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Kevin Bright was Mason School's Superintendent was 1998 through last year. / Enquirer file

Catching up with Kevin Bright

Michael D. Clark reports:

The man who led Mason Schools into a decade of academic excellence has moved on but not away from Ohio public education.

Former Mason Schools Superintendent Kevin Bright resigned from his leadership position last spring and moved to the northern Ohio school system of Lakewood to take the assistant superintendent’s position there and work side by side with a lifelong friend who is superintendent there.

“I do have a very different set of responsibilities here as assistant superintendent,” Bright said recently. “I am in charge of student achievement, athletics and recreation. These responsibilities help me to focus on the development of the whole child. Lakewood is a ‘first ring’ (suburban) school district bordered by Cleveland. It is a diverse community with 42 different languages and is a virtual melting pot on the shore of Lake Erie, which I can view from my office window.

“The population of the school district is roughly 6,000 students, or half the size of Mason,” Bright said.

Under Bright’s tenure – beginning in 1998 – the booming Mason district in Warren County was consistently one of the fastest-growing in Ohio and one of its top academic performers. Along the way, he guided the district through historic annual enrollment jumps that saw as many as 700 new students enroll.

Bright earned the Ohio Superintendent of the Year award in 2003.

Mason – along with Hamilton County’s Indian Hill and Wyoming school systems – are consistently noted as the academic leaders in Southwest Ohio.

Wyoming’s former superintendent Gail Kist-Kline took over Mason’s top job on Aug. 1.

Bright also helped Mason Schools lead the region in privatization agreements – primarily with Middletown’s Atrium Medical Center – that saw the first public-school sports stadium paired with an on-site, free-standing medical center. The state-of-the-art complex, which includes privately funded artificial turf, serves students and residents and would be the envy of many small colleges.

Mason under Bright also pioneered a regionally rare philosophy of school expansion. A “bigger is better” approach saw the district’s historic building growth in the last decade largely confine its high school, middle school and intermediate school into one expansive campus area along South Mason-Montgomery Road. District officials have noted millions of dollars in savings through consolidation and economies in scale as a result.

“Of course I miss Mason and what was accomplished there. I find myself thinking back to the systems that were implemented there in building a school district from the ground up,” Bright said.

“But above everything, I miss the relationships that I developed over the years. Places come and go, but the relationships and the memories are lasting.”

Posted in: Schools |

Tags: Tags: gail kist-kline, kevin bright, lakewood schools, mason school district, mason schools, resigned, superintendent

Mason’s new superintendent is prepared to hit the ground running.

The Enquirer’s Michael D. Clark provided a closer look at Gail Kist-Kline, who replaces acclaimed superintendent Kevin Bright on Aug. 1.  He left after 13 years as superintendent to become assistant superintendent at Lakewood Schools near Cleveland.

An avid runner and occasional marathoner, Kist-Kline’s on-the-move style is exactly what Mason school board members were looking for when they hired the former Wyoming Schools’ leader as their new superintendent.

In some ways it’s a high-orbit, lateral move for Kist-Kline among two of Southwest Ohio’s top academic districts.

But in scale, a larger challenge looms for the public school veteran.

She is switching from Wyoming Schools’ student enrollment of 2,000 for the 28-square-mile, still growing Mason school system of 11,000 students – and the largest high school campus of any Greater Cincinnati district.

She will also be the first female superintendent in Mason Schools’ history.

“It’s an exciting opportunity and I don’t have any concerns about it,” says the three-time participant in Cincinnati’s Flying Pig Marathon..

A quick glance at her resume reveals why.

Under her seven years of leadership at Wyoming, the district never earned any academic ranking less than the top category possible under Ohio’s annual grading system. Moreover, the district often finished among the top 10 among Ohio’s 613 in academic performance.

Recognized statewide, Kist-Kline was sought after by the Ohio Department of Education and Buckeye Association of School Administrator’s leadership council to help design state standards for measuring other superintendents.

“Gail Kist-Kline has a reputation among her colleagues of being an intelligent, articulate and inclusive yet decisive leader,” said Tom Ash, director of government relations for the Buckeye Association of School Administrators.

“Her voice is reflected in the several policy initiatives we have undertaken over the last three years. Her contributions on the Women in Leadership Committee have been especially important to our organization as we continue our efforts to increase the number of females in leadership positions throughout the education community,” Ash said.

Sheryl Felner, president of the Wyoming Board of Education, praised Kist-Kline for her “innovative leadership” in working with staffers and others to bring changes that “transformed our district to meet the needs of 21st century learners.”

“She built upon our historically outstanding academic and financial results by strategically planned implementation of technology to support instruction, problem-based learning and leadership development. Additionally, we appreciated Dr. Kist-Kline’s strong focus on fiscal discipline while delivering outstanding educational results,” Felner said.

Kist-Kline is the daughter of a former school board member and got the teaching bug young, growing up in College Corner, just north of Oxford, home of Miami University. The proximity to that college continued as she earned her undergraduate and master’s degrees there before achieving her doctorate in educational leadership.

She went on to teach at Miami between stints as an assistant principal at Lakota Schools, a principal at Princeton Schools and principal at St. Joseph Consolidated School in Hamilton. Prior to her stint at Wyoming, she was the curriculum director at Princeton Schools.

Detail-oriented and comfortable using data of all sorts, she impressed Mason school board member Kevin Wise during interviews when she began to quiz Mason Schools Treasurer Richard Gardner, widely considered the dean of Southwest Ohio treasurers.

“When we introduced Gail to Dick Gardner, she actually interviewed him and her questions showed us she has a deep understanding of school finance,” Wise said.

Mason Board of Education President Debbie Delp said “she’s a proven local leader who understands the environment in which we work and she has a network of resources developed through her involvement and leadership of many state-wide initiatives.”

“She engages people in conversations that let them share their ideas and concerns; and listens closely for key messages that can be incorporated into district goals and action plans. Most of all, she embraces our focus on excellence. Student learning is foremost in the work Gail does … a priority that meshes perfectly with our goals for Mason Schools,” Delp said.

Kist-Kline describes her management style as “I lead leaders.”

And at the top of her “to do” list when she begins working Aug. 1 is “to listen and learn.”

“I definitely will spend a lot of time in the schools getting to know the people and residents in the community,” she said.

At a glance: Gail Kist-Kline

Age: 50

Family: Married to Keith Kline, principal of Lakota East High School. Kline was a recent finalist for the recently filled Lakota superintendent’s position. They live in Liberty Township in Butler County and have two grown children.

Hometown: College Corner, north of Oxford.

Education: Undergraduate, graduate and doctorate degrees from Miami University. A former faculty member at the school.

Previous job: Superintendent of Wyoming Schools in Hamilton County for seven years. That district, along with Mason Schools, is among the top 10 academic performers in Ohio.

Hobbies: Runner. She has participated in the Flying Pig Marathon three times.Kist-Kline and husband Keith Kline, Lakota East High School principal, have two daughters in college.

Posted in: Board of Education, Schools |

Tags: Tags: gail kist-kline, kevin bright, mason, mason school district, superintendent, wyoming

Gail Kist-Kline has been named the new superintendent of the Mason School District effective Aug. 1.

Kist-Kline previously served as superintendent of Wyoming Schools.  She is replacing Kevin Bright, who is leaving after 13 years as superintendent to become assistant superintendent for the Lakewood Schools near Cleveland.

Dr. Kist-Kline really fits the description of what this community wants,’’ said Debbie Delp, president of the Mason Board of Education. “She has the know-how to sustain and enhance what we currently provide, while being a wise steward of resources.”

Kist-Kline’s appointment was approved by the Mason Board of Education during a special meeting Monday morning. She will earn $170,000 annually.

“I am tremendously honored to be chosen by the board of education to serve Mason’s children and families. I look forward to meeting students, staff, parents, and community members, and listening to their ideas and perspectives,” said Kist-Kline.

“Mason students have demonstrated excellence in the classroom, on the athletic fields, through the performing and visual arts, and in community service. I look forward to creating an environment in which students and staff members thrive and excel in their work and learning experiences.”

In her nearly three decades in education, Kist-Kline has been a teacher, an assistant principal in the Lakota Schools, a principal in the Princeton City Schools and at St. Joseph Consolidated School in Hamilton.

She has served as a faculty member at Miami University, a curriculum director for Princeton Schools and an assistant superintendent in Wyoming.

Kist-Kline holds bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from Miami University.

She and husband Keith Kline, Lakota East High School principal, have two daughters in college.

Posted in: Board of Education, Schools |

Tags: Tags: gail kist-kline, kevin bright, mason, mason school board, mason schools, superintendent, wyoming schools

Mason Schools honored 20 teachers this month for joining an elite group of educators who are considered the best in their profession.

The new Master Teachers are Tracey Davis, Dale Moberly, Debbie Egner, Ric Muskopf, Elle Folger, Karrie Nelson, Melissa Grablovic, Christine Pohlman, Aimee Hansen, Ashley Rhoads, Michelle Hastings, Susan Rosselott, Amie Kanzeg, Julie Lewis, Sherry Magness ,Krista McMillen, Katie Wackler, Kerry Warndorf, Shelley Whalen and Evelyn Wingate.

The teachers are among those who have achieved the state licensure of Master Teacher.  To be a Master Teacher, teachers had to submit a portfolio demonstrating their instructional leadership, teaching skills and professional development.

“Success like this is not something that just happens.  It occurs only as a result of persistent, hard work and a strong commitment to your students,” Mason Superintendent Kevin Bright told the teachers.  “You are a credit to the teaching profession, and countless students in Mason are fortunate to be able to learn from you.”

Posted in: Schools |

Tags: Tags: honor, kevin bright, mason, mason city schools, mason school board, master teacher, ohio, students, teachers

Mason Schools is seeking resident input as it searches for a superintendent to replace outgoing Kevin Bright.

The Board accepted Bright’s resignation April 12. He will continue to serve through July 31.

The Board is seeking community input on the qualities residents would like to see in the district’s next superintendent.  Residents have three ways to make their voices heard:

• A community forum will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 26 at Mason High School;
• Submit your thoughts via an online survey offered at www.masonohioschools.com;
• A public work session will be held for human resources professionals from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 27 in the Central Office, 211 North East Street.

“Hiring the next superintendent is the most important decision we will make for a number of years. We want to listen to the community and have an opportunity to secure their feedback on the vision they have for our next leader,” said Debbie Delp, school board president.

Posted in: Board of Education, Schools |

Tags: Tags: community forum, hr, human resources professionals, kevin bright, mason city schools, online, resident, superintendent, survey, website

Mason City Schools’ Superintendent Dr. Kevin Bright announced today, March 22, that he will resign from his position in order to assume the role of assistant superintendent for the Lakewood School District near Cleveland.

“It has been an honor and privilege to serve Mason’s families and this community for the last 21 years,” Bright said in a press release. “I will always cherish the opportunity I had to lead this school district. Having spent 21 of my 37 years in education in Mason, I am deeply appreciative of what this community has given me and my family, and proud of what we were able to achieve together. But, it is now time for me to begin a new adventure.”

The Mason City Schools Board of Education will officially accept Bright’s resignation during its April 12 meeting. Bright, however, will continue to serve as Mason’s superintendent through July 31, 2011.

Bright came to Mason in 1990 to serve as an assistant superintendent. He has been the district’s superintendent since 1998.

Mason serves approximately 11,000 students. During Bright’s tenure, the district grew by 8,600 students.

The school board will announce the process for the search for a new superintendent in the coming weeks.

Posted in: Board of Education, Schools |

Tags: Tags: kevin bright, mason city schools, mason high school, schools, superintendent kevin bright, superintendent search