CHARLESTON W.Va. (WVDN) – The West Virginia Association of School Human Resource Officers (WVASHRO) is pleased to honor Dr. Kristal Filipek with the 2024 Gregory Bailey West Virginia School Human Resource Officer of the Year Award. Established by the Bowles Rice law firm in memory of respected Education Law Attorney Greg Bailey, the award is presented annually to the school human resource official who has distinguished themselves in personnel administration and has contributed to the betterment of public education and the community. Dr. Filipek, the Human Resource Director for Mercer County Schools, was presented the award at the WVASHRO Winter Conference held at Stonewall Resort on December 6, 2024.
“Winning the Greg Bailey Human Resource Official of the Year award was an incredibly exciting and meaningful experience,” said Dr. Filipek. “To be honored in Greg Bailey’s name is both humbling and inspiring, especially having known him and witnessed firsthand his dedication to excellence.”
She said she is committed to upholding the values and leadership Greg Bailey exemplified, carrying forward his legacy of integrity, innovation, and passion for the profession.
Dr. Filipek has been employed with Mercer County Schools for over 20 years. Her experience began as a Teacher, Dean of Students, and progressed from there to an Elementary Principal, Supervisor of Special Education and Title I, and Elementary Supervisor/Pre-K coordinator before assuming her current position as Human Resource Director.
Dr. Filipek received her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Concord College, Greg Bailey’s alma mater. She received her master’s degree in Reading from Marshall University and her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Marshall University. In addition to her work in k-12 education, Dr. Filipek has taught many online courses in Education Leadership at the collegiate level for Marshall University and Concord University.
Furthermore, Dr. Filipek’s outstanding impact on education at the local and state levels has also earned her the distinction of being WVSHRO’s nomination for the national Herb Salinger Personnel Administrator of the Year Award by the American Association of School Personnel Administrators.
The Gregory Bailey School Human Resources Official of the Year Award was established in 2016 in honor of attorney Greg Bailey, who died suddenly in January 2015. The annual award is presented to an individual in a personnel position who has distinguished themselves in several areas:
- Personnel administration at the local and/or state level;
- Involvement and participation in local, state, national and/or international personnel functions and/or programs;
- Impactful contribution on public education at the local, state, national and/or international level;
- Skilled management of change and creative approach to personnel administration;
- Thoughtful approach to personnel administrative work, including a sense of humor and a sense of respect for his/her fellow man.
Past recipients of the award include Justin Schooley, Associate Superintendent of Human Resources, Berkeley County Schools (2016); Carol Hamric, Human Resources Executive Director, Kanawha County Schools (2017); Bill Linville, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, Lincoln County Schools (2018); Margaret Pennington, Associate Superintendent, Fayette County Schools (2019); Susan Grady, Human Resources Director, Mineral County (2020); Doug Clemons, Associate Superintendent and Human Resources Director for Greenbrier County Schools (2021); Ronald “Ron” Pauley, Human Resources Executive for Kanawha County Schools (2022); and Amy Loring, Chief Human Resources Officer for Jefferson County Schools (2023).
