Clyde school official taking state job

CLYDE — Clyde-Green Springs Schools will soon undergo a leadership change. During this week's public meeting, board members accepted superintendent Dennis Haft's resignation. He's leaving to become the state coordinator for the Ohio Department of Education's Schools that Work program in Columbus. Haft, who has led the school district for almost six years, was hired in July 2016. Before that, he was an elementary school principal for Brunswick Schools. His last day with Clyde-Green Springs Schools will be Feb. 25. "I can't thank you enough for the opportunity to serve your community," Haft told those who attended the board meeting. "Thank you for trusting me as a steward of the school district." He also thanked staff members for all their hard work over the years. Board president Aaron Wilson thanked Haft for his time and service and noted that Haft helped the school district head in a good direction. In a 2016 interview, the Register asked Haft how he would be different from previous superintendents who caused problems for the school district. "It was funny, the board asked me, they said, 'How do you get across to people who you are? How do you make a difference?' Is it certain things you're going to say to people how you going to go about it? And I said people going to get to know me and put their faith in me based on my actions and what I do. "I can say the greatest things in the world but if my actions don't back it up, then it doesn't mean anything. So I would say getting to know me and seeing how I interact with the community, seeing how I interact with children, seeing how I would interact with the rest of the employees in Clyde-Green Springs. Judge me on that, and see what my integrity level is on that. "I think you'll find I'm a very straight-shooter. I don't hide anything, I don't have anything to hide. People are free to go on my Facebook page, it's kind of boring. But that's how I'm going to prove myself, through my actions and be open and honest with everyone. "That's one of the strong points that I had coming from the school I had been at was … I really had built a reputation where everyone trusted my judgment. I very, very rarely had any irate parents. Everyone knew that whatever decision I made, even if they didn't agree with it, was on what's best for kids. I think that goes a long way." Board members will finalize plans for an interim leader at a special board meeting at 6 p.m. Feb. 7 at Clyde High School's Take Flight Center, district officials said.