Superintendent's Message

Superintendent Ty Ankrom

Ty Ankrom has been a lifelong educator, giving back to Pickaway County where he’s lived his entire life.

As superintendent of the Pickaway County ESC since 2007, he has made it a priority to add staff members to the ESC and add programs that help meet the needs of the county school districts. Examples are additional ESL teachers and behavior specialists, increasing preschool services offered, and creating partnerships within the county and with other ESCs. He also was instrumental in working with district superintendents to create Pathways Plus, a program to help at-risk students fulfill graduation requirements.

Ankrom has created or expanded partnerships with the Pickaway County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Pickaway County Family & Children First, Pickaway Works, Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center, Ohio Christian and Ashland universities and the University of Phoenix.

Before becoming superintendent of the Pickaway County ESC in 2006, Ankrom was superintendent and CEO for Circleville City Schools, leading that district from 1997 to 2005.

Ty Ankrom's ... Here's What I Think

Jan. 22: Five give back through ESC board service

As 2021 gets started, the Pickaway County ESC Governing Board took on a new look as two seats were vacated by the retirements of longtime board members Bob Bower and Richard Everman.

Jon Saxton, who joined the board last year, was nominated to fill Richard’s role as president by fellow board member Dan Litzinger, who also was appointed last year.

Jon spent 30 years in education, serving as a high school principal, director of curriculum and instruction, and a district superintendent. A Logan Elm High School graduate, Jon taught and coached there for nine years before beginning his administrative career at Amanda-Clearcreek in 1998.

“I am still very passionate about education,” Jon said. “Helping to make policy and select leaders to serve the ESC gives me the opportunity to continue to make a difference for kids.”

In December, we welcomed to our board Bethany Reid, vice president of Administration & Marketing for Health Care Logistics. Also a graduate of Logan Elm, Bethany is active in a number of Pickaway County committees and boards, including the Pickaway County Community Foundation and Pickaway Progress Partnership. She also is a 4-H advisor for the Washington Hill Climbers.

This month, Dale Thomas, a retired Pickaway County Sheriff’s deputy, was sworn in. Dale had been with the Sheriff’s Department for 28 years, the last 25 as a DARE officer, and he supervised the other DARE officers.

When I asked Dale, whom I’ve known for years, to join our board, he jumped at the chance.

“Working in the schools for 25 years, knowing the teachers, listening to the struggles, I think I offer a different perspective on how (the board) can be effective,” said Dale, a Westfall graduate.

Jon, Dan, Bethany and Dale join Vice President Jeanine McDowell in making decisions that benefit the county schools, students and staff. The board is committed to making Pickaway County ESC a valued and valuable contributor to our partners: Circleville City Schools, Logan Elm, Teays Valley and Westfall local schools, Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center, the Pickaway County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Help Me Grow and the Family and Children First Council.

The Ohio School Boards Association designates January as School Board Recognition Month. The proclamation issued by Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted states “it is important that communities support school boards so that students receive the best education and are prepared to be the leaders of tomorrow.”

I hope you will join me in supporting and recognizing the ESC board members who give their time and energy to help Pickaway County students and educators.