The Knox County Educational Service Center (ESC) marked the beginning of its 111th year with an emphasis on experience among its staff. Superintendent Dr. Timm Mackley addressed employees at the annual breakfast meeting held at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, highlighting the value of experience in education.
“Experience. We have so many people in this room whose experience is important to children’s education,” Mackley said during his remarks.
The ESC, based at 308 Martinsburg Road, manages preschools in several local communities and operates the Knox Learning Center, a K-12 alternative school located in the former Mount Vernon West Elementary building. The center provides services to multiple school districts, including Centerburg, Danville, East Knox, Fredericktown, Mount Vernon and Clear Fork, as well as the Knox County Career Center. Among these services is overseeing the screening and hiring process for about 200 classroom aides.
Mackley stressed that practical experience holds more weight than formal titles or degrees. “Of all the things in my career, experience has helped me the most to be a better educator,” he said. “Pretty far down the list is my PhD, no offense to Ohio State.”
Having served as superintendent for 16 years, Mackley currently has the second-longest tenure among those who have led the ESC since its founding in 1914.
During Tuesday’s meeting, Mackley continued a tradition started last year by awarding Doctor of Thinkology degrees—a reference to "The Wizard of Oz"—to recognize employees for their contributions rooted in experience rather than academic credentials. “You don’t have to have a PhD to make a difference,” Mackley said.
This year’s recipients were Laura Baughman (Mount Vernon classroom aide), Ronda Beheler (preschool special education director), Julie David (Mount Vernon classroom aide), Michell Kipp (Learning Center classroom aide), Joe Mazzari (Learning Center director), Jackie Nutt (preschool director), Anthony Orr (Learning Center assistant director), Gwen Smith (central office administrative assistant), April Stoler (Mount Vernon classroom aide), Barbara Waite (Learning Center special education secretary and office manager) and Kelly Wilcox (preschool speech therapist).
