Mary Lu Hutchins, the 2009 West Virginia Teacher of the Year, will be the next assistant principal at Warwood School.

The Ohio County Board of Education approved her appointment Monday, though Hutchins wasn't able to attend the meeting. Superintendent George Krelis said she was at National Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala., fulfilling part of her requirements as state teacher of the year.

Hutchins will instead be recognized by the board at its Aug. 10 meeting - three days after she assumes her new post on Aug. 7. Hutchins will take over the position being vacated by Walter Sanders, who will take over as principal at Triadelphia Middle School.

"We had very detailed evaluation for the assistant principal's position at Warwood Middle School, and the committee worked very hard," Krelis said. "We are very pleased."

Hutchins has been a first-grade teacher at Steenrod Elementary School since 1990. She is a graduate of West Liberty State College, now a university, with a bachelor's degree in elementary education. She obtained her master's degree in instructional communication from West Virginia University.

Hutchins became a National Board Certified Teacher in 2004 with an early childhood generalist certification. In 2006, Hutchins received a Presidential Award for "excellence in mathematics and science teaching." In 2005, she was the West Virginia Science Teacher of the Year.

Hutchins is also a member of Gov. Joe Manchin's 21st Century Jobs Cabinet.

A Wheeling resident, Hutchins is a member of the Health Sciences Technology Academy Local Governing Board, which promotes higher education opportunities for first generation college attendees and minority students.