Career center superintendent retiring in Warren County

Warren County Career Center Superintendent Maggie Hess is retiring, effective Dec. 31, 2016.

Hess has worked in education for 40 years.

“I’m ready but my heart will always be here with the Career Center and with Career Technical Education,” she said in a press release. “The district is well-positioned to move into the future and to continue to serve students of all ages. We have an excellent staff who I know will continue to keep student success as their focus. It has been an honor to be a part of the Warren County Career Center.”

Board President Bobbie Grice agreed.

“While we are sorry to see her go, as a result of her leadership the Career Center is in a good position, having established strong business and educational partnerships, expanded programming and increased the community’s awareness of the school and the importance of career technical education,” she said. “The role of the next leader will be to do the sa me while continuing to address our facility needs, keeping in mind our history of conservative fiscal management.”

Hess began at the career center on Sept. 15, 2004.

During her tenure, the career center increased satellite programs at high schools in the county that now serve more than 1,800 students and full-time programming for adult students.

The career center also instituted new high school and adult programs, in Advanced Technologies & Robotics, Dental Assisting, Electrical Line Mechanic, HVAC, Sports Medicine and Veterinary Science.

The career center also expanded partnerships with the Greentree Health Science Academy, Miami University Middletown, Atrium Medical Center, the City of Middletown and the Warren County Port Authority.

Hess led the board through the first phase of a master plan, including a new secure front entrance, media center, academic wing and expanded cafeteria space.

Hess also steered the district through a facilities task force effort which prioritized infrastructure needs for the school. Some of those will be addressed this year, while others await a future bond issue.

Hess was honored in 2016 with the I71-75 Business Hall of Fame Award and the Ohio Association for Career and Technical Association Administrator of the Year. In addition, she was named Citizen of the Year for the Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce. She has been active in Lebanon Rotary, Big Brothers/Sisters of Warren County, Area Progress Council of Warren County, United Way of Warren County. She serves on the boards of the Warren County Foundation and Otterbein Lebanon. She has served as Region I Vice President for the Association for Career and Technical Education, and is past president of Ohio ACTE.

The board will discuss the search for a new superintendent at its September meeting.