Butler Tech superintendent announces retirement

Butler Tech Superintendent Bill Miller has announced his retirement, effective Jan. 1 of 2016.

The Board has named Laura Sage, Ed.D, to serve as interim superintendent from Jan. 1 to July 31, the school said in a statement released today.

“On behalf of the Board, we wish Bill the best in his retirement and commend him on a career in education that spans more than three decades here in Butler County,” said Pete Robinson, president of the Butler Tech Board of Education. “We welcome Dr. Sage back to Butler Tech to help move the district forward efficiently and work with the new permanent superintendent on a smooth transition as soon as that person is named.”

Miller said Thursday he had been planning his retirement for some time, and now seemed like a good time to enact it, given that he believes he leaves the school in a good place. According to the school’s website, Butler Tech educates more than 27,000 high school and adult students.

“We’ve opened our bioscience center, our enrollment numbers are where we want them to be … Jan. 1 is our second semester and I thought that would be a good time to make the move,” he said.

The school board interviewed four prospective interim candidates recommended by K12 Business Consulting, which will also provide guidance and assistance during the superintendent search process. The school board said it hopes to select a final candidate for the permanent superintendent position in February 2016.

K12 Business Consulting will conduct focus groups before the end of 2015 to develop a profile of the desired characteristics for the new superintendent of Butler Tech. These groups will include Butler Tech employees, business leaders, area superintendents and parents, according to school officials.

“We’ve made good progress here. If nothing else, I have to compliment our staff and students. We’ve got a really good group of people here,” Miller said.

Miller has served as superintendent of Butler Tech since March 2013, after being appointed to the role on an interim basis in January 2013. He previously served as assistant director of curriculum and assessment for Butler Tech. During his professional career, Miller served also as secondary curriculum coordinator for the Fairfield City School District; coordinator of testing and assessment for the Middletown City School District; and coordinator of testing and assessment, curriculum and intervention and English as a Second Language for the Talawanda City School District.

To his unnamed permanent successor, Miller said, “We have many, many good people here. Make use of those resources. They shine a bright light on Butler Tech.”

Miller's salary is $126,250.

Sage previously served as assistant superintendent of Butler Tech from 2010 to 2013. She has also served the district as a teacher, coordinator, principal of Butler Tech Options Academy (Wokini) and as director of development. She holds a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Cincinnati, a master’s degree in education from the College of Mount St. Joseph and a doctorate in educational administration from the University of Cincinnati.

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