Article written by Tom Markland and published in The Journal on August 5, 2026, link to article HERE.
The Berkeley County Board of Education approved an Autism Classroom Workforce Initiative during its meeting on August 3, 2026, taking a significant step toward strengthening recruitment, retention, and long-term support for educators serving students with autism.
The initiative is part of Berkeley County Schools' 2026–2031 Strategic Plan and supports the district's commitment to ensuring every student has the opportunity to Reach Individual Success Every Day (RISE). Through a comprehensive workforce strategy, the initiative is designed to recruit, develop, support, and retain highly qualified professionals serving students with autism.
Berkeley County Schools currently operates 73 autism classrooms serving students with specialized learning and behavioral needs. As of August 4, 2026, only 26 classrooms were staffed by a certified special education teacher. An additional eight classrooms were led by educators actively pursuing their autism endorsement, while 31 classrooms were staffed by permanent substitutes. The district continues its recruitment efforts to fill the eight remaining classrooms.
The Board-approved plan establishes assignment-based salary supplements for eligible certified teachers serving in autism classrooms, recognizing the specialized training, responsibilities, and instructional expertise required to meet the needs of students with autism.
With the approved supplement, a newly hired certified teacher with a bachelor's degree and no prior experience who meets the qualifications to serve in an autism classroom could begin at $54,814 annually. A new teacher with a master's degree could begin at $57,720. Teachers entering Berkeley County Schools with four years of experience could begin at $60,522 with a bachelor's degree or $63,430 with a master's degree.
"Our goal is to ensure every autism classroom is led by a highly qualified teacher who has the knowledge, training, and support needed to help every student succeed," said Superintendent Dr. Ryan Saxe. "While comparable salary schedules with assignment-based supplements are not readily available across the state, we believe this positions Berkeley County Schools among—if not at—the highest starting salaries for teachers holding or obtaining autism certification and serving in autism classrooms in West Virginia. This investment reflects our commitment to both our students and the educators who serve them."
The initiative extends beyond compensation by creating sustainable career pathways for autism classroom aides and permanent substitutes through alternative certification and Grow Your Own opportunities. It also includes expanded mentoring, instructional coaching, professional learning, and ongoing support designed to improve instructional quality and workforce stability.
"While today's action focuses on supporting certified teachers, we recognize the critical role our autism classroom aides play in the success of our students every day," Saxe said. "We will continue exploring additional ways to support our aides through expanded professional development, specialized training, and other meaningful supports as we strengthen our autism programs that align with state law and service personnel classification."
District leaders believe the initiative will increase the number of certified teachers serving in autism classrooms, reduce vacancies, strengthen instructional continuity, and improve educational outcomes for students with autism while building long-term capacity within Berkeley County Schools.
The Autism Classroom Workforce Initiative represents one of the first major implementation strategies under the district's Strategic Priority for Recruitment and Retention of Staff and reinforces Berkeley County Schools' commitment to providing exceptional educational opportunities for every learner.