McDowell County, West Virginia Jack & Svea Schreiner McDowell County, West Virginia

Mark 12: 28-32 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given a good answer, he asked him, “of all of the commandments, which one is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”

1 John 3: 16-18 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.

Life in McDowell County Geographical isolation - Two hours’ drive to closest interstate highway Lack of economic diversity - Coal = only major industry - Median household income = $22,000 Culture of dependence - 47% of personal income comes from federal programs Population loss - 1950’s population = 100,000; today = 22,000 Drug Abuse - 8 times national average for drug overdose deaths Pervasive hopelessness

Education in McDowell County Unstable Homes 47% of our students do not live with a biological parent 72% of our students live in a house without gainful employment Unstable Schools Estimated 40-50% annual teacher and administrator turnover rate Vacancies year round in core teaching and administrative positions Poor Outcomes Ranked last in WV for most of the past decade 25% of students are proficient in reading Of 100+ graduates at MVHS last year, 13 went to college

Former Mayor of War- McDowell County’s Top 3 Issues: Drugs Shortage of adequate housing Lack of skilled tradesmen

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Teachers Village Lack of adequate housing has been cited as one of the primary contributors to the challenge of recruitment and retention of teachers.

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