ClLINTON COUNTY — The Southern Ohio Educational Service Center (SOESC) hosted its 20th Annual Four-County Board and Dinner Meeting March 28 at the Patriot Center on the campus of Southern State Community College in Hillsboro. Board of education members, administrators, and honored guests from Clinton, Adams, Fayette and Highland counties were among those in attendance.
The guest speaker was Ohio 2017 Teacher of the Year Dustin Weaver, who teaches English classes at Chillicothe High School and who will take on the role of principal for CHS with the start of the 2017-18 school year.
Weaver shared that while his family wanted him to become a doctor, he chose a different path — a path that would allow him to foster his love of working for, and serving, young people.
He chose to become a teacher — not because it was a profession, but because it was a calling. And with that calling grew the understanding that all students can learn, even when the system says they can’t.
Weaver went on to share that educational leaders must recruit teachers with great potential as it is through great teachers that educational quality will be improved.
Moving to the awards portion of the evening, SOESC Superintendent Beth Justice presented the Momentum Award to Washington (Court House) Middle School Principal Eric Wayne. The Momentum Award is presented by the State Board of Education and recognizes schools for exceeding expectations in student growth.
Rogina Conroy recognized SOESC and Clinton-Massie Gifted Intervention Specialist Jen Molitor for having earned the designation of Master Teacher.
A master teacher demonstrates excellence inside and outside of the classroom through consistent leadership and focused collaboration to maximize student learning, all the while striving for distinguished teaching and continued professional growth as specified by The Ohio Standards for the Teaching Profession.
Also among those afforded special recognition during the night’s events were “Friend of Education Award” recipients. Each year, superintendents from each of the four counties are asked to nominate members of the community as Friends of Education — individuals or organizations that have contributed greatly to successes in the schools.
Clinton County’s Friend of Education Award was presented to Rodney “Butch” Whitaker — better known to a few people as the “Butch Wacker” for the way he could hit home runs on the softball diamond in his earlier years.
Butch graduated from Blanchester High School in 1963, went on to serve his country in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, and is now retired from the Railroad.
In 1991, Butch began to give back to his alma mater as an assistant coach for the varsity softball team, where he faithfully served in the same position for 25 years, winning 341 games and guiding teams to several league and sectional titles, and a State Final Four appearance.
While administration offered to financially compensate Butch for his work as an assistant coach, Butch was steadfast in his desire to serve as a volunteer.
Following his retirement from coaching in 2014, Butch became an active member of the Blanchester American Legion, Marion Post 179 and Color Guard. Both groups often participate in many of the school events led by Coach Whitaker.
Butch has established relationships with many of Blanchester’s students, parents, and educators. He is often seen laughing with others and exhibiting attributes of love, patience, kindness, and self-control. He has taught students, parents, and educators to have a renewed mind and attitude, encouraging all to be more humble, gentle, and patient when bearing with one another — trying to make every effort to keep unity.
Additional Friends of Education Award recipients include Randy Chandler of Adams County, Rick Barton, Tom Harris, and Max Geer of Fayette County, and John Oyer of Highland County.
Bringing the evening to a close, SOESC Governing Board President Roger West congratulated the award recipients and thanked all those present for the leadership they provide and the role they play in the many successes schools have experienced.
Information for this article was provided by Diana Miller, who coordinates communications for several area schools.
