The Director of Students and Attendance oversees the school district’s student attendance and dropout prevention programs, and acts as Roane County Schools’ “Attendance Officer” for the purpose of enforcing the State of West Virginia’s student attendance regulations. The Department of Student Services also assists students and families with their efforts to improve attendance at school, and has set an ambitious goal for students, families, and schools to work toward achieving a 95% attendance rate. It is a well known fact that excellent attendance increases the chances for student success at school and work.

In addition to working with student attendance, the Department of Student Services assists schools with the approval and revocation of driving privileges based upon student attendance, achievement of credits toward graduation, and disciplinary records. The Director acts as the school district’s agent for social services, and manages Roane County Schools’ Education for Homeless Children and Youth grant programs. The Department also coordinates a program entitled Helping Students Incorporated, which has been assisting needy students with basic school clothing and supply needs since 1989.

Stephen F. Goffreda, the department’s Director, graduated Rutgers University with honors in 1977. He earned his Masters Degree in Education Administration in 1985 at West Virginia University, and went on to earn certification as an Attendance Director (and in the area of School Social Services) in 1996-1997. He began his work in public school education as a teacher in 1977, later serving as an elementary and middle school Principal. He has thirty years of experience in public school education; twenty-nine of those years were in administrative posts.

His past experiences include helping to win Roane County’s first West Virginia School of Excellence award at Geary School in 1991, and a 1993 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence award in the State of New Jersey. He is returning to the Department of Student Services in 2011, a job he held in 1996-1998, after having served thirteen years as a past Roane County Superintendent. Mr. Goffreda has also been the General Manager/Program Director of WYRC-LP Power 92 Radio since 2002, and was commissioned as a Special Deputy Sheriff in 2001 for the purpose of working with students in tobacco prevention.

Needless to say, Mr. Goffreda is very excited about his new position in attendance, and is looking forward to working with the students and families of Roane County again in a new role.