GALION, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Hartmann says this year is all about giving both students and staff the “Courage to Climb.” With a new tagline, fresh opportunities for teachers, and a focus on helping every student uncover their goals, Galion City Schools is ready for an exciting year ahead.
✨ “We have great kids, we have great staff, and they just need the freedom to do amazing things.” – Dr. Hartmann
Read more about his vision for the year ⬇️
For years, the district’s tagline was Believe, Achieve, Succeed. This year, it was decided that a new message was needed—one that better reflects the kind of risk-taking, resilience, and growth mindset the district wants for both students and staff.
“The tagline has changed,” Hartmann explained. “For a number of years it was Believe, Achieve, Succeed, but over the last two years, through conversation, we’ve changed it to Courage to Climb. We realized that if we want kids to take chances, we have to give them the courage to be able to do that. And beyond that, if we want our teachers to give our kids that ability, they also have to have the freedom to be courageous and try something different and new.”
To encourage that mindset, the district has invested heavily in professional development over the past two years. At the start of this school year, teachers were asked to reflect on the possibilities within their classrooms: What exciting things could happen with their students? What ideas have they always wanted to try but never had the chance to? In fact, each teacher was even given a symbolic “permission slip” to try something new.
When asked what excites him most about the school year, Hartmann’s focus is clear. “I’m most excited to see where our staff is going to take our kids, and then what our kids are going to be able to do as a result of that leadership and growth. We have great kids, we have great staff, and they just need the freedom to be able to do amazing things.”
Hartmann also shared advice for parents and community members on how to best support the school system this year. “I think seeking first to understand goes a long way. Parents are sending us their best and brightest—they’re not keeping kids at home. There’s a lot of love and emotion attached to that. And when things go sideways, there’s a lot of emotion attached to that too. So, seeking first to understand a program, a situation, or what happened between two kids before rendering judgment goes a long way, not just with school, but in life.”
For staff, his message is simple but powerful: Have the courage to climb.
Hartmann also had advice for students on making the most of the year. “Students get the most out of their educational experience when they have a goal they want to achieve. Our job in Galion City Schools is to help uncover whatever that goal may be. It’s really hard to go through life just going through the motions. It’s a lot more joyful when you have a goal you’re trying to aspire to. And if you don’t know what that goal is, our job is to help figure that out.”
Looking ahead, Hartmann is optimistic. “I think it’s going to be a great school year. We’ve got a lot of great things happening in Galion City Schools, with more to come. I invite anyone to come visit us and see what’s happening.”