Strasburg BOE hires new elementary school principal
Katie Miller, new Strasburg elementary principal
Katie Miller was granted a two-year contract as elementary principal, effective in August, at the April 16 board meeting. She brings 12 years of educational experience and leadership to the job. For the past two years, she has served as assistant principal for kindergarten through second grade and as preschool director for Coshocton City Schools. She was also a teacher at Garaway Local Schools, where she developed the Baltic Elementary writing initiatives and the struggling students elementary initiative. She and her husband, Greg, and their two sons reside in Sugarcreek.
“Her expertise includes data-driven instruction and meeting the individual needs of students and staff,” Strasburg Superintendent Vince Lindsey said.
In another matter, the speech and debate team was honored. Violet Thomas, a junior, has been a state qualifier three times. Savannah Powell, a senior, has qualified for state twice. Shelby Kinsey, a sophomore, along with freshmen Mia Gehring and Sadie Thomas, were also state qualifiers. The team competed in 15 regular season tournaments and the state tournament. Powell, Thomas, and Kinsey have earned varsity letters. Kinsey, Powell, and Thomas are members of the National Honor Society.
Thomas was awarded the National Speech and Debate Association’s Academic All American award for academic rigor, competitive speech, and personal excellence. Fewer than one percent of speech and debate students earn this honor annually.
In other board action, the following items were approved or reported:
The board accepted the resignations of Emily Crossley, science teacher, effective at the end of the school year; Kimberly Moneypenny, Title I tutor, effective April 4; and Aiden McClain, custodian, effective April 18.
The board approved hiring Abbott Electric of Dover to update electrical fixtures, ballasts, and lighting and to replace the fixtures with LED lighting at a cost of $120,000 to be paid from the maintenance fund.
Sarah Henry was named Teacher of the Year and Caroline Gatta was named Rookie of the Year. They will be honored at a Stark County Educational Service Center event at a later date.
Tammy Stockert was approved as a classified substitute for the 2024-25 school year, effective April 9, 2025. Matthew Wald was approved as a classified substitute for the same school year, effective April 10, 2025.
Lisa Edie was employed as a full-time afternoon custodian, effective April 21.
Phil Shori was awarded a $500 stipend for serving as Safety World coordinator from June 9 to June 12, to be paid from Title I funds.
Sarah Henry, Brooke Spinell, and Hannah Geyer were approved as Safety World teachers at a rate of $24.50 per hour, per the negotiated agreement. They will work from June 9 to June 12, 2025, for three hours per day, paid from Title I funds.
A teaching contract was issued to Reagan Triplett as high school English teacher and varsity volleyball coach for the 2025-26 school year.
One-year certified contracts were granted to Amber Fox, high school science, and Alecia Cockrill, high school intervention specialist.
Tana Martin, cafeteria supervisor, gave the annual food service report. She said the district serves 150 free breakfasts and 225 lunches daily.
The district received a $30,000 technology grant to provide free training for teachers in grades six through 12.
Buckeye Career Center students will be honored May 20 and 21 at the center.
In other announcements:
The April Tigers of the Month were recognized. They are Austin Slabaugh, high school; Ben Brady, middle school; and Miguel Lopez Morales, elementary.
The Parent Teacher Group will hold a quarter auction Sunday, April 27 at 2 p.m. at the school.
Prom will be held May 10 at the Performing Arts Center in New Philadelphia.
The 2025 senior awards and breakfast will be held May 3 at the school.
The next board meeting will be held Monday, May 9 at 6:30 p.m. in the board meeting room at 140 N. Bodmer Ave. in Strasburg. The meeting was rescheduled from May 21.