U.S. Department of Education
09/17/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/17/2026 15:35
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon Visits West Virginia on Returning Education to the States Tour
September 17, 2026
BARBOURSVILLE, WV - Today, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited West Virginia as part of her Returning Education to the States Tour, meeting with students, educators, and community leaders to learn more about the state's approaches to literacy, science, career and technical education, and workforce preparation.
Secretary McMahon began her visit at Village of Barboursville Elementary School, where she toured the school and participated in a roundtable discussion with students and faculty focused on building strong literacy and science foundations. Next, she traveled to Woody Williams Career and Technical Center to tour the facility's hands-on training education programs and meet with the family of the center's namesake, Medal of Honor recipient Woody Williams.
Secretary McMahon concluded her visit to the Mountain State in Huntington at Mountwest Community and Technical College. There, she participated in a teacher roundtable to discuss the experiences of West Virginia educators, the needs of their students, and how state and local leaders can best support schools and communities.
"At every stop on the Returning Education to the States Tour, we are seeing firsthand the tremendous work happening in classrooms and communities across the country," said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. "West Virginia is demonstrating what is possible when educators and communities focus on giving students the strong academic foundation and practical skills they need to succeed. From strengthening literacy and science instruction to expanding career and technical education, West Virginia is preparing students for the classroom, the workforce, and the opportunities ahead."
Background
On her Returning Education to the States Tour, Secretary McMahon is traveling to all 50 states to hear directly from teachers, parents, students, and community leaders about what is working in their communities and compile a toolkit of best practices to share with states across the nation. Learn more about Secretary McMahon's Returning Education to the States Tour here.
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