Experience is key in Knox ESC’s 111th year

Superintendent Dr. Timm Mackley struck a familiar chord Tuesday as the Knox County Educational Service Center began its 111th year of supporting local public education.

“Experience. We have so many people in this room whose experience is important to children's education,” Mackley said at the ESC employees’ annual breakfast staff meeting at Mount Vernon Nazarene University.

The ESC, located at 308 Martinsburg Road, operates preschools in Mount Vernon, Centerburg, East Knox and Fredericktown. It also operates the Knox Learning Center, a K-12 alternative school in the former Mount Vernon West Elementary building.

The ESC provides a range of services to the Centerburg, Danville, East Knox, Fredericktown, Mount Vernon and Clear Fork districts and the Knox County Career Center, including the screening and hiring of approximately 200 classroom aides.

Proven experience is more important than titles, Mackley said, repeating a theme he has emphasized often.

“Of all the things in my career, experience has helped me the most to be a better educator,” he told the breakfast audience. “Pretty far down the list is my PhD, no offense to Ohio State.”

Mackley, now in his 16th year as ESC superintendent, has the second-longest tenure of 12 superintendents who have served since 1914.

On Tuesday, Mackley reprised the Doctor of Thinkology degrees he presented to five employees last year, based on the Wizard of Oz's awarding of that title to the Scarecrow. The wizard told Scarecrow he is just as smart as anyone else; he just doesn't have a degree.

“You don't have to have a PhD to make a difference,” Mackley said then.

Receiving Doctor of Thinkology degrees Tuesday for their experience-based contributions to public education were:

— Laura Baughman, a Mount Vernon classroom aide

— Ronda Beheler, preschool special education director

— Julie David, Mount Vernon classroom aide

— Michell Kipp, Learning Center classroom aide

— Joe Mazzari, Learning Center director

— Jackie Nutt, preschool director

— Anthony Orr, Learning Center assistant director

— Gwen Smith, central office administrative assistant

— April Stoler, Mount Vernon classroom aide

— Barbara Waite, Learning Center special education secretary and office manager

— Kelly Wilcox, preschool speech therapist