Kent City School District named a new superintendent

Image of Kent Roosevelt High School
Kent Roosevelt High School pictured in a file photo. Roger Hoover/The Portager

The Kent City School District has named Tom Larkin as its new superintendent, promoting him from his current position as assistant superintendent and director of personnel for Kent City Schools.

Larkin has been with Kent City Schools since 1996. His first year as superintendent will be his 28th in the district.

Tom Larkin

Larkin’s June 20 appointment to replace George Joseph as superintendent comes after the school board had whittled the candidate list to three finalists earlier this month, including current Kent City Schools Director of Student Services Justin Gates and Windham Exempted Village Schools Superintendent Aireane Curtis.

Joseph, who served as superintendent for nine years, announced his retirement this spring.

“We followed a thorough process,” school board President Brian Boykin said. “It included planning with our facilitators, staff and community surveys, school and community focus groups, reference checks, leadership assessments for our finalists and two rounds of interviews with the board of education, as well as open forums for staff and community members with our finalists. The board is excited for this new chapter in our district’s history and looks forward to Tom’s continued strong leadership.”

Larkin will begin his official duties as superintendent Aug. 1.

“The board appreciated the process and the opportunity to look at a diverse group of qualified candidates,” Boykin said. “We’ve worked with and respected Tom’s commitment to our district for many years, and the search allowed us to reassure ourselves that he’s the right person for this position at this time. He has an open, collaborative leadership approach and will continue to be highly visible. His passion is our students and staff. He’s led and inspired people over his career, and we know he’ll build on already-established relationships with other administrators, staff, students, and business and community members.”

Cheryl W. Ryan and Kristi Robbins of the Ohio School Boards Association assisted the district with the search.

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Tom Hardesty is a Portager sports columnist. He was formerly assistant sports editor at the Record-Courier and author of the book Glimpses of Heaven.