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W-G leader set to retire this summer |
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Wednesday, 18 February 2009 |
By KRISTA HAYES
Staff Writer
After more than a decade serving as superintendent of Waynesfield-Goshen Schools, Earnie Jones vows to stay active in his school and community.
But the 38-year educator and administrator says he also is looking forward to finally receiving flexibility in his daily schedule come July when he retires.
“God willing, I will spend more time on church-related activities and school or community volunteerism once I retire,” Jones said. “I really want to work with and be around children again — I really miss that. As a pastor in Port Jefferson (a village northeast of Sidney) I would like to extend God’s work beyond the walls of the church with various community missions. As a grandparent and citizen of the W-G School District, I’m sure I will volunteer and support the schools, especially the improvement process. I also plan to renew my superintendents licensure and teaching credentials for potential short term assignments if needed.”
When he completes his last official day as superintendent on July 31, Jones said he is unaware yet as to who will be replacing him but knows there are many things that he will miss in working for the Waynesfield-Goshen School District.
“I will miss the daily — staff, students and the community,” Jones said in an e-mail to the Wapakoneta Daily News. “I have been blessed to have worked with many outstanding people in a wonderful profession. The administrative team and Board of Education during my tenure at W-G Schools have been student centered and willing to make tough decisions to improve the educational opportunities for the children. The great majority of our teachers and classified staff have also been willing to go the extra mile to make Waynesfield-Goshen Schools better.”
Prior to arriving to the Waynesfield-Goshen School District to serve as its superintendent, Jones taught and coached with Sidney and Minster schools for 14 years.
Administratively, he also worked as school principals with Anna, Fremont and Sidney school districts during a 12-year span and is now in the process of completing his 12th year at Waynesfield-Goshen, where he said his biggest contribution to the school district and the Waynesfield community has been the implementation and restructuring of its new school facilities.
“I am very proud of the Waynesfield-Goshen Schools,” Jones said. “I have been a small part of an exceptional community effort.
“Most noticeable and visible are the new facilities,” the Waynesfield resident said. “Our community should be very proud of the entire building and grounds campus and pleased with the Board of Education’s long-range planning for utility efficiency, a vastly improved educational environment and technological upgrades.”
Jones said the academic improvements taking place in the classrooms are significant, although “we have a lot of work to do, we are moving in the right direction.”
One of his accomplishments, he said is the formation of a Waynesfield-Goshen School 0rganizational chart.
“The Board of Education’s approved organizational structure and process has allowed the community, the staff and the students with avenues for input and involvement in matters of building and grounds, curriculum and instruction and district-wide school improvement,” Jones said.
After retiring from the school district in July 2006, Board of Education members convinced Jones to continue to serve as superintendent during the school’s remodeling and renovation project.
Jones said he gladly accepted, knowing in his heart that Waynesfield-Goshen was where he knew he belonged.
“The Board of Education and most of the staff and community shared in a vision to improve the educational facilities and academics at Waynesfield-Goshen Schools,” Jones said. “A strong desire to provide for our students the same advantages and opportunities that other school children in other Ohio school districts enjoy was also a vision and desire I shared.
“A strong and caring administrative team and Board of Education were also a big part that influenced my interest to come back and see the project through,” he said. “Now that it’s all over, I know leaving will be bittersweet.”
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 19 February 2009 )
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