Friday, February 4th, 2011
Marion principal chosen as new superintendent
By Margie Wuebker
MARIA STEIN - The Marion Local Schools Board of Education sought applications for the superintendent position, conducted two rounds of interviews and then offered the job to someone who never applied.
High school principal Mike Pohlman reportedly agreed Wednesday night to assume the superintendency effective July 1. Formal action is expected at the board's Feb. 14 meeting.
Finalists Steve Arnold, high school principal with Antwerp Local Schools, and Mark Fenick, middle school principal with Bloom-Carroll Local Schools in Carroll, had second interviews with school officials Monday. Following the interviews, board members initiated a discussion with Pohlman and subsequently offered him the job.
"Mike did not actively seek the position," interim superintendent Doug Karst told The Daily Standard. "The board sought him out and I agree Mike is a good choice."
Board president Ron Winner said Pohlman initially expressed some reservations about taking the position.
"Becoming superintendent at this stage in my career was not part of the timeline I envisioned," Pohlman, 34, said. "Sometimes life throws you a curve ball and you either sit back as a spectator or step up to the plate. I decided after talking with my wife and praying to God to accept this blessing and do my best."
Pohlman is a 1995 graduate of Marion Local and a 2000 graduate of the University of Findlay with a dual major in business education and human resource management. He returned to the university, where he had played basketball as an undergraduate, to earn a master's degree in school administration.
He taught 3 1/2 years in the New Knoxville and Findlay City school districts and served 2 1/2 years as principal in New Knoxville. He is completing his fifth year as high school principal at Marion.
Pohlman and his wife, Jodi (Bernard) of Coldwater, have three children, 7-year-old Alana, 6-year-old Luke and 4-year-old Andrew. The family resides in the Maria Stein area.
The search to replace former superintendent Carl Metzger drew 13 applications. Others selected as finalists for the first round of interviews on Jan. 31 were Curtis Montgomery, principal at Wilder Intermediate School in Piqua, and William Steinbrunner, director of instruction for the St. Marys City Schools.
Metzger resigned in late August to become assistant superintendent at the South-Western City Schools near Columbus. James Dippold and then Karst served in an interim capacity since that time.
