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Longtime Springfield schools secretary to retire after 44 years

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By Megan Gildow, Staff Writer Updated 8:14 PM Friday, November 20, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — Carole Ryan will graduate this month from the position she has held since high school — as secretary to the superintendent of Springfield City Schools.

She’s the one behind the scenes who is the chipper voice on the other end of the phone line at the superintendent’s office, keeps the superintendent’s schedule and has done so for 44 years. She will have worked for 13 superintendents when she retires on Nov. 30.

Ryan began working in the superintendent’s office the summer between her junior and senior years of high school and has seen the district go through many changes and challenges. Still, she says the recent struggles like fiscal emergency and resulting cuts to district operations were the biggest challenges the district faced in her time.

“The most challenging times have been being in financial emergency, losing staff through layoffs and overcoming perceptions based on the state report card,” she said. “Springfield City Schools offers excellent opportunities for students to succeed with a wide variety of programs, beginning with pre-school and continuing into high school with Advance Placement courses and the International Baccalaureate program.”

When Ryan started her career, Springfield had just split to two high schools. Today, the two have once again merged to form Springfield High School. The district has also been removed from fiscal emergency and reached the “Continuous Improvement” designation on the state report card . Also, after a year with an interim superintendent, the board hired David Estrop to take the district’s helm at the start of this school year — though Ryan jokingly assures him he’s not the reason for her departure now.

“I’ve most enjoyed working with sincere, dedicated, and caring people whose focus has always been on doing what is right for our students,” Ryan says of her time with the district.

The district hosted a reception for Ryan at Clark Learning Center on Tuesday, Nov. 17.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0373 or mgildow@coxohio.com.

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