New principals map goals for year

5/14/2008

Two recently hired high school principals are looking forward to starting their new jobs this fall.

Tony Brashear, who has been principal of Toledo's Rogers High School for four years, will take over in August for Rossford High School Principal Ron Grimm, who will retire at the end of this school year.

Woodmore math teacher Ralph L. Myers, who has taught in the school district for 23 years, will replace high school Principal Tony Anastasio, who is pursuing other career interests after his contract expires at the end of June.

Both Mr. Brashear and Mr. Myers recently talked about the goals they have for their schools.

Mr. Brashear said he wants to improve Rossford High School's drop-out rate, which he said has increased from 2 percent to 10 percent in 10 years.

"The kids have to know that they have somebody there who cares about them and the parents have got to know that too," he said.

He also wants to work on improving the relationship between the high school and the community.

"I think the one thing I'll bring over there that I've accom-plished here at Rogers is uniting the staff on a common purpose and building relationships not only with the staff and kids, but with the community and parents," he said.

Mr. Brashear is a Swanton High School graduate who received his bachelor's degree in 1988 and a master's degree in 2003 from the University of Toledo, majoring in secondary education as an undergraduate and administration and supervision as a graduate student.

Mr. Myers also is looking to improve relations between his high school and the community. He plans to implement an annual August open house ceremony at Woodmore High School.

"It's just so the parents and students can know the teachers a little bit better and the school a little bit better, to build that bond," he said. "I think the Woodmore community would appreciate a principal who's available to them to listen to their concerns at the high school."

Mr. Myers received his bachelor's in 1978 and master's degree in 1984 from Bowling Green State University, majoring in education as an undergraduate and in education administration as a graduate student.

Before working in Woodmore schools, he taught math for six years combined in three other Ohio school districts.

Mr. Brashear taught at Rogers for four years, and under his leadership the school maintained a "continuous improvement" rating with the Ohio Department of Education, improving the student body's performance index score, which is rated on a scale of 0-120, from about 81 during the 2004-2005 school year to about 87 during the 2006-2007 school year.

Woodmore High School has maintained an "effective" rating over the last three academic years, down from an "excellent" rating during the 2003-2004 school year.

Mr. Myers' two-year contract will pay him a salary of $78,000 per year while Mr. Brashear's three-year contract will pay an annual salary of $98,000.

Mr. Myers lives in Curtice, Ohio, with Jane, his wife of four years.

Mr. Brashear lives in West Toledo with his wife, Theresa, and two stepchildren.