A new partnership has been announced between the Knox Educational Service Center (ESC) and Mike Hebenthal, a veteran educator and former superintendent of Centerburg Local Schools. Hebenthal will serve as a school improvement specialist for the 2025-2026 academic year, supporting principals and teachers throughout Knox County.
Hebenthal recently worked with the Ohio Department of Education’s District 7 State Support Team, which serves educators in ten counties. In his new role, he plans to meet monthly with every principal in the county—covering elementary, middle, and high schools—to provide assistance with teacher training, student achievement strategies, and updates on state requirements.
“My goal is to meet with every principal – elementary, middle school, high school – at least once a month to offer help any way I can, whether it be teacher training, developing student achievement strategies or updates on changing state requirements and legal issues affecting education,” Hebenthal said.
“Principals are doing a great job but they can be overwhelmed by all that they must deal with every day. I know because I’ve been there. My approach will be: What can I take off their desks?”
Dr. Timm Mackley, superintendent of Knox ESC, described why Hebenthal was selected for this position.
“Our board agreed that school improvement is a core value of the Knox ESC,” Mackley said. “In offering this service to our local distracts they recognized that Mike is uniquely qualified. He has a wealth of experience as a classroom teacher, principal and superintendent and has a working knowledge of state and federal issues involving education.”
Hebenthal holds an undergraduate degree from Youngstown State University and a master’s from Ashland University. He spent 11 years teaching high school chemistry and physics before serving as principal and superintendent at Centerburg for two decades. In addition to his educational career, he served 27 years as an active duty and reserve logistics officer in the United States Air Force with tours in Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia.
Hebenthal intends to reach out to all county principals via email after Labor Day.
“This is what I did on the state support team: Meet with principals to ask, ‘How can I help you?’ I will get in and get out. There are many demands on a principal’s time,” Hebenthal said.
“I don’t know all the answers, but I can find them. I want to provide all possible assistance to our districts on their schedules. If a principal wants to arrange training for teachers at 6:30 in the morning, I’ll be there.”
