CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Board of Education on Thursday elected Wade Linger as its president for 2011-2012. The board also elected Gayle Manchin from Kanawha County as vice president and Robert Dunlevy from Ohio County as secretary. 

Linger, a high tech entrepreneur, was appointed to the West Virginia Board of Education in 2008 to a nine-year term. Linger is a native of Charleston and current Marion County resident. Trained as a computer programmer while serving in the U.S. Air Force, Linger has spent much of his professional career in the fields of technology and research. Linger is a community leader and volunteer. He served with the Marion County Chamber of Commerce and is a former Boy Scout leader. He also served on the West Virginia University's College of Engineering Advisory Council. Linger received a Bachelor of Arts in Business from St. Leo College, Fla., in 1989.

 Gayle Manchin was appointed to the state Board of Education in 2007 to serve a nine-year term ending 2015. She attended West Virginia University, where she attained her bachelor’s degree in language arts and education and a master’s in reading. She also holds a second master’s in educational technology leadership from Salem International University.

 Robert Dunlevy was named to the West Virginia Board of Education in November 2005 for a term ending in 2014. A native of Ohio County, Dunlevy holds a bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University. In addition to his state board duties, he also serves on the School Building Authority and the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission.