New team leads FR

It took two months to get the administration team in place.
Less than six months into their tenure, the three new administrators are working together to make the Indians the best they can.
“It’s been a great start to the school year,” said Justin Firks, 37, superintendent of Fort Recovery Local Schools, who is in his second year at the helm. “Give credit to Mr. (Marcus) Overman, our high school principal, and Mr. (Tony) Stahl, our middle school principal. They’ve brought in some fresh ideas coming from other districts.
“Not that you always want to scrap everything that you’ve always done and make changes, but sometimes fresh perspectives and a new outlook on our way of doing things brings … that fresh perspective to the school district.”
Overman, 30, was hired in June to lead the high school after Jeff Hobbs left to become the superintendent at Fairlawn. A father of two with one more on the way in May, Overman has embraced his new role as an administrator.
“Things are going really well,” said Overman, a New Bremen High School graduate and former sixth grade teacher at Marion Local. “I can’t be happier with the way the teachers are responding to some of the changes that I’ve tried to put in place.”
One of those changes, he said, was creating more “flex time.” It is similar to a study hall, but allows students to seek out the teachers they need to get any assistance. Overman is also open to any new ways to further student development, working closely with elementary principal Tracy Hein-Evers, Firks and Stahl to pass along any ideas.
Stahl, 27, started his career in education at Manual High School in Indianapolis before teaching history and social studies at his alma mater, St. Henry. Two weeks after Overman’s hire, Stahl, who was runner-up to Overman for the high school position, was hired to lead the middle school.
He too is pleased with the way things have gone so far this school year, and has acknowledged his biggest challenge thus far has been keeping his tasks in order.
“Some of the most challenging things other than learning the nuances and odds and ends of the schedule is prioritizing things that come across your desk,” Stahl said. “As a first-year administrator, you’re trying not to rock the boat too much. Prioritize those things. Part of that is to figure out who needs to be involved with that (particular) idea."
With all three administrators under the age of 40, like Firks, Overman sees their relative youth as an advantage.
“Myself and Tony, we are recently out of school where we got our license,” said Overman, who earned his principal licensure from Wright State University in December 2014. Stahl graduated from WSU in 2012.
“We know a lot of the updates because the professors have trained us for that,” Overman said. “It allows us to relate to the students better.”
As is the case with anyone in a new location, getting familiar with surroundings has been the largest hurdle for Overman. He didn’t know anyone when he was hired, and he’s made a conscious effort to get to know each of his students by name.
“I know three-fourths by now and I can call them by their first and last name,” he said.
Overman spent a lot of time at volleyball matches this fall with his son Abram, 4, and 1-year-old daughter Brynn. He’s also attended every football game except one, and has been to cross country and golf meets, scholastic bowls and even some of this summer’s Fort Recovery 225 celebration.
“It’s a learning process every day,” he said. “I am learning a new face and just trying to build a rapport with the staff and students.”
As with all educational administrators, the focus is on the students and their continued development.
“Right now we’re working heavily on student achievement, making sure our teachers have the best professional development that we can provide,” Firks said. “We are really heavily concentrated on character development and character education programs district wide.”