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LIMA — Lima schools has always been close to the heart of Alison Van Gorder.
She’s taught there in the classroom, worked as an intervention specialist, and served as an assistant principal. Having spent her entire educational career at Lima schools, Van Gorder knows of the system’s success stories, and the challenges it faces.
To say she’s excited after being named the new high school principal Thursday would be an understatement.
“I did my student teaching at Horace Mann, one of the old elementary schools,” she said. “I’ve always loved the Lima community and the Spartan community.”
Van Gorder replaces retiring principal Doug Kent. An Elida graduate, she has been one of three assistant principals at the school since 2013.
She began as an intervention specialist at West Middle School in 2002 before taking on the same position at Lima Senior’s School of Multiple Intelligences in 2005. Her experience also includes serving as an interim assistant principal at the school’s Progressive Academy and as a small school leader at the School of Multiple Intelligences. She believes her experience will benefit her in her new role.
“It’s definitely advantageous to understand the building where you’re working,” she said. “You understand what’s working well and what you can improve upon.”
Superindendent Jill Ackerman was very pleased with the hiring, calling Van Gorder a “natural fit.”
“She has served as a leader in the high school,” she said. “She’s led lots of wonderful initiatives, and I feel very confident she’ll do an excellent job.”
Also at Thursday’s school board meeting, the board appointed Lima’s deputy public works director Saul Allen to fill the board’s vacant seat, replacing Randall Hunter, who resigned last month. Allen, who had previously served on the board for 11 years, will serve through the end of the year, with the seat up for election in November. Whoever is elected will serve the final two years of Hunter’s four-year term.
“For him to find the time to give to us, we are very appreciative of that,” Ackerman said. “He’s very valuable to us.”
The board also passed a resoution supporting the creation of Stadium Park near Spartan Stadium along Bellefontaine Avenue. The park would not only beautify one of the city’s entryways, but it would also pay tribute to South High School, Central High School, St. Rose High School, Lima Senior and Lima Central Catholic, the five schools to have played football in the former Lima Stadium.
“Lima Central Catholic will vote on this issue in their board meeting next week,” Ackerman said.
