James P. Phares

James B. Phares was inducted into the College of Applied Human Sciences Hall of Fame in the fall of 2025. He was previously inducted into the College of Education and Human Services Hall of Fame in 2009.

Phares earned a B.S. in elementary education from West Virginia University in 1974 and a doctorate in educational leadership from Virginia Tech in 1995.

He served as a teacher, coach, and administrator for Bedford County Schools (Va.) at Thaxton Elementary and Staunton River Middle and High Schools. He then moved on to become Superintendent of Schools in Pocohontas, Marion and Randolph County. He was named the West Virginia Superintendent of the year in 2007-08 and was one of four finalists and runner-up for National Superintendent of the Year. Under his transformative leadership, Marion schools met “Adequate Yearly Progress” under No Child Left Behind requirements. He later advanced the use of technology to enhance the quality of administrative and instructional activities and to ensure students success in meeting the challenges of 21st century learning.

Phares later spent two years as the West Virginia State Superintendent. He retired in 2016 and passed away in 2025.