Graham names new superintendent

The new superintendent, Kirk Koennecke, has also worked for the Springfield schools.

A former Springfield High School principal has been named the new superintendent of Graham Local Schools.

Kirk Koennecke was selected to replace Norm Glismann, who resigned after he was hired in June to lead Tecumseh Local Schools.

Koennecke is expected to start on Aug. 1.

His starting salary will be $115,000, said Treasurer Judy Geers.

Koennecke, 43, is currently the principal at Harding High School in Marion.

He was principal at Springfield High School from 2009 to 2013 and said he and his family are looking forward to moving back to southwest Ohio in the Graham district.

“… We felt like it was a good fit,” Koennecke said. “They’re a very tight knit community that is serious about academic excellence and there’s a great student body there. They have a proud history of both academic and athletic accomplishments so that was very attractive to me. I think the board and the community want to move in the same direction, they have a similar vision that I have in terms of providing opportunities for students for the future.”

Koennecke has been principal at Harding Harding since 2013.

He said he and about 40 others in the district will work on a new strategic plan that is meant to provide and expand opportunities for students so they have more personal choices in their schedules, reach out to the community and form partnerships that benefit students.

Matt Curtis, who has been interim superintendent since the summer of 2015, said Koennecke was one of 26 candidates for the job.

The finalists for the job were Tecumseh Assistant Superintendent Paula Crew and Brad Ritchey, director of instructional assessment at the Parma City School District.

Curtis and Geers said Koennecke was the best fit for the job.

“He’s very enthusiastic about coming. He seems like a very accomplished person. He brings a lot of enthusiasm and talent to the district,” Curtis said.

Board President Steve Setty could not be reached for comment.

Koennecke said he looks forward to his job as superintendent.

“I think the energy and the community excitement during the superintendent search kind of helped to get us off on the same page and planning for the future,” Koennecke said.

About the Author