CHARLESTON - West Virginia Schools Superintendent Jorea Marple was fired today.
The state Board of Education voted 5-2 today to terminate Marple's contract, Department of Education spokeswoman Liza Cordeiro said.
Board members Jenny Phillips and Priscilla Haden opposed the move, Cordeiro said. They announced they will resign from the board effective Dec. 31.
House Education Committee Chairman Mary Poling said she was shocked at word of Marple's firing. The Barbour County Democrat credits Marple for addressing curriculum standards and overseeing a new way to measure student performance, while responding to the governor's call to trim the state budget.
Marple had served as the state's schools chief since March 1, 2011. She previous served as deputy superintendent.
Her husband is Attorney General Darrell McGraw, who lost a re-election bid last week.
