First female to lead Kettering schools
McCarty-Stewart comes to district from Wilmington.
— The first female superintendent of the Kettering City School District is expected to be approved next week.
Wilmington City Schools Superintendent Melinda McCarty-Stewart has been named the top pick of three finalists that included Robert Hill of Springfield City Schools and Gabe Lofton of Xenia Community Schools, both the head administrators in those districts.
Kettering officials said McCarty-Stewart has agreed to a four-year contract with an annual base salary of $175,000 starting Aug. 1, records show. The issue is expected to be voted on by the board of education Tuesday night.
“We had some really strong candidates. So, the district would have been well-served by — frankly — most of the candidates,” Kettering school board President Toby Henderson said.
“In our interviews and discussions, Melinda really rose to the top very quickly and so we’re excited she’s going to be our new superintendent and I know she’s excited about it.”
Superintendent Scott Inskeep, who has led Kettering schools since 2014, is retiring Aug. 1.
Attempts to reach McCarty-Stewart Thursday were unsuccessful.
Her proposed contract calls for salary increases at the board’s discretion and up to 25 vacation days and 12 paid holidays per year.
The board would pay 85% of the monthly premiums for health and dental insurance, as well as contribute $166.67 a month to her health savings account, documents show.
The district will also pay 100% of McCarty-Stewart’s share of State Teachers’ Retirement System and Medicare contributions, according to the proposal.
McCarty-Stewart is “highly intelligent, she’s clearly dedicated, she’s level-headed, which I think is important, particularly now in these interesting times coming out of COVID,” Henderson said.
“I’m confident she’s a person who is not afraid to make important and tough decisions. But what I think is key is she’s capable of doing that with grace and empathy when it’s necessary” and she is “clearly focused on student achievement,” he added.
Henderson he expects McCarty-Stewart to begin transitioning to Kettering before the end of the school year. That will include a search for a home in the district and a community reception, hopefully in the next few weeks, he added.
McCarty-Stewart has been an administrator for more than 20 years since her career in education started in 1993 in Upper Arlington, Kettering records show.
She has been Wilmington City Schools superintendent the past five years and worked previously as a high school principal in Wilmington and Mason school districts, according to records.
McCarty-Stewart has also served as a principal, assistant principal and special education teacher at middle schools in Wilmington and Mason, records show.
She earned a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University in 1993 and a master’s degree in education and allied professions from the University of Dayton in 2001.