Tuscarawas County’s own Roger Bond new superintendent for Buckeye Career Center
The decision has been finalized. Roger Bond, current superintendent of Indian Valley Schools, has been officially chosen by the Buckeye Career Center board of education to take over the reins and become the new superintendent for the vocational center. The center is associated with 12 local school districts: Carrollton Exempted Village, Claymont City, Coshocton Valley Union, Dover City, East Holmes Local, Garaway Local, Indian Valley Local, New Philadelphia City, Newcomerstown Exempted Village, Strasburg-Franklin Local, Tuscarawas Central Catholic, and Tuscarawas Valley Local Schools. All partner with Buckeye to provide high quality vocational education to high school students.
The board voted unanimously in favor of Bond, who was chosen from a field of 22 candidates. Board president Steve Brode of Newcomerstown Exempted Village Schools warmly welcomed Bond at the board’s May 17 monthly meeting.
“This is a great opportunity, with the great organization that is here and its great staff. I am just excited to be on board, and to make some things happen,” responded Bond.
His roots in the area run deep. He is a graduate of Indian Valley South, and his wife, Gina, is a Newcomerstown graduate. They reside on an 80-acre farm in southern Tuscarawas County, where they raise polled Hereford beef cattle. Roger is the third generation of his family to farm there.
“Actually, Buckeye opened my senior year in high school. I probably would have been here if it had been my sophomore or junior year. The environment appealed to me,” noted Bond. “I have been in the Indian Valley district for 30 years now, with the last two as superintendent. I started out as a teacher there, than became a principal for 16 years, both in the middle and elementary schools.”
Bond received his teaching degree in mathematics and elementary education at Muskingum College, then spent his first year in education teaching high school math in Newark. He quickly discovered that he did not enjoy city life, and the following year he came home to Indian Valley to teach.
“I found out that although you can put a country boy in the city, it just wasn’t for me. I married Gina in 1981, and we are coming up on our 30th wedding anniversary here soon – she’s put up with a lot!” commented the superintendent-elect as he smiled broadly.
Bond initially set his sights on becoming a school counselor, and earned his master’s degree in school counseling at the University of Dayton, “but I ended up on the administrative side,” he admitted. “I was certified as a principal through Ashland University, and then I received my superintendent’s certificate. I’ve just slowly been moving up the line.” He noted that his counseling education background has proven to be invaluable in working with students.
“I think this will be a good fit for Roger,” added Gina Bond. “He is interested in the hands-on stuff in education. He can be around the kids more here. He missed that for the two years he was superintendent at Indian Valley. This will be nice for him, to be back with the kids. He really enjoys them, and has a passion for what he does.”
“At Buckeye, I can blend the two loves that I have, both the academic and the hands-on environment,” agreed Roger. “I enjoy the opportunities that Buckeye presents, and the fact that they are putting more and more students to the collegiate level with associate degrees and other opportunities that are out there.”
The new superintendent’s duties begin August 2, with an annual salary of $115,000. The contract runs through July 31, 2014.
Roger Bond is enthusiastic about the opportunities ahead as he leads Buckeye Career Center.
“Vocational education is absolutely critical. It is more important today than it probably ever has been,” he emphasized. “(Buckeye Career Center) is an exciting environment.”
The board voted unanimously in favor of Bond, who was chosen from a field of 22 candidates. Board president Steve Brode of Newcomerstown Exempted Village Schools warmly welcomed Bond at the board’s May 17 monthly meeting.
“This is a great opportunity, with the great organization that is here and its great staff. I am just excited to be on board, and to make some things happen,” responded Bond.
His roots in the area run deep. He is a graduate of Indian Valley South, and his wife, Gina, is a Newcomerstown graduate. They reside on an 80-acre farm in southern Tuscarawas County, where they raise polled Hereford beef cattle. Roger is the third generation of his family to farm there.
“Actually, Buckeye opened my senior year in high school. I probably would have been here if it had been my sophomore or junior year. The environment appealed to me,” noted Bond. “I have been in the Indian Valley district for 30 years now, with the last two as superintendent. I started out as a teacher there, than became a principal for 16 years, both in the middle and elementary schools.”
Bond received his teaching degree in mathematics and elementary education at Muskingum College, then spent his first year in education teaching high school math in Newark. He quickly discovered that he did not enjoy city life, and the following year he came home to Indian Valley to teach.
“I found out that although you can put a country boy in the city, it just wasn’t for me. I married Gina in 1981, and we are coming up on our 30th wedding anniversary here soon – she’s put up with a lot!” commented the superintendent-elect as he smiled broadly.
Bond initially set his sights on becoming a school counselor, and earned his master’s degree in school counseling at the University of Dayton, “but I ended up on the administrative side,” he admitted. “I was certified as a principal through Ashland University, and then I received my superintendent’s certificate. I’ve just slowly been moving up the line.” He noted that his counseling education background has proven to be invaluable in working with students.
“I think this will be a good fit for Roger,” added Gina Bond. “He is interested in the hands-on stuff in education. He can be around the kids more here. He missed that for the two years he was superintendent at Indian Valley. This will be nice for him, to be back with the kids. He really enjoys them, and has a passion for what he does.”
“At Buckeye, I can blend the two loves that I have, both the academic and the hands-on environment,” agreed Roger. “I enjoy the opportunities that Buckeye presents, and the fact that they are putting more and more students to the collegiate level with associate degrees and other opportunities that are out there.”
The new superintendent’s duties begin August 2, with an annual salary of $115,000. The contract runs through July 31, 2014.
Roger Bond is enthusiastic about the opportunities ahead as he leads Buckeye Career Center.
“Vocational education is absolutely critical. It is more important today than it probably ever has been,” he emphasized. “(Buckeye Career Center) is an exciting environment.”
Published: May 19, 2011
