Board Upholds Suspension of Math Coach Amid Grade Tampering Probe
MARLINTON, WV – The Pocahontas County Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday night to uphold the suspension of Math Coach Joanna Burt-Kinderman, following a tense administrative hearing regarding allegations of transcript tampering and financial irregularities.
The special meeting, held on March 24, was convened at the request of Burt-Kinderman to appeal her placement on paid administrative leave. Board President Emery Grimes clarified that the proceedings were not disciplinary in nature, but rather a narrow review to determine if Superintendent Dr. Leatha Williams acted "arbitrarily or capriciously" in her decision to sideline the educator while investigations continue.
A Matter of Procedure
Represented by attorney Mike Doss, Burt-Kinderman opted to hold the hearing in open session. The defense's primary argument centered on the necessity of the leave, with Doss stating that his client simply wished to "return to doing what she loves" while the probe remains active.
However, Superintendent Williams, represented by Trey Morone of Bowles Rice, testified that her decision was bound by state law. Under WV Code 18-A-8, a teacher must be placed on leave if their continued presence in the classroom is deemed to jeopardize the effectiveness of the learning environment.
"In my opinion, these allegations do jeopardize teaching," Williams testified.
Clashes Over Evidence
The hearing grew contentious as Doss attempted to probe the specific details of the allegations, which include:
Grade Tampering: Alleged manipulation of 8th-grade Math transcripts.
Financial Irregularities: Questions regarding funds related to Math Field Day.
Attorney Morone repeatedly objected to questions regarding the underlying facts of the case, arguing they fell outside the scope of the administrative hearing. President Grimes sustained the majority of these objections, maintaining the focus on the Superintendent's procedural authority rather than the validity of the accusations themselves.
A notable point of friction occurred when Williams testified that Burt-Kinderman possessed the password access required to alter transcripts—a claim Burt-Kinderman visibly disputed by shaking her head "no" from the gallery.
The Verdict
While Williams acknowledged she had the option to make the leave unpaid, she testified that she chose to keep Burt-Kinderman on the payroll during the investigation.
After a brief executive session to deliberate, the Board returned to open session to deliver their final word. The members voted unanimously that the Superintendent’s actions were reasonable and justified under the circumstances, keeping the paid leave in effect until the investigations are concluded.
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