CRESTLINE — With the start of August, comes new leadership for the Crestline Exempted Village School District.
Crestline Superintendent Matthew Henderson officially began his role as the district’s leader Aug. 1.
“Day one was probably the easiest job I’ll ever have as a superintendent,” Henderson said. “We were at the Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center. They do an administrative retreat every year. We attended different break-out sessions and heard a very inspirational opening speaker and heard some legal updates.”
He said day two, his first full day in the district in his role, began positively with a meeting with the district’s bus drivers.
“Already getting positive work done on day two,” Henderson said.
Henderson joins the district after previously serving as the director of curriculum at Bucyrus City Schools.
During the summer, Henderson worked on a part-time status with Crestline while finishing his duties at Bucyrus. He worked together with interim Crestline Superintendent John Miller to further gain knowledge of the district.
Henderson said he felt lucky to be given a bridge contract by the Crestline Board of Education to assist in his transition to the district while learning from Miller. Henderson said the real-time on-the-job training was extremely helpful.
“I cut my teeth at Bucyrus as an administrator as an assistant principal and worked there for a decade and moved to principal and curriculum director,” Henderson said. “I’m always going to be grateful and I owe a lot to the Bucyrus City Schools District who allowed me to become an administrator and get into this side of the educational career.”
Henderson said he is excited to transition from a small close-knit community to another community with a great deal of local pride.
“That’s what was really appealing about this job,” Henderson said. “During my time at Bucyrus, I worked with so many people that are from Crestline, either taught here at a point or graduated from here. I’ve never met a group of people that love their small town like Crestline does.”
Henderson said it’s a culture he’s excited to join. He joked that he thinks looks good in blue and has added blue to his family’s wardrobe including as part of his wife’s recent birthday.
He laughed when asked if his kids are using the new position as an excuse for a new bulldog puppy.
“They are not, but I’m sure if this goes on record and published, then they will be,” Henderson said with a laugh and a smile.
He said he was not against a new puppy, “But let’s maybe get through the beginning of the school year before we start buying dogs.”
He said warm welcome, pride and hospitality are a positive difference from some larger cities, such as Henderson’s hometown of Canton.
“There’s a different feeling here,” he said.
Henderson said he is bringing three goals to the district.
“I, like many administrators, have these big, longwinded, flowery statements and goals,” he said. “If I was going to edit those down, it’d be three things.”
- To increase academic achievement for the district.
- To be fiscally responsible with the taxpayer and federal grant dollars
- Build trust in the community
“People need to know that I’m going to fight for the school district, the students and the staff and the parents that send their kids here,” Henderson said. “I’m going to figure out the best way to do that by building the trust with anyone associated with the school district.”
Henderson said one of the keys to building that trust is stability and longevity in district leadership.
“Our board of education has already demonstrated that they prioritize stability, too, because they offered me a three-year contract, they offered Kevin Fourman, our high school principal, a three-year contract and they offered our athletic director and assistant principal, Greg Travis, a two-year contract,” Henderson said. “So, they are looking for stability.
“I worked at Ashland Crestview for 10 or 11 years. I worked at Bucyrus for 10 years. I like to stay places and commit to places.”
Henderson’s time as superintendent began when he was hired by the Crestline Board of Education on May 14. The district paid $8,500 to the Ohio School Board Association to conduct the hiring search for the superintendent position.
Henderson was given a three-year contract with a base-pay salary of $95,000.
Henderson said the district is contracting with Miller as a consultant and mentor to assist Henderson with the transition. Before serving as Crestline’s interim superintendent, Miller was a former superintendent at Loudonville.
“I can’t ask for a better mentor for my first year as a superintendent,” Henderson said.
Crestline Exempted Village Schools begin the school year Aug. 20.
“I just can’t wait to get the students in here and meet them and the parents,” Henderson said. “I’m just grateful for the opportunity. I’m ready to get started.”