McCauley feels right at home as HCTC principal

When Ron Hay chose to pursue other avenues of employment last year, after many years as the Holmes County Training Center (HCTC) principal, the training center board turned to a familiar face in finding a replacement.That face belongs to Cindy McCauley, who worked at the center as early intervention coordinator and early intervention specialist until retiring in 2003. She and her husband, Bob, moved to Florida following retirement, but when they came back to the area in 2007 to be near her mother and father, McCauley decided to dive back into the people business, working two days a week at Ashland’s Dale Roy School, a school much like the Holmes County Training Center.When the position opened as the HCTC principal this summer, McCauley felt it was time to come home, and after a very positive interview, was awarded the job.“It feels like I’m back home again,” said McCauley. “I’ve had such great experiences here, and I am thrilled to be able to come back and be part of such a wonderful organization.”Because of budget restraints, the principal position is only part time, something McCauley knew coming in. But she said despite that, she will always make herself available for the staff, families and students at any time.McCauley grew up in Wayne County, where she spent 32 years in education. A College of Wooster graduate, she always thought she would be teaching in elementary education. However, Ken Black, former Wayne County director of special education, encouraged her to continue her education and take courses in working with learning disabled kids in 1972.McCauley worked as an LD teacher in Smithville for two years, and then moved on to Triway High School, where she started the intermediate unit for kids with disabilities in 1974. While teaching at Triway, she also coached girls track, and in 1975, took the Triway 4-by-440 relay team to the State tournament, where the team won, setting a record which will never be broken.“That was the last year they used yards. Now everything is in meters, so that record will stand forever,” said McCauley.She moved back into the regular classroom when she began teaching first grade at Shreve Elementary. She taught another four-year stint at the kindergarten level at Shreve, and eventually settled into a high school English gig at Triway, where her 12 years included tutoring LD youth on the side, yearbook advisor, coaching track and cheerleading. She eventually received her master’s degree in education from Ashland University, as well as her principal’s certificate. With that set of credentials in tow, she became the director of special education for Tri-County ESC, where she was in charge of 43 employees and close to 350 students.Without question, McCauley has taught at just about every level imaginable, and enjoyed every moment along the way, because she is doing what she loves.“It’s been special because the entire time, my passion has always been to improve the lives of the kids I have worked with, no matter what level I was teaching at,” said McCauley.That love for kids is what brought her full circle to the Holmes County Training Center. Her experience prior to retirement is what set the table for her return.“Just seeing the staff operate, working together on positive problem solving to help the kids find ways to communicate is very gratifying,” said McCauley. “This staff is so committed to helping these kids and their families, it’s contagious. They will do whatever it takes to make this a positive, growing experience for the kids. It is a life-changing thing for families, and it’s always been about the kids. That is why I jumped at the chance to come back here in this capacity.”She said that in addition to the staff, getting an opportunity to work with the parents’ association has been a blessing. McCauley said that with the center working on limited resources, the association has been instrumental in making positive things happen when the center appeared to be facing an uphill battle.Whether it is a need for classroom equipment like talkers, special educational toys or books, SMART boards or any number of projects, the association has been there for the kids.“That’s just one of the many things that makes this job very gratifying,” said McCauley.