A longtime educator and former Summit County Council member was recently named the Ohio High School Principal of the Year by the Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators.Michael King of Peninsula, the principal of Geneva High School, will be honored at an awards ceremony Oct. 6 at the opening session of the annual OASSA Fall Conference in Columbus."I know many principals from across the state and deeply admire their work, so being chosen as Principal of the Year is truly humbling," King said. "The awar...
A longtime educator and former Summit County Council member was recently named the Ohio High School Principal of the Year by the Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators.
Michael King of Peninsula, the principal of Geneva High School, will be honored at an awards ceremony Oct. 6 at the opening session of the annual OASSA Fall Conference in Columbus.
"I know many principals from across the state and deeply admire their work, so being chosen as Principal of the Year is truly humbling," King said. "The award should really be for the entire building: the students, the staff and community. I think the award is a testament to how truly special Geneva High School is."
King previously taught social studies for Nordonia High School for 11 years and served on the Nordonia Hills school board. In addition, he served on Summit County Council from 2001 to 2004. He added that he had "been in various administrative roles for 17 years."
"In anything I have done professionally, my goal has always been to help others," King said. "In education, I found how to best use my knowledge, strengths and abilities."
According to OASSA, King joined Geneva High School in 2023. He took the lead on the development of initiatives directed at gifted education, special education services, project-based learning, and student behavioral supports. Those initiatives resulted in outstanding improvement in student achievement and earned his building the Momentum Award from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce last year. King also serves on the board of directors for OASSA.
Paul A. Lombardo, the superintendent of the Geneva Area City Schools, said he was proud of King and what he has accomplished. Lombardo added that when he announced the news at the district's convocation, "he received a standing ovation from our entire staff."
"He works tirelessly to support our students, staff and community in every way he can," Lombardo said. "Being named Ohio Principal of the Year is a truly amazing honor and so well deserved."
According to the Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators, his is the first year for an expanded selection process where up to 10 high school principals from the 10 geographic zones across Ohio were recognized as the winners of the Zone Principals of the Year awards. Those 10 principals then became finalists in the Ohio Principal of the Year selection process.
Reporter April Helms can be reached at [email protected]