Head of Lake County ESC to Serve Dual Supt. Roles with Auburn Career Center
I look forward to the opportunity to build on business partnerships and explore additional opportunities for students in our associate school districts, adult workforce education and the communities we serve. – Brian Bontempo
The Auburn Joint Vocational School District Board of Education recently appointed Lake County Educational Service Center Superintendent Brian Bontempo to fill the shoes of retired Superintendent Margaret Lynch.
Lynch, a 15-year Auburn Career Center administrator, will serve as a consultant to help provide a smooth transition for Bontempo — who will continue serving the Lake County ESC — and the Auburn administrative team.
“Dr. Bontempo’s dual superintendent roles provide us with a unique opportunity to reduce costs through shared services and utilize taxpayer dollars in an efficient manner with focus on students and programs,” said Erik Walter, president of the Auburn joint vocational board of education. “The treasurer’s office has utilized this shared services model for approximately three years with great success.”
Bontempo has been superintendent of the Lake County ESC, located on the ACC’s campus at 8140 Auburn Road in Concord Township, since 2009.
“The Auburn school board is very, very fiscally responsible and they’re always looking for ways to maximize the administrative costs so we can put as much money into the classrooms and programming as possible,” Bontempo said March 27. “A lot of the work I do is working with our business community and connecting with the school districts and our political representatives. The work (between the ESC and ACC) became very similar. So when this opportunity presented itself, (everything) just led to that conversation. A lot pieces fell into place.”
Bontempo said the shared superintendent position also gives him a chance to reorganize administrative services and functions so he is able to provide the leadership, but still have people in place to take care of the day-to-day operations.
“And at the same time, being able to do it by spending less administrative dollars,” he added.
Bontempo has 27 years of education experience and early in his career, he was a vocational teacher and later served as principal at Willoughby South High School. He is the past recipient of the Ohio Assistant Principal of the Year Award and John Carroll University Alumni of the Year.
Bontempo was the Ohio ESC Association president and is currently the chair of the Lake County Schools Healthcare Consortium. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business education, a master’s degree in computer education, a master’s degree in school administration and a doctorate in educational leadership.
Bontempo also holds Ohio licenses as superintendent, treasurer and K-12 principal.
“I am honored to be chosen for this new role,” he said in a prior statement. “I look forward to the opportunity to build on business partnerships and explore additional opportunities for students in our associate school districts, adult workforce education and the communities we serve.”
Bontempo said Monday he would like to look at expanding the ACC’s adult programing to create more opportunities for the business community to employ local talent — an outreach concept.
“Same idea in the schools. What can we do to create interest for students about what they want to do when they get into the workforce,” he said. “As we all know, the success of a student is measured in many ways, and ultimately, you want to have students who are in the right program and have the opportunity to explore what’s available to them and see where those opportunities are local.”
Bontempo said the ACC is here to build a local talented workforce.
“And the exciting part is we have a business community that’s really motivated and school districts that are excited about providing those opportunities,” he said. “As an educator, (if I am able) to improve the opportunities for our young people in our communities, then I feel like I have been successful.
Bontempo lives with his wife, Lisa, in South Russell and they have twin boys enrolled at Miami University.
Walter said the board of education is excited to have Bontempo at the helm of the career center for many reasons.
“In addition to his extensive experience, he has strong roots in our community. He is an established leader in education with a strong knowledge of curriculum and program development,” he said. “We believe that he will carry on the tradition of success that Auburn Career Center prides itself on.”
The Auburn Joint Vocational School District serves students in Lake, Geauga and surrounding counties. For more information, visit www.auburncc.org or call 440-357-7542.
