Twenty-two retired school superintendents from Adams, Clinton, Fayette, and Highland counties gathered Monday, June 27 at the Southern Ohio ESC to commemorate their service in public education.
Serving as teachers, administrators, and educational leaders, the group in total has accumulated more than 920 years serving area school children.
Former Blanchester Local and Clinton County Superintendent Carlton Binkley, who recently celebrated his 90th birthday, represented the most senior member of what has been called an “august group” of educational leaders, having begun his career in education in 1950.
Rod Lane and Al Porter, the longest serving members, have each served a total of 49 years in education. Lane, the former superintendent of the Blanchester Local Schools, the Clinton-Fayette-Highland County Service District and the Clinton County Board of Developmental Disabilities, now serves as a member of the SOESC Governing Board. Porter, the former superintendent of Adams County Ohio Valley Schools and director of the Hamilton/Clermont County Cooperative Association, now serves as the interim treasurer at Clermont Northeastern Local Schools.
The luncheon was hosted in partnership by the Tony Long, superintendent of the SOESC, and Harry Snyder, president and CEO of the Great Oaks Career Campuses.
In his opening remarks, Long shared with guests that during his tenure as SOESC superintendent, he has always embraced the words of his predecessor, Bob Dalton, who encouraged him to remember that it is always about building relationships with those that you serve. It was a message that was echoed by many throughout the afternoon as friends and colleagues shared stories and reminisced about their shared experiences as educational leaders.
Information for this article was provided by Diana Miller, who coordinates communications for several area schools.
