fine father and a fine husband. I knew his parents, John and InaBelle, and they would be very proud of John if they were here tonight,” board member Danny L. Cantley said.

“This appointment is also hope for other teachers and principals — we don’t have to go outside the county to find good people to promote,” he said.

“I pledge him my full support,” Cantley said.

Board member Mark Sumpter said he and Hudson have similar philosophies, “such as love of God; love your family, and the belief in a good hard day’s work.”

“He so loves this county and schools system. He is absolutely the perfect person for this position and the board is behind him 100 percent," he said.

“John would make a good military leader because there’s nothing he would ask anybody else to do that he’s not willing to do himself,” Sumpter said.

Sen. Ron Stollings, State Board of Education President Delores Cook, and Boone County Circuit Clerk Sue Ann Zickefoose, were also in attendance.

Another former Superintedent, and current board member, Joe Tagliente, said Hudson was one of his favorite principals.

“Perhaps because we were so similar. We called ourselves little Napoleons. My experience with Mr. Hudson is that he cared about the students and staff members. There will be changes,” Tagliente said.

Board member Charles “Chuck” Gibson, who was elected to the board this past term, said he comes to the table from a different perspective. “I’m a laborer for a water company and I fix leaks. The first thing I noticed about Mr. Hudson was his attention to detail,” he said.

“I want to congratulate Boone County schools on the best blue light special I’ve ever seen,” Boone County’s American Federation of Teachers Representative and Scott High school English teacher, Mrs. Roush told board members.

“You said you saw yourself as a servant and I see you as a leader in that capacity and I want to thank you for taking this position,” Roush told Hudson.