Westerville superintendent resigns after five months on the job

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Five months after the new Westerville City School District’s superintendent signed a four-year contract, his tenure will end after less than one.

Dr. Joseph Clark, hired in August and the district’s superintendent since October, has resigned.

Clark was hired to replace Dr. John Kellogg, who announced last March he was leaving to become superintendent in residence with the Educational Service Center of Central Ohio and Columbus State Community College.

The resignation was approved by the school board Monday night and his tenure will officially conclude July 31.

In a letter to Westerville City School District staff, Dr. Clark said he is stepping down due to personal reasons. It read in part:

It is with a heavy heart that I announce my resignation as the Superintendent of Westerville City Schools for personal reasons. Serving this community has been an honor and a privilege, and it is not without deep regret that I step down from this position.

To the staff and students of Westerville City Schools, I want to express my deepest gratitude for your unwavering dedication and commitment to excellence. You are the heart and soul of our community, and it has been an honor to serve alongside you.

I pledge to do whatever I can to support my successor in leading our schools forward. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of serving as your Superintendent. Westerville City Schools will always hold a special place in my heart.

Dr. Joseph Clark

Clark was previously a superintendent at Nordonia Hills City School since 2009 and prior to that as an assistant superintendent for Barberton City Schools and a high school English teacher for Springfield Local Schools.

His contract was slated to run through July 31, 2026, with a salary of $230,000 per year and a 3-percent pay hike every year of the contract.