LOW MOOR — Alleghany Highlands Public Schools Division Superintendent Kim Halterman has been appointed to a statewide committee that has key input on teacher licensure.
Halterman was appointed in September to the Virginia Department of Education’s Advisory Board on Teacher Education and Licensure. She will represent Superintendent’s Region VI on the committee. Region VI covers school divisions in the Alleghany Highlands, the Roanoke Valley, and Southside Virginia.
The Advisory Board on Teacher Education and Licensure (ABTEL) serves in an advisory capacity to the Virginia Board of Education. The advisory board makes recommendations on policies that apply to the qualifications, examination, licensure and regulation of school personnel in the Commonwealth.
The advisory committee’s recommendations to the state board can include the areas of revocations, suspensions, denials, cancellations, reinstatement and renewal of licensure, fees for processing applications, and reciprocal approval of preparation programs. The final authority for licensure and personnel remains with the Board of Education.
"It's quite exciting to join this group! I look forward to what I will learn by participating and also look forward to representing our region," said Halterman.
Halterman has served as superintendent of Alleghany Highlands Public Schools since July 2022. The school division was created through the merger of Alleghany County Public Schools, Covington City Public Schools, and Jackson River Technical Center. Halterman was named superintendent of Alleghany County Public Schools in March 2021.
Prior to returning to her native Alleghany County, Halterman worked with the Virginia Department of Education in its career and technology education division. Her background in public education also includes serving as a teacher in Botetourt County and as an assistant principal and principal in Bedford County. She has been principal of both elementary and secondary schools.
Halterman has been interested in both traditional and non-traditional paths to teacher licensure since embarking on her career. During her time as administrator of a career technical education center, Halterman became particularly interested in routes to licensure for individuals who previously worked in other industries.
Halterman also serves as a member of a Virginia Department of Education committee that aims to address issues affecting at-risk youth. Last year, she was appointed as the Region VI representative to the Superintendents Judges Liaison Committee. Additionally, she is a member of the Western Virginia Public Education Consortium (WVPEC) executive committee and serves on the board of the Blue Ridge Partnership for Health Science Careers.
On the local level, Halterman is involved in several roles that aim to improve education and other quality-of-life issues in the Highlands, including the Alleghany Highlands Arts Council Board and the board of Cora Dance-Alleghany.
“It is so important to have our staff and board members on state committees as the representatives of our region. While geographically we are close, we certainly have different challenges than some of our larger and more urban neighbors. As a voice for our region but, more importantly, a voice for what is important to the Alleghany Highlands, Superintendent Halterman is able to help shape what we need the future of education in Virginia to look like to benefit us right here at home,” said AHPS Board Chair Jacob Wright.
Committee membership is determined by a variety of factors. Nancy Moga, a retiree of local school divisions and a former principal, served on the Advisory Board on Teacher Education and Licensure for six years. During her time on the advisory board, she served in the roles of chair and vice chair. Moga was principal at Callaghan Elementary School when she retired.
“This is a great honor for Kim,” Moga said of Halterman’s appointment to ABTEL. “It brings good recognition to our school system and community. She’ll do a wonderful job representing our region.”
The Alleghany Highlands Public Schools Division is jointly funded by Alleghany County and Covington. It serves approximately 2,700 students.
AHPS news and events are regularly updated on Facebook at AHPublic Schools, and Instagram at ahpublicschools. Updated information is also posted on the division website www.ahps.k12.va.us.