The superintendent of New Albany-Plain Local Schools was selected on April 22 for the top job of at a central Ohio educational support provider.
New Albany-Plain Superintendent Michael Sawyers was selected as superintendent of the Education Service Center. Sawyers was a finalist alongside Dublin Superintendent John Marschhausen and was interviewed on April 20. The two were finalists to replace Superintendent Tom Goodney, who has led the the center since 2013, according to a press release.
Governing Board President Barry Alcock said that the ESC is “excited to move forward with Mr. Sawyers and looks forward to his leadership in the agency.
“Though either finalist would have been a fine choice, Mr. Sawyers stood apart as being best suited to take on the work ahead,” Alcock said.
If approved by the ESC board at its April 24 meeting, Sawyers is expected to take office by Aug. 1.
The Educational Service Center of Central Ohio acts as large-scale service provider for schools in the region, offering administrative, academic, fiscal and operational support services to schools and districts, offering specialized services, technical support and professional development to local school districts.
The center serves 32 client school districts, including three career technical centers, in Delaware, Franklin, Licking, Madison, Marion, Morrow, Ross and Union counties, with over 225,000 students.
Sawyers said in a statement that he is “energized” to join the ESC and looks forward to making a difference for the member districts in the ESC.
“This agency has an extraordinary legacy built on trust, relationships, collaboration, and an unwavering belief that every student, in every district, deserves access to exceptional resources and support,” Sawyers said.
New Albany-Plain did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Sawyers has been superintendent of New Albany-Plain Local Schools since 2016. Prior to that, Sawyers held leadership roles in the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and served as as superintendent of Perry Local Schools, according to his staff biography.
In a previous statement, Sawyers said he was “honored to be named a finalist” for the role and said he has kept the New Albany school board updated throughout the process. He said he has a “great respect” for the center’s impact on the region.
Cole Behrens covers K-12 education and school districts in central Ohio. Have a tip? Contact Cole at cbehrens@dispatch.com or connect with him on X at @Colebehr_report
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: New Albany schools superintendent picked for regional education job
Reporting by Cole Behrens, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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