Jeremy Hedrick
Jeremy Hedrick is running for Pendleton County Board of Education.
He was born and raised right here in Pendleton County, and like many, he believes in the values that make a small rural county special—hard work, faith, family, and looking out for one another.
He started his career serving this community as a firefighter and later became a paramedic, answering calls when people needed help the most. That experience has taught him the importance of responsibility, leadership, and making sound decisions under pressure. More importantly, it has shown him just how important strong families and strong schools are to the future of the community.
As a father of four children, he has a personal investment in the success of the county’s school system. He understands the concerns parents have because he shares those same concerns. He wants the schools to be safe, the teachers to feel supported, and the students to have the opportunities they need to succeed no matter what path they choose in life.
Hedrick believes education should prepare students not just for tests, but for real life. That includes supporting vocational and technical programs, agriculture education, and the kind of hands-on learning that gives kids real skills they can use right here in local communities. Not every student needs the same path, but every student deserves the chance to succeed.
If elected, he will work to support the teachers and service personnel, promote school safety, encourage parent involvement, and make sure decisions are made with transparency and common sense. He believes the Pendleton County Board of Education should always remember they work for people and should be willing to listen to parents, staff, and taxpayers.
He is running because he cares about the community and the future of the children growing up here. He is not a politician, just someone who believes in service and wants to give back to the place that has given so much to him and his family.
If elected, Hedrick promises to work hard, listen to the community, and always put the students first.
Katrina “Katie” Hott
Katie Hott is a lifelong resident of Pendleton County and is seeking candidacy for her second term on the Pendleton County Board of Education.
She is an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
She, her husband, Adam, and their two children reside in Smith Creek, where they own and operate their small farm. Their children Wyatt, a sixth grader, and Eve, a third grader, both attend Franklin Elementary School.
Having children currently in the Pendleton County school system gives her a unique perspective and helps her better serve the community as a board of education member. She believes in the power of communication and kindness and is committed to ensuring that students and parents have the resources they need for a successful future.
Hott is a 2006 graduate of Pendleton County High School. In 2010, she earned a bachelor of science degree in animal science from West Virginia University.
She believes it is essential to always ask what is best for Pendleton County’s children and how the school system can better serve both students and their families.
Wilma Pitsenbarger
Wilma Pitsenbarger is currently running for reelection to one of the two Pendleton County Board of Education Central District seats which she currently holds.
Pitsenbarger has been a resident of Pendleton County since 1954 when she was born.
If re-elected, she will stand for what is right for children, employees, and parents if need be. It is her belief that all children regardless of their background deserve a chance at an appropriate education that allows them to pursue their dreams.
She has 42 years of experience as a special education teacher as well as reading specialist. She is currently still teaching as well.
She graduated from Franklin High School in 1972 in the top 10 of her graduating class. She is a graduate of James Madison University (1983 Cum Laude), West Virginia University (master’s degree in learning disability and behavior disorders 1983), and Marshall University (master’s degree as a reading specialist 2005), plus additional hours in leadership.
She is currently a member of the Franklin Board of Parks and in the past, she has been a member of the Franklin Ruritan Club serving as the secretary.
She is presently finishing up a retirement in the state of Virginia after retiring and subbing in West Virginia with 33 years of employment as a full-time teacher. She was instrumental in getting funding for the band concession stand at the high school. She tutors students who request her help after school free of charge.
She has one daughter who is married. Her husband passed away in April 2022 due to complications following a valve replacement in the heart.
When she was a teacher, the school system was able to be number one in the state of which she believes she had a big part in that accomplishment given the class that put the county there. If the right decisions are made regarding personnel and support, Pendleton County can accomplish being number one in the state again.
She wants to be “A Voice for You.”
Marilyn M. Propst
Marilyn M. Propst is a candidate for the Pendleton County Board of Education in the Central District.
She has spent the large majority of her life living in Pendleton County, and she is a proud graduate from Circleville High School. As a result, she possesses a lifelong connection and deep insight into the county’s educational background. This experience gives her an understanding of the school system’s history, as well as the current challenges it faces.
Propst has been married to her husband, Perry, for 45 years. They have two children, Shanna and Logan, and five grandchildren. Her grandchildren attend school in Pendleton County, and her daughter is an elementary school teacher here. This personal stake strengthens her commitment to the county’s schools. She knows decisions made on the board of education can potentially affect her family directly, which motivates her to champion policies that serve the educational and developmental needs of all county students.
She spent 20 years working as an employee of Hanover Shoe Company. After the company closed, she attended college and earned her associate degree as a registered nurse. She worked 18 years on the family birthplace floor of Sentara RMH and two years at Pendleton Community Care. She is now retired from her career as a nurse. Her job experiences equip her with many skills that will be beneficial as a board of education member. As a nurse, she had to possess quick decision-making skills under pressure, effectively communicate information, and be an advocate for patients and doctors.
Volunteering has been an important part of her life. Some ways she has volunteered are as an EMT for Pendleton County Emergency Rescue, a cheer coach, director and teacher for Vacation Bible School, a Sunday School teacher, church council member, pancake dinner and baked potato fundraiser volunteer, and a career day presenter at the local schools. Her time as a volunteer has given her insight, compassion, and leadership skills that she is eager to bring to the board of education.
Propst promises to be an advocate for the needs and aspirations of the children, parents, and educators alike. She is dedicated to preserve what makes the county’s schools exceptional. She will work to support talented staff and bright students who represent Pendleton County’s educational excellence in this state.
James (JD) Wilkins
James (JD) Wilkins is announcing his candidacy for the office of board of education in the Western District of Pendleton County.
He is a native of Pendleton County and a Circleville High School graduate. His wife, Cindy, is a teacher who taught in and retired from Pendleton County schools, where both of their children also attended and graduated from.
Recently Wilkins retired from banking, where he worked for Pendleton County Bank and Grant County Bank.
He is completing his 22nd year as a member of the Pendleton County Board of Education, and 20th year as its president.
Prior to being on the board, he served on the Circleville School Local School Improvement Council, the North Fork Elementary School Local School Improvement Council, and the Pendleton County Middle/High School Local School Improvement Council. He has also been the Pendleton County Board of Education representative of the administrative council for South Branch Career and Technical Center in Petersburg, where he is currently the chair.
Currently, he is a part time local pastor assigned to the Pendleton Charge of the United Methodist Church, which is made up of the Reeds Creek, Riverton, and Upper Tract Churches.
Wilkins has a bachelor of science in management and organizational development from Eastern Mennonite University.
His belief is that the beginning and foundation of education is the home. Then the schools build on that foundation by enabling children to better understand their world, and the opportunities and limitations that they have in it. When their understanding increases, their dreams can grow and their chances of succeeding improve.
As a member of the Pendleton County Board of Education, he understands that the county school system faces challenges in numbers, finances and regulations. But he has confidence in its future.
He has confidence because of the people. There are many caring and gifted individuals in the county school system, from the support staff, through the teachers, and to the administration. In his experience, where there are good people there will also be success, in this case a good education for the children.
He is running for reelection to the board of education so that he can continue to work with these people for the current and future students of the county, to help students have a foundation of knowledge, encourage their desire to dream, and provide the confidence to make their dreams a reality.
