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ST. CLAIRSVILLE - Superintendent Randy Lucas of the East Central Ohio Educational Service Center is a leading figure in local education and has embraced the challenges, both old and new.
Lucas has long studied and practiced education and came up through the ranks from the classroom to the administration office. From working as a substitute teacher, he would take a teaching and coaching position at Maysville, Ohio, then at Meadowbrook Middle School in Rolling Hills School District.
He earned his principal's and superintendent's licenses and served as principal of St. Clairsville Elementary School for five years, then became superintendent of Barnesville Exempted Village School District for five years before coming to the ESC.
He lives in Buffalo, in Guernsey County. The ECOESC has offices in New Philadelphia, St. Clairsville and Cambridge.
He described his attraction to education.
"It's the energy, it's the hope, it's getting to work with young people about what they want to do for their future," Lucas said. "I like to be ... where it's loud, lively, energetic. ... Seeing folks at the beginning of their lives, looking forward to what they want to do in their futures and being a part of, that's exciting for me."
"I love my job. I'm very passionate. I love coming to work every day. To me, it's not a job, it's who we are," Lucas said, adding that he credits his staff.
"I surround myself with great people," he said. "My board has supported me in finding people who are really good at what they do, and let them do their job. I'm very, very fortunate. I have a great leadership team. I have great staff members."
His accomplishments include building a partnership with the local Board of Developmental Disabilities to provide professional development and training, programs such as Head Start and the potential for early education and services for students with special needs.
"Through our partnership with them we were able to purchase the Experience Church in Bridgeport," he said. "We are utilizing the basement of that church for preschool services and then when they expand and get into their new facility, we'll take over that entire building, which used to be a former school, so it's built for education type services."
"There's a lot of plans that we've worked on with our districts and developing as far as our extending learning plans and what are they going to do to mitigate the impact of COVID, whether it's through mental health supports or truancy attendance, after-school programs."
Lucas' goals continue to be increased student engagement and advocacy for public education. He noted ECOESC has attracted more participation.
"We also brought on three school districts in Guernsey County. School districts have the option of selecting which ESC they want to be a part of," he said. "We've added an office in Guernsey County to make sure we can support their needs as well."
However, the most significant recent challenge has been the COVID-19 pandemic. His office sought grants for technology coaches and has worked with other ESCs to help educators integrate technology in the classroom, with one-on-one coaching and professional development for area teachers.
"There's so much remote learning and things happening now," he said.
Lucas expects there to be a lasting impact.
"This is kind of the new normal, and school districts are going to have to figure out how to be flexible. It changes as the needs change," he said. "There's going to continue to be a need to provide remote learning, and the majority of our kids are not 100 percent online learners. There are a few."
He said teachers are improving and accommodating students who must utilize online learning at times when a student must be home for one or two weeks, or when a school district cannot have in-person learning.
"We have to continue to get better. There are still a lot of teachers who still aren't 100 percent comfortable on how to navigate those waters. We have some teachers who have kids live in front of them and they have kids that are home via Zoom."
His office is also working with guidance counselors and curriculum directors who help students readjust to in-person schooling.
"There has been an impact, and there will continue to be an impact from those students who were out a lot last year. Kids who were at home, isolated, they may be back at school now," he said. "School districts are going to do everything in their power to work with students who are struggling with all of that. Test results across the state are down because of COVID, and I think there will be long-term consequences.
"As far as moving forward, I think one of the challenges that we face is trying to find some kind of help and support for our school districts for those students who are elementary age, young, with extreme behavioral needs. You don't want to send them out of county, you don't want to necessarily take them out of their school districts, but our school districts don't necessarily have staff or resources or the training that's involved."