Thobe leaving as FR principal

FORT RECOVERY — Another school official will be out the door at the end of the school year.

Kelli Thobe, principal at Fort Recovery Elementary, has resigned effective July 31. She will be taking over as principal of Marion Local Elementary/Middle School beginning in August.

Fort Recovery School Board accepted her resignation during a special meeting Wednesday. Thobe will finish her role as principal this school year and assist with the transition after officials select someone to take over her position.

Her resignation comes about two months after school board accepted superintendent Larry Brown’s retirement, which will be effective at the end of the calendar year.

Thobe spent four years leading the elementary school, which houses approximately 500 students between preschool and fifth grade. She led the school amid the coronavirus pandemic when schools closed their doors, utilizing remote learning and later in-person classes while encouraging COVID-19 safety precautions.

She said on a phone call Wednesday she appreciated the opportunity to serve the Fort Recovery community for the last few years.

“(I’ve had) great students, great staff, great parents, so it’s not an easy decision, but it’s a decision that was made for myself and my family,” said Thobe, who lives in the Marion Local school district with her husband, Dustin, and children Kalyn, Troy and Hayden.

She highlighted support from the school board and others during her role as principal.

Brown noted in a press release Wednesday he started working for the district the same day four years ago as Thobe.

“It has been a pleasure working alongside Mrs. Thobe for these four school years,” he said. “I wish her success as she continues to provide leadership to her students and families.”

Fort Recovery Local Schools posted an ad today for a new elementary principal. The deadline to apply is April 14.

Also Wednesday, school board members held an executive session in order to conduct interviews for the next superintendent.

In January, the board accepted Brown’s resignation, effective Dec. 31 of this year. (He will resign his position as superintendent effective July 31 and serve as director of the school district through the end of 2023 to provide transitional support to the next superintendent.)

Earlier this month, the school board narrowed its list of superintendent candidates after two days of interviews. Finalists who were interviewed Wednesday are Fort Recovery High School principal Tony Stahl, Sidney City Schools Elementary principal Stephanie Klingshirn and Little Miami High School principal Cathy Trevathan.