For 28 years, Jeff Cassell has seen about everything.  From in the classroom, to the administration angle of a school district, Cassell has progressed his way to the top.
On Monday morning, he took over as Superintendent of the Bethel Local School district, and the former teacher, coach, and administrator has high expectations for what he is walking into.

“I am really excited about getting started at Bethel,” he said last week, as he finished up 10 years in the Vandalia-Butler district. 
He spent the last four years as Human Resources Director and Director of Technology in Vandalia, and before that, was principal at Butler High School and Morton Middle School.
But what truly exemplifies Cassell is his love for the small town community.  He has also been at three schools in the Cross County Conference; Bradford (one year), Ansonia (two years), and his longest tenure at Franklin-Monroe, his alma mater (15 years as teacher, coach, and Athletic Director). 
All those districts fit his style, the small, community oriented school district.
“After I came back from college, I taught and coached numerous sports at Ansonia and Franklin-Monroe, and traveled around this conference and got to meet many Bethel student athletes and coaches,” he said.
“I have always had high regards for the Bethel district.”
“Growing up in a small school, I appreciate work ethic.  Here at Bethel, the school is the focal point of the community.  It is important to the community, and the future leaders.”
One past achievement that Cassell is hoping to continue and improve on is the academics. 
Bethel schools had an Excellent Rating in the 2008-09 report card, and the new Superintendent hopes to focus on continuing and improving outstanding education.
“It’s too soon to tell yet for the 2009-10 rating, but they value education here, and there’s room to grow,” he said.  “While the rating was excellent, there is always room for improvement.”
Cassell hopes to use his experience in different fields to be a good leader for the district.
“I think my technology experience will help the growth in that area at Bethel,” he said.  “I was also part of the Bradford building facility, and worked with their new K-12 building.”  Cassell leaves Vandalia in the midst of building a new middle school and renovation of the high school.
“We are also going to pilot an AP Calculus course at Bethel, and will look into other AP courses.”
He also has the ability to interview, select and maintain a good staff of personnel, as he handled that at Vandalia. 
While Cassell is excited to start to work with the school board, whom he calls “a cohesive, educated school board”, he is very anxious to start to get to know the students and faculty in the district.
“When I was at Butler High School, we had over 1,100 students,” Cassell said. 
“We have about 900 in this entire district, which is great.  I hope to get to know the students and families in the community.”
He also plans to attend as many of the school functions as possible, to get to know the coaches, participants, directors and staff. 
Cassell also understands that there are challenges ahead.  One of them is a school levy which goes on the ballot in November.

The district just passed a .75 percent income tax levy, which taxes all of the income in the district.  
He stated that the community members will not start paying until January 2011, and the district won’t see the full effect until January 2012.  
As for the new levy, it is a renewal of the Emergency Operating Levy, which the voters passed 5-years ago.
“The key to the levy is there are no new taxes,” Cassell said.  “This is operating money to maintain the school district.  Bob Hoover, former superintendent,  did a great job with sound fiscal management and we continue to do that by passing this levy in November.”
“If we can get this done, we can focus on other aspects.  If it doesn’t pass, we will look at further eliminations programs that will hurt the students and the community.”
While that is looming, Cassell is planning for the future in the classroom.  
“We want to increase the technology in the district,” he said.  “This is a global society, and for the students to be able to compete, they need the technology and get the skills.  
We also need to improve the science labs, and come up with some brainstorming ideas.  Science is crucial for the kids.”
While he is focusing on continuous improvement on the education, he also discussed the facilities.
“It is very tough with the economy the way it is,” he said.  “Many districts in the Cross County Conference are opening new facilities.
“My job is to find a way to do that, but it has to be the best way for the community.”
Jeff and his wife Margret have two children; Lauren, who attends Ohio Northern University, and Kacie, a freshman at the University of Akron, who is also a member of the women’s basketball team.
The Superintendent’s office opens Aug. 2.
* The Bethel community is invited out to Gastineau Field in New Carlisle on Wednesday, Aug. 4, and meet Cassell, as he will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at the New Carlisle Knights baseball game.

The game begins at 6: p.m., and the field is located on St. Rt. 571, just west of New Carlisle.