KETTERING-CENTERVILLE-OAKWOOD Tom Henderson
Q: Tell us about your previous job experience:
A: I have worked in education for over 40 years and started as a high school social studies teacher. After this I transitioned into administration, holding a variety of positions working as a high school unit principal and then a middle school principal. I then transitioned to central-office positions which included being a director of human resources and finally the Centerville superintendency, which is a position I held for 13 years.
Q: What are your goals as a work-based learning coordinator?
A: I have always felt that career education provides a great pathway for students to learn necessary skills through career exploration, taking college courses and earning industry credentials for high school graduation and beyond. As a WBL coordinator I hope to increase opportunities for students by providing necessary skills to interview effectively, write good resumes and increase understanding of what it takes to be successful in the workplace. The teachers do an amazing job in the classroom, and my role is also one of support to assist them in developing new industry partnerships, increasing opportunities for students to have additional internship experiences.
Q: How has being a superintendent prepared you for this job?
A: As a longtime superintendent, I know the value and importance of providing a comprehensive education experience for students. Career education and career exploration is one way of moving outside the boundaries of the school building, allowing students to take college courses, earn industry credentials and experience real-life work-based learning experiences. I believe as educators we must work hard to do whatever it takes to promote leadership, creativity and a strong workforce for the future.
Q: What attracted you to this job and why do you think it is important?
A: After 40 years working as a teacher, coach, building administrator and finally as superintendent, I knew it was time for a change. This position provides me an opportunity to continue my passion of working with staff and students but in a different capacity.
Q: What do you hope workbased learning opportunities for high schoolers in the Centerville, Kettering and Oakwood school districts will look like in five years?
A: We know that today’s students have many career pathway options that are different than in the past, and the landscape for these types of careers has evolved. As educators we must continually consider how we ensure that our students have the necessary skills and knowledge needed in our local and global economies. We must also make sure our students have choices and options to discover their skills, strengths, and gain awareness of a variety of careers available today and in the future. Five years from now, I would hope that additional opportunities for our students could include increased opportunities in the health-related fields, IT and cyber security, manufacturing and increased participation in the trades, where workers are desperately needed.