PIERCETON - Whitko School Board hired Steven Clason, Elkhart, Thursday as the new superintendent for Whitko Schools.
Clason, currently the executive director of educational services at Goshen Community Schools, said he looks forward to working at Whitko Community Schools. He complimented the school corporation's plan for academic achievement and curriculum development program."You've done a great job in what you've done so far and I look forward to helping you take it into the future," Clason said.
Clason said he is looking forward to working in a rural community and school district.
"I've spent almost 30 years working in urban education," he said. "I'm looking forward to the change."
Clason grew up on a farm in southwestern Michigan. He said he will feel right at home in the Whitko community.
"It feels like it's going to be a perfect fit," Clason said.
Clason described himself as an outdoors type of guy. He owns a tractor and told the board he knows his way around a farm.
"I know which end of a pitchfork to grab," he said.
Clason also described himself as very community oriented and a dedicated Christian.
Whitko board members said they were just as excited to have Clason join the school corporation.
"After we interviewed Steve," said board member Dave Tranter, "we all looked at each other and said, 'He's the guy.'"
Board President Pete Mitchell said Clason will begin work at Whitko immediately following the school system's Christmas break. Mitchell said the board talked with state education experts about whether or not it was a good idea to start a new superintendent in the middle of a school year. Mitchell said the board decided starting in January would allow Clason to get familiar with the new school system without any of the start-up duties included in the beginning of a new school year.
"This is his time to get acquainted with us and for us to get acquainted with him," Mitchell said.
Clason and his wife, Rose, said they plan to move to the Whitko community after they sell their home in Elkhart.
"I know about the community, now I get to really know the community," said Clason. "I'm looking forward to it."
