During an executive session on Tuesday, December 9, the Olentangy Board of Education selected two finalists for the vacant Olentangy Superintendent position. These candidates will meet for a second round of interviews with the Board of Education on Tuesday, December 16. In addition both candidates will participate in a community dialogue session with a mixed group of community and staff members as well as a meeting with several members of the press.
The two candidates are Wade Lucas, Ed.D., with Green Local Schools in Green, Ohio and Dean Wittwer, Ed.D with Findlay City Schools in Findlay, Ohio.
Lucas holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio; a master’s degree in education from Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio; and an educational doctorate in educational administration from Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey. He has been the Superintendent at Green Local since April 2007 and also served as Assistant Principal/Athletic Director and Superintendent of Coshocton City Schools in Coshocton, Ohio for ten years prior to his time at Green Local. He was an elementary school teacher for nine years in Coshocton City Schools and Mt. Vernon City Schools from 1989 to 1998.
Wittwer has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Wittenberg University, A Master’s of Arts and a Master’s of Fine Arts degrees from Miami University, Master’s of Arts in educational administration from the University of Dayton and an educational doctorate degree in educational leadership and administration from Bowling Green State University. In addition to currently servings as the Superintendent at Findlay City Schools, he is also the Superintendent at Millstream Career Technology Center and served as the Superintendent at Wapakoneta City Schools from 1993-2005. He served as Principal at Northridge Elementary School, Assistant Principal at Wapakoneta High School and taught at Mechanicsburg Schools and Shawnee High School from 1974-1989. He also taught classes and some summer programs at Miami University.
The 45-minute community dialogue includes representatives from the district’s Finance and Audit Committee, Development Committee, Olentangy For Kids political action group, Olentangy Teachers Association, Olentangy Education Foundation and the administration. The board has invited these individuals to become part of this process to provide input, knowing that the final decision related to selection of a candidate remains with the board. In addition, each candidate will individually meet with members of press for approximately 15 minutes. This will allow the candidates to share information about themselves with the media.
“From the beginning this search has been about finding the best candidate to fit the unique needs of the Olentangy Local School District,” said Board of Education President Scott Galloway. “The community and staff sessions as well as the media interviews provide an opportunity to learn more about both candidates, while including a cross section of key stakeholders within the district to learn what the candidates may bring to the Olentangy community.”
The Olentangy Board of Education will meet in a public session at 5:30 p.m. prior to entering into executive session for candidate interviews at 6:00 p.m. This meeting will take place in conference room B of the district’s Administrative Offices at 814 Shanahan Road in Lewis Center. Agendas for all board meetings are available at least 24 hours in advance of any meeting through the district’s Web site at www.olentangy.k12.oh.us/district/board/mtgs.html.