It’s the end of an era for the staff and students at the Fayette Institute of Technology (FIT). For the past fifteen years, Barry Crist has been leading the FIT family, but after much consideration, he has decided it’s time to retire.
Students have always been Crist’s top priority at FIT, and he has taken great pride in the school’s success.
Brian Richmond, Special Education Instructor, says, “Mr. Crist often tells our students ‘You are coming from the greatest school in all the land.’ I think he really has made this place great.”
Crist has not only made sure that his students are number one but the school as well.
Since Crist has taken over, FIT has won many awards and certifications, including the 2012-2013 West Virginia School of Excellence, a 100% passing rate on the Licensure Examination for five years, the 2014-2015 West Virginia Premier Career & Technical Education Site, 2012-2013 West Virginia Exemplary School, and a 2015 Certificate of Recognition for Accreditation from the Council on Occupational Education.
Mary Flint, Adult Education Instructor, says “This was a good school before, but he just took it to a whole other level.”
Crist has lived in Fayette County his entire life. He graduated from Midland Trail High School in 1979 and attended the Fayette Plateau Vocational-Technical Center (currently FIT) from 1977-1979. He received a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Arts from WVU Tech. He then furthered his education by attending Marshall University, where he earned a Master of Arts in Special Education, followed by a Master of Public Administration in 1989.
He has led many schools around the district. He was Assistant Principal at Oak Hill High School, Facilitator at Ansted Middle School, and Principal at Nuttall Middle School. Overall, Crist has been working in the school system for over thirty-two years.
Crist originally started out as a special education teacher.
“It was very rewarding and enlightening to see that I could make a difference; it dispelled a lot of ideas that you may have about students not being able to learn.” His mantra moving forward: No matter the situation, everyone is capable of learning.
Over his fifteen years at FIT, Crist has added nine programs of study. These include: School of Practical Nursing, Careers in Education, Pre-Engineering, Auto Body, Heating and Air Conditioning, Plumbing, Pre-Pharmacy, Parks and Recreation, and Multimedia Publishing. He has also added a full-time special education instructor and a full-time counselor to the faculty.
His most sentimental addition was the School of Practical Nursing program. “My grandmother went through an SPN program later in life to become a Licensed Practical Nurse, and I can remember what an impact that had on her. It was a special moment for me to start that program because of the impact it would have on students who are in it. It’s very important that students have a say in their education; they have a critical part in their learning.”
Crist feels that young people being treated like adults have resulted in a positive, simulated workplace environment. Stimulated Workplace curriculums were adopted by the state and give students the ability to take ownership of their performance and overall the success in their own education. Crist had a crucial role in making this movement spread throughout the state and across the nation.
Along with adding more programs, Crist has also brought embedded mathematics and English credits to programs that have a lot of the same skill sets. “We started working with math teachers around the state and helping them see the curriculum was the same as what they were teaching in math class. After that, it went on to the board and then the legislature.”
Crist is involved with numerous professional committees, such as the Board of Governors at BridgeValley, Governors Economic Task Force, Tech Prep Consortiums, Steering Committee for Stem Education, the West Virginia Superintendent Advisory Panel, and many more.
Outside of school, Crist’s favorite hobbies range from hunting and fishing to woodworking and travel. He is a caring family man with a loving wife, three sons, a daughter-in-law, a grandson, and a granddaughter on the way. He is also very active in his local Methodist church and loves to help people.
Retirement is a very bittersweet moment for Crist.
“I am going to miss this place and working with all the wonderful people in this community. I have been blessed throughout my career with tremendous parents, families, staff, and students. I am excited to have more time to spend with my family and be a bigger part of their lives, but I will miss this place. I want people to think of me when they think of FIT, and the improvements I have made here.”
“I hope that FIT keeps moving forward. When you are on the train track of life and you stop moving, someone is going to catch up to you, so you must keep moving forward.”
The community is invited to a reception honoring Mr. Crist on Thursday, September 27th from 5 p.m. to 7p.m. at the school.