By James Massara
CCN News Director
BUCYRUS — After nearly two decades as a Royal, now-former Wynford High School Principal Jeff Holbrook has left Wynford Local Schools for a job as a superintendent.
Holbrook recently accepted the position as superintendent at Hopewell-Loudon Schools in Bascom.
After 19 years at Wynford, Holbrook said it was an extremely tough decision to make.
“Wynford is an extremely special place to me and my family. It took a lot of soul searching,” he said. “When you take the classes, you want to be a superintendent, but it takes a lot to leave a place like Wynford.”
Holbrook said Hopewell-Loudon provided him with a chance he could not pass up.
“Hopewell-Loudon was number one on my list,” he said of the superintendent openings in the area. “It’s a dream job and a great opportunity.”
Holbrook said he was one of 29 applicants for the position, making the top five, before accepting the job.
He said he is not sure if there’s one specific thing that he will take with him to Hopewell-Loudon, but he said he knows his experiences will help him make a positive impact on the Chieftains community.
“You learn a lot of the years from mistakes, staff, other administrators, the superintendent and the board of education as well,” Holbrook said. “The biggest thing, I think, is to recognize leadership. It doesn’t have to be a teacher or administrator, either. It can be a bus driver who hasn’t missed a day in 40 years.
“I’ve seen a great deal of successes at Wynford, and I think the leadership shown through those experiences are what I’ll take with me.”
During his tenure at Wynford, Holbrook taught art for nine years, was the junior high principal for four years, seventh- through twelfth-grade principal for two years and tenth- through twelfth-grade principal for four years. He also coached football for more than a decade.
“Jeff has worn many hats at Wynford and has done so successfully,” Wynford Superintendent Fred Fox said. “He has impacted the lives and many students and he will be missed.”
Holbrook sent a message to the Wynford staff about how he believed he impacted the district and how the district impacted him. The message included thank-you messages to both specific students and staff members. The conclusion of the message was as follows.
A parting note:
It is not what you say, it is what you do. You let your body of work talk and tell the story, not your mouth. The kids see your actions and know. All of us are writing a book and this just turns the page onto another chapter. Make “splashes” all along the way, you never know what that splash may turn into in a kids life, a wave, and for some a tsunami! Life altering! I will always be a phone call away….
Regards,
Jeff
Holbrook said he wanted to thank the entire Wynford community for their support.
“The response has been very positive, and that’s what the Wynford community is all about.
A familiar face is stepping into the high school principal role with Holbrook’s departure.
Junior High Principal Chris Solis was promoted to the high school position, according to Fox.
Fox said the interview process is underway for a new junior high principal, with second interviews to be conducted Tuesday.
According to Fox, the three candidates for the position are Tom Bower, an eighth-grade math teacher at Elgin Local Schools; Brent Konkle, a junior high language arts teacher at Mohawk Local Schools; and Julie Miller, a sixth-grade teacher at Wynford.
Fox said he hopes to have the position filled for the board of education meeting Thursday at 5:30 p.m.