Deborah L. Starr

Kermit 6-8 Middle School
Mingo County Public Schools
Kermit, West Virginia
dstarr@k12.wv.us

Deborah Starr has served Kermit 6-8 Middle School (KMS) as principal for the last five years, where she has successfully cultivated a positive climate for students and teachers alike. She has created space for teacher self-reflection, for example, though weekly Kermit Konversations, while Vertical Teaming has improved grade-level instruction through collective strategizing. Meanwhile, Kermit Kids of Character, Academic Go-Getters, and the Kermit Student Leadership Team recognize the various forms of student excellence needed to make KMS thrive. Starr is a skilled development leader and has emphasized grant implementation as a way of expanding academic, physical education, and nutrition programming at KMS, including an initiative that brings together AmeriCorps and local business partners to teach students how to grow their own herbs and vegetables. She recently secured a grant from the Education Alliance, in partnership with the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, aimed at increasing seventh-grade participation in college visits. KMS has received district recognition for its strong community partnerships under Starr’s leadership, exemplified through programs like her “Families that Read Together, Succeed Together” initiative. Through a range of supportive programming, Starr also led KMS to receive a West Virginia Schools Balanced Scorecard in Mathematics. Starr has taught as an Adjunct at Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College; she holds a B.A. in Elementary Education from Midway University, an M.Ed. from Salem University, and an Early Childhood Education Certificate from Marshall University.