By Sierra Marling, The Herald-Dispatch
NITRO, W.Va. — When students walk into Seth Skiles’ classroom at Rock Branch Elementary in Nitro, they know they’re in for something special.
On Tuesday, instead of sheet music or instruments, Skiles brought in pre-cut pastry dough and baked crescent rolls while teaching about Thanksgiving traditions. Students and staff said this kind of creative, hands-on lesson is just another day in Skiles’ general music class, which spans preschool through fifth grade. His engaging and multifaceted teaching style recently earned him the title of West Virginia’s 2025 Teacher of the Year. The Rock Branch staff said he’s Putnam County’s first state Teacher of the Year award winner and may also be the only music teacher statewide to receive the honor.
Teacher of the Year
A Putnam County native, Skiles studied at Marshall University before transferring to Anderson University in South Carolina and later Belmont University in Tennessee. After teaching in Nashville, he returned to his home state during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he has since become known as a positive figure in the Rock Branch community.
“From 7 a.m. until 4 p.m., he has a smile on his face,” said Leah Leftwich, a first-grade teacher at the school. “He’s energetic. He is teaching. He uses every moment with the kids to be a teachable moment.”
Principal Beth Scott said, “I feel like what he teaches the students during music is applicable to what they’re learning in the regular classroom and what they’re assessed on … . I’ve seen him teach grammar to the students before, plus there’s history and social studies that he aligns with his curriculum.”
Skiles, a self-described Disney-loving adult “dreamer,” feels every lesson is an opportunity to inspire.
