|
Friday, 11 December 2009 |
By MATT NICHOLS
Staff Writer
Serving as the new Auglaize County Educational Service Center superintendent, James Herrholtz has begun a new chapter in his educational career.
But for the Youngstown native, that 19-year career nearly never came to fruition.
It took the advice of one man, and a deal with himself to spur on a career he has not regretted for nearly two decades.
Herrholz began his tenure at the ESC this week on the heels of 19 years in three school systems outside of Cleveland.
Born and raised around the Youngstown area, Herrholtz said he had no idea during his high school years what he would do with his life. His career choice was not locked in until a few high school teachers urged him into a career in teaching.
“There were a few teachers that though I’d make a good teacher so I declared that as my major,” Herrholtz said at his new ESC office. “There was no rhyme or reason to it.”
Herrholtz enrolled in classes at Youngstown State University with education and political science and economics as his primary courses of study. Prior to his senior year at Youngstown State, Herrholtz said he began to think of a life beyond teaching and more related to political science.
He was accepted to graduate school at American University and The Ohio State University and was set to toss out an educator career and planned to kick start a life in international relations.
It was then that his cooperating teacher approached him just before his senior year about another career option.
“He asked me, ‘Why would you do all this and not at least try student teaching?’” Herrholtz said. “He told me I might like it.”
So Herrholtz made what he called a silly deal with himself: If he got a teaching job, he’d try it. If not, he would go to graduate school. As it turned out, Herrholtz got a job — and he has never turned back since.
“I just love it,” Herrholtz said. “I have absolutely no regrets.”
Herrholtz got a job at Madison High School as a teacher in 1990. He served as a teacher and a coach for a variety of athletic programs until 1997 when he took over as assistant principal for two years.
From 1999 to 2001 he served as the school’s principal and for the following nine years served as the superintendent at Madison, Hubbard and Richmond Heights.
A friend e-mailed him about the ESC job posting, and Herrholtz, who is currently working on his dissertation in educational leadership at Youngstown State University, said the position would open up new opportunities for himself.
“There really is a lot of opportunities at education service centers,” Herrholtz said. “Here the doors are wide open. You can be extremely creative and create new programs to help the district and the county.
“There are plenty of challenges, most importantly funding, and we’re not going to be immune from that,” he said. “We have to look at our bottom line and try to assist these districts.”
David Rhoades, who served as interim ESC superintendent since July said in the short time Herrholtz has been in the city, he has been impressed with what he can bring to the table.
“Jim has lots of energy and lots of skills,” Rhoades said. “He has the experience and I’m quickly seeing the insight to move forward and help better serve the students.”
|
|
Last Updated ( Monday, 14 December 2009 )
|
