CRESTLINE — The Crestline Exempted Village School District hosted a public forum Wednesday evening to hear from its two remaining candidates for superintendent.
The two remaining candidates are Matthew Henderson, director of curriculum at Bucyrus City Schools; and Jonathon Muro, Madison Middle School principal at Madison Local Schools.
Both candidates were separately asked questions by the public, which consisted mainly of present teachers and a few past teachers, about things pertaining to the school and the job.
The first question asked, was why the candidate applied for the position at Crestline.
Henderson said he grew up in a big school, and he learned quickly that how important having individual relationships between staff, students, and administrators are and he is excited to hopefully be able to get to know the students much better than what he would be able to at a large school. Muro also said something along the same lines of loving that it is a smaller school, so he would be able to interact with the students more, as he wants to be present in the classrooms because he thinks it is important that the superintendent interact with students on a regular basis.
The candidates were asked what three words described his leadership style, Henderson said humility, collaborative, and accountability while Muro said professionalism, communication/presence, and collaboration.
When the candidates were asked how they will work with the community to change the attitudes of the students and community members in lieu of the school, Muro said he wanted to reach out to local businesses and the chamber of commerce and tell them what is going on in the school, and he would like to create a Remind group for Crestline school families, to potentially be called the Bulldog Broadcast, to also send them messages as to what is happening occasionally throughout the school year. Muro also said that he would like to attend as many events as what he can, because he feels that it is important for not just students, but parents and staff to see their superintendent out and supporting the school and its students.
Henderson’s response to the same question was that he wants to get to know the community better and align himself with local agencies to draw on what makes the Crestline community the way it is, then hopefully be able to make things better. Henderson also said that he wishes to attend events both in and outside of school to show support for the students.
One of the final questions of the evening was what the candidates consider to be their strengths and weaknesses.
Muro said that his strengths are determination, communication, and experience in transitions in districts, because he was at a school where they, like Crestline, transitioned through a few superintendents in a very short amount of time, and he wants to do his best to make the transition as smooth as possible. His weakness derives from his strength, and that is empathy. He says that he is very determined to succeed, so when someone else is maybe worn or burnt out, he keeps pushing through without being empathetic to other people sometimes.
Henderson said his strengths include honesty, collaboration and understanding, honesty, and transparency. He feels that it is in the best interest of the school when the administrators and staff can work together to accomplish a common goal, though he knows that at times he may have to make a decision that may not be the popular one, but what he finds to be best for the district. He said that his weaknesses are that he wears his emotions on his sleeve, so if he were frustrated or something, you would be able to tell by his expressions. His other weakness that he gave is that he doesn’t have a handle on the financial workings for the district, though he plants to sit down and figure that out.
No action was taken after the candidates’ meetings with the board of education.