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WVEA Member Spotlight


The West Virginia Golden Horseshoe Award is given to the students in each county who score the highest on the Golden Horseshoe test. The test has been administered since 1931 and is the longest running program of its kind in the state. The test is given to eighth grade students and takes its name from the golden horseshoes given to early explorers of West Virginia by then Virginia Colonial Governor Alexander Spotswood in 1716.

In addition to the students who receive the award for their outstanding knowledge of West Virginia History, some teachers also receive the award for their contribution to the program. We are honored to have Jason Gump, a social studies teacher from Ravenswood Middle School, as this year’s teacher winner of the Honorary Golden Horseshoe and our Member Spotlight. He’s had more than 10 students win the prestigious award, which qualified him to receive the honor.

Jason loves teaching and tells us “I couldn’t imagine doing anything else with my life.” Jason can remember thinking being a teacher would be an interesting job at a young age. “I was inspired by my freshman history teacher Steve Mullins to become a teacher.” Jason has been coaching students competing in the Golden Horseshoe for eight years, one year in Clarksburg and seven at Ravenswood. “My students have had great success, having 11 winners in seven years at Ravenswood Middle School. I want to give all the credit to my students and their hard work. Their hard work is the reason I received my honorary Golden Horseshoe.”

We asked Jason about his other interests, and he told us, “I enjoy traveling with my family to different historical and points of interest in West Virginia. My wife and two girls take trips to different places that I teach about every summer to explore different parts of the state of West Virginia. I also enjoy coaching my daughter Adaline’s basketball and soccer teams. I really enjoy playing basketball recreationally and for exercise.” WVEA salutes this month’s Member Spotlight, Jason Gump.

Nominate an educator at wvea.org/memberspotlightform. Help us spotlight a member for being an outstanding educator, supportive colleague, mentor, or community activist.