When newly appointed South Point Elementary School Vice Principal Marsha Edwards of Proctorville was a child, her favorite activity was to “play school.”
“I have always been that kid who was excited about school supplies, had binders and was very organized in keeping track of my grades,” she said. “I’ve always loved school.”
During her early years, one could find Edwards making filmstrips out of paper and putting a flashlight behind them. Anything her teachers gave away, she was carrying home.
“The leftover things, worksheets and all that,” she said.
Originally from West Virginia, Edwards graduated from Wayne High School before heading to Marshall University to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in elementary education.
“I’ve always loved school,” she said. “When it was time to go to college, I didn’t have that struggle like a lot of kids do. There was never a question. I was going to go to school and be a teacher. It’s really what I’m wired to do.”
An educator for 26 years now—starting as a substitute right out of college—Edwards became a full-time teacher in 1999, spending her entire career in South Point.
She taught kindergarten for 13 years, served one year as intervention specialist, one year in third grade language arts and social studies and the past 10 years working in the language arts computer lab.
Bill Christian, South Point Elementary’s principal, was assistant principal for several years. He had started a master’s program at the University of Rio Grande. He encouraged Edwards to do it, too. She knew she wanted to get into administration at some point, but wasn’t set, at first, on the idea of having to earn another master’s degree. She ultimately decided to do it.
In 2016, both earned their credentials that opened doors in administration. The opportunity followed for Edwards to enter the administrative ranks.
“Our principal, Chris Mathes, moved up to superintendent,” she said. “Bill moved up to principal. I moved over to vice principal. I’m excited about it. I think it will be good; we’ve all worked together for a long time.”
Edwards said that Christian and she have sets of strengths that complement one another when doing what’s best for students.
“He’s stronger in some areas than I am,” she said. “For instance, he has a special ed. background. He’s done that as assistant principal. He’s going to continue to do that because that’s his area of strength. I’ve been more involved in working with Chris in curriculum matters. I’m going to do more with that.”
“I’m very excited,” Edwards said. “Overall, the entire administrative team works really well together.”
Edwards has a passion for helping people and solving problems.
“That is what gives me joy—being able to help someone, support them,” she said. “If they’re having a problem, I’ll try to figure out a way, with them, to solve it. We have a phenomenal staff here. We can have all the programs in the world, but it’s the staff that makes this such a good school.”
With a principal and a superintendent who are “very positive,” Edwards said her approach is “all about lifting people up.”

“We all have a struggle from time to time,” she said. “I just want to be very positive in my support of families and kids.”
Helping students realize they can learn or develop a love for learning or interest in reading is a priority for Edwards.
“Or maybe it’s a kid who has had trouble in discipline or their behavior,” she said. “It’s about working with them to realize that they can do it, and they don’t have to be in that bad spot all the time. That will be a big part of what the vice principal does here.”
Edwards has two adult children—son Cody Houchin who lives in Georgia and daughter Maggie Husband who lives in the Tri-State—both of whom are married. Edwards married her husband Carl a couple of years ago.
Ultimately, Edwards plans to continue working hard to impact the lives of students in a positive manner.
“I’d like to make a difference,” she said.