Kids Count Director

West Virginia KIDS COUNT executive director Margie Hale has retired. Hale, whose retirement was announced last week, served as executive director since the organization’s inception in 1990. Laura Gandee will serve as interim executive director. She will continue as the Charleston-based nonprofit group’s communications director, a position she has held since 2004. West Virginia KIDS COUNT publishes an annual data book on child well-being. It also promotes improving the quality of early child development programs.