Bixler to head OHSAA board of directors

0

ANNA — On Aug. 1, Anna Local School Superintendent Andy Bixler will be sitting at the head of the table when he takes over as president of the Ohio High School Athletic Association Board of Directors. The longtime OHSAA team member will be completing his first year as a board member when he is handed the gavel Monday.

Bixler will replace Steve Stirn, superintendent of Logan-Hocking Local Schools in Logan, whose term expires July 31. The move coordinates with the official start of the 2016-17 school year. His first meeting as board president will be Aug. 4 in Columbus.

On June 2, Bixler was chosen over Jeff Snyder, superintendent of Lincolnview Local Schools near Van Wert, who was also nominated for president. Snyder will serve as board vice president, being nominated for the post by Bixler, according to board meeting minutes posted on the OHSAA website at www.ohsaa.org.

In August 2015, Bixler began a two-year term during the board’s first meeting of the 2015-16 school year. He served as a Class A representative on the state board, representing the Southwest District. Members of the Southwest District voted Bixler onto the board of directors last year.

According to the OHSAA, the local district boards are represented by small, medium and large school districts. Bixler represents the small schools in the Southwest District. He was elected to the Southwest Board by the principals in the district. Board openings are rotated by school size.

OHSAA directs leaders of more than 400,000 students

The OHSAA is the governing body of high school and junior high sports in Ohio. It is a voluntary, non-profit organization that governs more than 800 high schools and 800 middle schools, which includes approximately 400,000 student-athletes.

The board of directors will convene several times throughout the year. Part of their role is to help establish tournament regulations and enrollment counts on a two-year basis for the schools.

Bixler, a 1988 graduate of Bellefontaine High School, received his Bachelor of Science degree in education from Miami University in 1992 and a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Dayton in 1996.

He began teaching mathematics at Brookville High School in 1992 for three years before moving on to Preble Shawnee High School for four years. During those years, he coached football, basketball and track at various levels. He was the head basketball coach at Preble Shawnee from 1997 until he became high school principal there in 1999.

In 2001, Bixler became high school principal at Anna, serving in that position for five years. In 2006, he became superintendent of the district.

He was initially elected to the Southwest District Board as a AA representative in 2004. He was re-elected to serve the board as a Class A (small school) representative in 2006. He has served continuously on the Southwest District board for the past 12 years.

Bixler and his wife, Kim, have been married for 19 years and have three children, Bart, Hope and Blake.

Bixler
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2016/07/web1_BixlerAndrew_10.jpgBixler

By Jim Painter

The writer is a regular contributor for the Sidney Daily News.

No posts to display