Dr. George Ash

But before he was an adjunct professor of graduate studies, he helped as an administrator within the local school systems. Ash would become a leader in his own right, working his way up the ranks of area school districts to roles that carried even more responsibility. Ash began as a middle school principal from 2004-2005, and over the next five years he would become assistant superintendent. That position entailed overseeing buildings and grounds and professional development to transportation and special education. As a superintendent, bore witness to the financial ebb and flow of budgetary matters and helped his district emerge from a deficit of $18.9 million to one with a positive balance.

As a leader of an Educational Service Agency, his role encompasses 10 school districts in a three-county region and includes the Virtual Learning Academy, an online curriculum used worldwide; professional development of teachers and administrators throughout the region; statewide programs relevant to education and school operations; a charter school for the oil and gas industry; and a national self-insurance program.

Ash also served as a regional cohort communicator for a major university, taught courses as a national faculty member, and garnered a series of awards, including a Distinguished Service Award from the Ohio Senate, a commendation from the Ohio House of Representatives, and both a nomination for Ohio Superintendent of the Year and a Ten Years of Central Office Service honor from the Buckeye Association of School Administrators. Furthermore, he has published articles and presented at conferences throughout Ohio with one upcoming presentation at a statewide conference in November. He has been a member of various regional boards, from the American Red Cross to the Children’s Hunger Alliance, as well as served as a volunteer coach, a content reviewer, and president of the Eastern Ohio Special Programs Association (ESOPCA), the latter of which oversees 30 districts within a 10-county area.

Since 2011, he has been part of the university’s tapestry and taught graduate studies to another crop of prospective administrators. Among his expertise are collective bargaining, school law, and superintendency. Ash said his goal aligns with the university’s traditions, especially those of service to others.

“I enjoy serving the mission of the university and helping aspiring administrators obtain their licensure,” he said.