The Virtual Community School of Ohio’s board of education is made up of the following members: 

Mr. Cooke Metzger, Board President
Ms. Linda Lavender
Mr. Ron Thornton
Mr. Charlie Wilcoxen
Mr. Jim McCord, Superintendent
Mr. Shane Allen, Treasurer

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Cooke Metzger: Board President

Cooke Metzger has been a fixture of educational integrity in Pickaway County for as long as many can remember. As a result of that reputation, has been able to serve on the Westfall Local School Board for the last 32 years.

Over the course of his tenure on the Westfall board, Mr. Metzger has been revered for his character, which is defined by his strong values. Everyone recognizes him as an honest, caring, and fair individual who has devoted a great deal of his time and energies to the children of his district.

Mr. Metzger has served in a number of capacities on the Westfall Board including serving often as head negotiator. He has served the board the last 27 years in that capacity as part of the negotiation committee and as a member of the finance committee.

Mr. Metzger believes that education is a process covering a lifetime. He believes that in order to solve problems you must be willing to listen, evaluate and make decisions based on the facts. Everyone who meets Mr. Metzger knows he brings an additional ingredient to this process – humor. He believes that every circumstance has a bit of humor embedded somewhere in its being.

The work that Mr. Metzger has put into his community and schools has not gone unnoticed. In 1983 he was part of the Ohio School Board Association All Region Board. In 1989 he received the Producers Livestock State Boards Award for 50 years of service. In 1990 he received the Outstanding School Board Member Leadership Award. Perhaps his most treasured award was his induction into the Central Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame on May 17, 2000. Nominated by the Pickaway County Commission on Aging, they wrote, “Cooke Metzger is nominated for his invaluable contributions to the community. He is one of Pickaway County’s great civic assets.”

Mr. Metzger resides in Pickaway County where he still farms the land that he has been farming for 48 years. He has no plans for retiring anytime soon. All who meet Mr. Metzger find him to be the definition of a gentleman. His down-to-earth philosophy and caring attitude make it very easy to call him a “friend”.
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Linda Lavender: Board Member

Linda Lavender has a lifetime of experience serving as both a business and a community leader. She has worked with the Huntington National Bank for over thirty years in various capacities. She currently serves as a branch manager and works with new businesses to set up accounts and loans. Mrs. Lavender also has a background in insurance and annuities.

Mrs. Lavender is married with two children, and two grandchildren. Her community involvement includes serving on the Whitehall and Bexley Chambers of Commerce as well as the Consortium Board at C-Tech. She is an avid equestrian and loves all types of animals.

Linda feels that virtual learning is the wave of the future in education because it enables more children to get a quality education without the peer pressure of traditional schooling. It is also a great way for children with disabilities to receive the same quality education as all other children. For these reasons, Mrs. Lavender values the opportunity to serve on the VCS Ohio Board of Directors.

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Ron Thornton: Board Member

Mr. Thornton has had a lifetime relationship with education and has been professionally involved at all levels. Before beginning his career in teaching, Mr. Thornton attended the University of Rio Grande where he received his Bachelor of Science degree. He then went to the Ohio University and graduated with a Master’s in Educational Administration in 1983. He holds professional certifications as a Superintendent, Educator of the Handicapped, Elementary Principal and Secondary Teacher of Speech and English. Since college, Mr. Thornton has been a key fixture in several school districts including Wolf Creek where he worked as a special needs instructor and later as superintendent. He spent the last 17 years serving as the superintendent of Teays Valley Local Schools in Pickaway County. In August 2006, Mr. Thornton retired. 

Not only has he worked for over two decades as a leader in educational administration, but Mr. Thornton had served on several boards and committees. His past roles include Ohio Quality Academy Board Member and Buckeye Association of School Administrators Advisory Committee. Mr. Thornton currently serves on the Berger Health System Board, Berger Hospital Foundation Board of Directors and the Ross/Pickaway County Insurance Consortium Board of Governors.

Mr. Thornton plans to take an active role as a Virtual Community School of Ohio Board Member. With a strong background in special needs education, he recognizes what a great opportunity virtual learning can be for those students who struggle in a traditional school environment. His membership is a welcome and honored addition to the VCS Board of Directors.

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Charlie Wilcoxen: Board Member

Charles “Charlie” E. Wilcoxen has an extensive background in education. He has degrees and/or coursework from several colleges and universities including Ohio University, Kent State University, Marietta College, West Virginia University, Glennville State College, and Ohio Valley University. He has been in education 33 years at the Washington County Career Center in Marietta, Ohio. During this time, he has served as Social Studies Teacher, Reading Specialist, Special Education Coordinator, and Career Assessment Specialist. Mr. Wilcoxen’s other accomplishments in the educational arena include mentoring, teaching at Washington State Community College, presiding over the Heritage Reading Council in Washington County and a variety of other activities. He is currently the Job Training Coordinator for Project WAVE.

In addition to serving on the Board of VCS Ohio, Mr. Wilcoxen has many other areas of community involvement. He is a former member of the Belpre Lions Club and Belpre Band Boosters. He is currently an active member of the Rosemar Road Church of Christ in Parkersburg, West Virginia. He has also been active in community and school sports program as a former little league baseball, community youth basketball and track coach.

Mr. Wilcoxen believes that all students can learn and that their learning is enhanced when they are presented with different modes of appropriate quality learning opportunities. He feels that VCS Ohio is an excellent opportunity for many students who desire a non-traditional quality education. He feels that VCS Ohio utilizes the latest in technology and curriculum with an excellent staff to provide a quality education. In his own words “I am honored to serve on the VCS Ohio Board of Education. VCS Ohio is a quality organization and offers an excellent educational alternative.”

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