Huntington Bank Invests in West Virginia Educators with ‘Ignite the Classroom’ Program
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – March 26, 2026 – Huntington National Bank is awarding a year-long professional development experience to more than 250 West Virginia educators through its ‘Ignite the Classroom’ initiative. The awards were announced at a special event on Wednesday evening, where participating educators learned of their selection.
Now in its third year, Ignite the Classroom provides professional development training to educators across Huntington’s banking footprint, aiming to transform classrooms and enhance student learning. The program underscores Huntington’s commitment to strengthening the communities it serves.
“West Virginia’s educators play a vital role in shaping the future of communities across the state, and Huntington is proud to invest in their continued growth,” said Chad Prather, president of Huntington’s West Virginia region. “Through this year’s Ignite the Classroom program, we look forward to providing educators with a transformative professional development opportunity that will positively impact West Virginia students for years to arrive.”
Program Participants and Locations
The selected educators represent middle schools in twelve West Virginia counties: Berkeley, Boone, Cabell, Grant, Greenbrier, Hampshire, Jefferson, Kanawha, Mercer, Monongalia, Randolph, and Tucker.
Immersive Training at the Ron Clark Academy
A key component of the Ignite the Classroom experience is a visit to the Ron Clark Academy (RCA) in Atlanta, Georgia, scheduled for July 23-25. RCA is a nationally recognized nonprofit middle school known for its innovative teaching methods and academic excellence. Educators will observe and participate in immersive professional development training designed to inspire a passion for learning in their students.
Program Growth and Support
This marks the second year of participation for West Virginia educators, with this year’s cohort more than doubling the 130 teachers who participated in 2025. The West Virginia Department of Education selected the participating schools.
“The West Virginia Department of Education is committed to supporting the growth and development of our educators, whose hard work and dedication drive the success of our schools,” said West Virginia Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt. “We applaud Huntington’s Ignite the Classroom initiative and are grateful for the opportunity it provides our educators to participate in professional development that strengthens their skills, awakens their creativity and, enhances learning outcomes for students across the Mountain State. On behalf of the educators throughout the state, thank you to Huntington for your commitment to the education community.”
Since its launch in 2024, Ignite the Classroom has reached nearly 2,300 educators and 40 school districts within Huntington’s service area. Participation is free for educators, thanks to investments from Huntington and contributions from various organizations, including:
- The Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust
- WVU Medicine
- Wing 2 Wing Foundation
- Lisa and Larry Pack
- Benedum Foundation
- Vandalia Health
- The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation
- Augusta Family Foundation
- Paul Ambrose Charitable Trust Foundation
- George D. Hott Memorial Foundation
- Virginia Brown Foundation
- Liz and Louis Weisberg Family Foundation
- Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation
- Downtown Ford and University Ford
- JW Ebert Corporation
- Lester Raines Honda
- Boone Memorial Health
- Service Wire Company
- Chris Adkins
More information about the Ignite the Classroom initiative can be found at www.Huntington.com/IgniteTheClassroom.
About Huntington
Huntington Bancshares Incorporated, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, is a regional bank holding company with $279 billion in assets. Founded in 1866, Huntington and its affiliates offer a comprehensive range of banking, payment, wealth management, and risk management services to consumers, businesses, and organizations. Huntington operates approximately 1,400 branches across 21 states.
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