Eads to lead JCCA

Mike Eads, whose career as a local school administrator came to a controversial end in June, has been named principal at a local parochial school.
Eads was approved Wednesday evening as principal of Jay County Christian Academy, a preschool through grade 8 private school at Fellowship Baptist Church west of Portland.
The move comes just days before Monday’s start of the 2010-11 school year.
“It’s kinda like starting a new career in a sense,” Eads said Thursday. “I’m excited. I’m nervous. I’m looking forward to getting started. With school starting Monday it’s a lot to do to get up to speed. It’s a great opportunity … to serve God … as a spiritual leader in a school.”
Eads spent the past 12 years as principal at General Shanks Elementary School in Portland and is beginning his 37th year in education — including the past 16 as an administrator.
Eads was cleared of criminal wrongdoing earlier this year after allegations that he had struck two special education students. After being on administrative leave since April, Eads and Jay Schools administrators reached an agreement that allowed him to spend the final three days of the school year at General Shanks before retiring.
He said at that time further litigation had not been ruled out.
Eads backers lobbied furiously on his behalf and the matter generated scores of letters to the editor.
Pastor Hugh Kelly of Fellowship Baptist, who has served as superintendent of the school since its opening in 2004, said the prospect of hiring a full-time principal has been discussed since the second year.
“God opened a door for Mr. Eads to come, and it’s just been unbelievable for us … and to get somebody of Mr. Eads’ qualifications and experience … I’m just pinching myself. I think it’s going to help give us credibility to what we’re trying to do,” Kelly said.
Kelly said that the controversy surrounding Eads was not an issue for he or deacons of the church who voted Wednesday to hire him.
“I’ve been so involved with the school, I think it is going to be very refreshing to (give up) those responsibilities and focus on being a pastor. To be able to see my dream carried on is incredible. It’ll go farther than I can take it,” Kelly said.
As of Thursday afternoon there were 65 students enrolled at Jay County Christian Academy, which has five full-time teachers and a maximum of 14 students in each class. Eads said he and church officials hope to boost those numbers back towards the school’s all-time high of 140 students.
“I’m looking forward to meeting the staff and getting to know them, and excited about meeting these new students,” said Eads, who taught for 21 years at Bloomfield Elementary School before becoming an administrator for five years at two Union City schools. “I just felt at age 59 I still had something to offer in education and I wanted the opportunity to do that. That I will be able to … pray with and counsel the kids … is just like a dream come true. It’s a really good fit for me personally from a spiritual standpoint.”[[In-content Ad]]