From the classroom to the boardroom, Ohio State Lima alumni Tim Pence’s journey from teacher to superintendent is a true testament to the developmental power of education and leadership.
Pence started at The Ohio State University at Lima because he was able to stay close to home and make some life decisions while moving forward with his education.
“Ohio State Lima gave me the opportunity to earn college credits while still deciding what direction to go with my education,” Pence said. “Ohio State Lima provided me a very good education and wonderful experiences to be able to pursue my career. The small campus atmosphere and being so close to home provided a lot of advantages.”
Pence graduated in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and in 2001 with a master’s degree in elementary education. Pence made his teaching debut at Waynesfield-Goshen and has been there ever since.
Pence worked as a third-grade teacher for 7½ years, applying what he learned from his professors who “took pride in developing solid educators.” Pence was very happy as a teacher, but something pushed him forward.
“I would have been very happy teaching for my entire career, but each time someone gave me that little nudge to pursue something new,” he said.
When the previous principal retired midway through the 2009 school year, Pence moved on to become the elementary principal for Waynesfield-Goshen for 12½ years. He enjoyed the position, his staff, the students and the small community that was created in the school.
After contributing to the elementary school and community, Pence was given another nudge that helped him know that he could help out the school and community even more. When the superintendent position opened, Pence applied and was hired in 2021. The 2024-2025 school year is his fourth year as the superintendent.
He cannot wait to see where his journey will take him. His overall goal is to expand on the community that Waynesfield-Goshen has created.
Waynesfield has many athletic events that attract crowds to the area, the school houses a medical clinic, and a food pantry run by a local group. Pence wants to do what is best for the students and the staff that work with in the building as well.
“Being a small school, we are the center of this community,” he said. “We enjoy being the community hub and want to continue making the school ‘the place to go’ in the area.”
Pence understands what it takes to be a teacher and the strength it takes to build students to be the best they can be.
“Teaching is more than a career or profession; it’s a lifestyle. Once you’re a child’s teacher, you have now become a major role model in their life,” Pence said. “A major part of being an educator is building relationships. That means relationships with students, parents, community members, and colleagues.”
As much as Pence has helped his students grow and develop through education, education has helped him grow and develop as well. As he went from teacher to principal to superintendent, Pence has learned a lot from education and has applied it all throughout his years. He plans to build the school district to be the best it can be. Pence wants to make sure that “students and staff have the materials and knowledge needed to achieve to their potential, the district itself has the resources needed to provide quality educational, co-curricular and extracurricular opportunities, and create an environment where staff and students are excited to come to school every day.”