CHAFFIN
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A former Marysville graduate, educator and coach has been tapped to take over at the district’s Early College High School (ECHS) next year.
At the March 22 meeting of the Marysville Exempted Village School District Board of Education, superintendent Diane Mankins will recommend Ken Chaffin to fill the role of principal at ECHS, according to a press release issued by the district.
Chaffin, a 1998 graduate of Marysville High School, has been the principal of Grandview High School for the past five years. He was an intervention specialist at Marysville from 2003-10 and was the head boys basketball coach from 2005-10
“Ken has a proven track record of increasing student achievement,” Mankins said in the release. “We are excited to hire such a talented educational leader who is so vested in our community and passionate about students.”
Current principal Kathy McKinniss announced her plans to retire at the end of this school year and 27 applicants applied for the position. After an extensive three round process, Chaffin was selected due to his depth of experience in the principal role and deep passion for education, according to the release.
Under his leadership, Grandview High School moved from a ranking of number 88 to 31 on a recent ranking of Ohio high schools by U.S. News and World Reports. Nationally, Chaffin has led his building to a ranking of #883, an increase of 796 spots.
Grandview students have seen scholarship offers in excess of $11 million, an increase of $7 million during his tenure, according to the release.
“Marysville schools are in direct pursuit of transforming education and equipping students to have distinctive life advantages,” Chaffin said in the release. “I am thrilled to partner with an exceptional staff to continue to build an incredible school experience for Marysville ECHS students.”
Chaffin and his wife live in Marysville and are the parents of two children who attend Marysville schools. He was co-coordinator of the Marysville district’s levy campaign for a renewal in 2012.
“I am also thrilled to come home and be a leader in the community that has given so much to my family and I over the years,” Chaffin said. “There is no better place to serve.”
Chaffin received his bachelor’s degree from Mount Vernon Nazarene University and obtained his masters in education administration from Cincinnati. He is currently in the superintendent licensure program at Ohio State.
Following his teaching experience at Marysville, he served as assistant principal at Piqua High School and Worthington McCord Middle School, before being named principal at Grandview.
The Board of Education will take action on Mankins’ recommendation later this month. If approved, Chaffin will begin his new role over the summer with an official start date of Aug. 1. He is being offered a three-year contract at $115,000 per year.
McKinniss’ current contract pays her $90,575 per year. She retired in 2014, but was then rehired by the district, a situation that can lead to an adjustment in the incentive package.