the location of programs to meet the needs of students. We then entered partnerships with industry and
higher education to add high tech equipment for a new robotics center. By adjusting and making cuts
where necessary, we were able to add programs with our existing funding. It all began, however, with
the analysis of the impact and locations of all existing programs. When we looked at what was needed
for a true 21st Century education and created programs that people wanted, students enrolled. We
successfully communicated what we were doing through Open Houses, all media outlets and
technology, and community organizations and partners. Honda and Fanic have been exceptional to work
with because we ultimately wanted to assist business by training individuals for those job markets in
need - as we will be doing for Honda with our new robotics lab - soon to be christened, "The RAMTEC
Center".
Nominations:
Board President
It is with pleasure that I nominate Charles A. Speelman for the “2014 AASA Superintendent of the Year
Award”. Mr. Speelman is a great asset to the field of education and especially to Tri-Rivers Career
Center. In the six years he has been our superintendent, he has been the visionary our Career Center
needed. For several years we had the stigma of being the educational facility for students who did not
want to go onto college. The implementation of new and forward thinking programs, thinking outside
the box, increasing academic standards for admittance, and always placing students’ best interest in the
forefront of his decisions, has made Tri-Rivers a school of choice. Our Career Center is now a
community leader in education. Under Mr. Speelman’s direction, we have successfully opened the only
Adult Education LPN to RN Transition Program in Ohio. We are currently building a training facility
(RAMTEC- Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing Technology Education Collaborative) which will be
a state of the art training center. This facility is the first of its kind in Ohio and was a joint effort with
many businesses, Marion Technical College, and The Ohio State University-Marion Campus.
When Mr. Speelman was hired at the Career Center, many programming and staffing issues needed to be
addressed. He immediately took the challenge by eliminating outdated and under-enrolled programs. He
made cuts across the board – from administration to certified staff to classified staff, while still
maintaining the academic and career technical education integrity. He developed relationships with local
businesses and used those resources to develop programs that better served our communities and
afforded more employment opportunities for our students. Collaborations have also been developed with
the local colleges to offer our students’ even more opportunities. Student and staff expectations have
been raised since he is a strong believer that if the bar is raised, expectations will be met.
One of his strengths is being able to see the big picture. He does not accept “no” for an answer, but
instead looks for a solution. He is passionate about education and about giving students the opportunity
to earn a good education. He believes it is our responsibility to prepare our young men and women for
their next role in life, whether that is furthering their education, entering the workforce, or entering the
military. The goal that Tri-Rivers has adopted is to be a school where students are allowed to, inspired
to, and expected to be amazing. Mr. Speelman fully supports this goal and relies on input from all team
members for ways to best reach this goal. He is a man that not only supports his staff with professional
development opportunities, but also gives credit where credit is due and recognizes the efforts of others.
He is currently working on his doctoral EdD in Education from Seton Hall University. I commend him
for setting the example of continued learning, at the same time as he is successfully carrying out the
responsibilities in his job as superintendent.
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