Friday, September 28, 2012
By jeanne starmack
struthers
One of two candidates for Struthers schools superintendent met Thursday with a group of school and community stakeholders who have input into the hiring decision. Eight people representing school district unions, administrators and office staff as well as city and community leaders listened to a presentation by Joseph Nohra Jr., principal at the Mosaic School of Fine and Performing Arts in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District. Afterward, they met with Ron Iarussi, superintendent of the Mahoning County Educational Service Center, to give their feedback on the presentation and Nohra’s responses to their questions.
Iarussi will give that feedback to the school board, which is expected to announce the new superintendent at its October meeting.
The same process occurred Monday, when Timothy Kelty, an assistant principal at Austintown Fitch High School, made his pitch to succeed Superintendent Robert Rostan. Rostan is retiring at the end of this year. He held the post for four years.
Before becoming principal at the Mosaic School, Nohra, 41, was freshman principal for three years in the Austintown Local School District. Before that, he was Austintown’s athletic director for three years. He also taught at Austintown and was an assistant athletic director and alternative school principal there.
He is also president of the Liberty Local Schools Board of Education. He lives in Liberty with his wife, Annie, and their two children, but told the stakeholders that they would move to Struthers as part of his commitment to become a part of the community.
Nohra began his presentation by noting that early in his career, he was a head coach.
He said he believes that by becoming superintendent, he will replicate that experience.
“I really believe it’s about becoming a head coach again, and about being part of a team,” he said.
Nohra said a true superintendent serves the community and its families.
“A servant of the community listens to constituents’ criticism and seeks input,” he said.
He said that “our kids come first,” adding that he would collaborate with staff to prepare students for a global economy.
He said teamwork is critical, stressing the importance of collaboration throughout his presentation.
“We don’t make decisions for students and staff without taking their input,” he said.
He said that education may seem like a thankless job, but it is not. He said that having a good impact on lives, future generations and jobs and careers, and helping them appreciate “a rich tradition” is the thanks educators get.
He said his leadership would be “a reflection on yesterday, the focus of today and the thought of tomorrow.”
He said it is important to develop new technology, nurture art and music and spend money where it will have the most impact. He said he would “hit the ground running” early to help pass a levy in 2016.
Nohra and Kelty were chosen as finalists from six applicants for the post.