West Virginia Chamber Foundation names 2027 School Principal of the Year finalists
July 13, 2026
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Chamber Foundation has announced five finalists for the 2027 West Virginia School Principal of the Year award.
The finalists are Kensie Fisher, Kimberly Greene, Samantha Peaslee, Alicia Riggleman and Shandon Ryan-Tweedy.
The finalists were selected from county Principal of the Year winners across West Virginia. They were chosen for their leadership in school operations, academics, staff development, policy implementation, budgets and student support.
The West Virginia Chamber Foundation is partnering with the West Virginia Department of Education to recognize the finalists. State winners will be announced during the 2026-27 Champions of Learning Gala on Sept. 8 in Charleston.
The Champions of Learning Gala, launched in 2026, recognizes professional positions within school systems that support students and help create effective and welcoming learning environments.
Kensie Fisher
Kensie Fisher is principal of Poca Middle School in Putnam County.
Fisher has led Poca Middle School since 2016, focusing on student-centered improvement, data-informed leadership and whole-child education. Under her leadership, the school has reported significant post-pandemic academic growth, including 22% gains in math and English language arts proficiency and a 28% increase in science proficiency. The school also reduced chronic absenteeism by 5%.
Her work has focused on closing achievement gaps for economically disadvantaged students and students with disabilities through multi-tiered systems of support.
Fisher also brings 13 years of classroom experience to her role as principal. She has worked to build a collaborative professional learning environment and support student empowerment through mentoring programs and student data notebooks.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education and a Master of Arts in Reading Education from Marshall University.
Kimberly Greene
Kimberly Greene is principal of University High School in Monongalia County.
Greene has more than 30 years of experience in education and has focused on data-informed school improvement and collaborative school culture.
Under her leadership, University High School has ranked sixth statewide in science and eighth in English and mathematics proficiency. The school also reduced chronic absenteeism by nearly 20% and decreased disciplinary incidents by more than 1,000 cases after implementing restorative practices and a small-school advisory model.
Greene’s focus on graduation equity also contributed to a 25% increase in the four-year cohort graduation rate for special education students.
She earned a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from West Virginia University. She also earned a Certificate in Educational Leadership from Salem International University.
Greene has presented on distributed leadership at national conferences and continues to coach faculty while working to create school environments rooted in safety, trust and student success.
Samantha Peaslee
Samantha Peaslee is principal of Kingwood Elementary School in Preston County.
Peaslee is focused on building a positive school culture centered on student growth, strong relationships and high-quality instruction. Her work supports the academic, behavioral and social-emotional success of students.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in multidisciplinary studies from West Virginia University and a Master of Arts in Elementary Education with an English language arts endorsement for grades 5-9 from WVU. She also holds a post-master’s certification in educational leadership from Fairmont State University.
Under Peaslee’s leadership, Kingwood Elementary has emphasized positive school culture, student-centered learning, literacy growth, community engagement and innovative practices.
In 2024, Kingwood Elementary was named a model school at a nationally recognized school conference. The school also has been recognized as a West Virginia Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Tier I Model School for the past three years.
Peaslee’s leadership focuses on meaningful relationships, consistency, student success and support for educators.
Alicia Riggleman
Alicia Riggleman is principal of Musselman High School in Berkeley County.
Riggleman has more than 20 years of experience in education. She has served Berkeley County Schools as a teacher, school counselor and assistant principal.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Shepherd University, a Master of Arts in School Counseling from Marshall University and a School Principalship Certificate from Marshall University.
Riggleman’s leadership focuses on strong relationships, high expectations and meaningful support for students.
At Musselman High School, she has led initiatives that improved attendance, graduation rates and school culture. The school has received multiple recognitions for excellence in culture, climate and achievement.
Riggleman also has worked to align curriculum with state standards, expand dual-enrollment opportunities and strengthen career pathways for students.
Shandon Ryan-Tweedy
Shandon Ryan-Tweedy is principal of Horace Mann Middle School in Kanawha County.
Ryan-Tweedy has more than 10 years of experience in educational leadership. Her work has focused on positive school culture, student success and systems that support academic achievement and social-emotional growth.
She earned a Master of Arts in Leadership Studies from Marshall University and a Bachelor of Science in Social Science Education from the University of Charleston.
Ryan-Tweedy has experience in instructional leadership, restorative justice disciplinary practices and educational policy compliance.
At Horace Mann Middle School, she has helped implement supports aimed at reducing exclusionary discipline, strengthening student-teacher relationships and expanding services for students facing social and economic challenges.
Those efforts include use of the Ron Clark Academy house system, which focuses on classroom rigor and schoolwide camaraderie.
Ryan-Tweedy also has partnered with community organizations to provide on-site therapeutic support for students and families and has secured community partnerships for the school.
Her leadership focuses on relationships and collaboration to ensure students have access to academic and personal growth opportunities.
“Principals serve as the instructional and operational leaders of the school and are responsible for fostering a safe, engaging and student-centered learning environment. These five exemplary school administrators balance strong instructional leadership with steady operational oversight, ensuring faculty and staff are engaged and students are given every opportunity to succeed.”