STEWART, Ohio — At its May 20 meeting, the Federal Hocking Local Schools Board of Education reinstated contracts for two teachers it fired last month.
At its April 15 meeting, the board voted not to renew contracts for Jaclyn Casey and Carrie Towne, both of whom teach at Federal Hocking Middle School. On Tuesday night, the board rescinded those nonrenewals and approved two-year contracts for both teachers.
During the public comment period, speakers criticized the board for firing Federal Hocking High School Principal Jake Amlin on April 15, and its proposed firing of high school secretary Jess Allen.
The board agenda sets aside 30 minutes for public comment. Board President Kerry Sheridan-Boyd maintains a strict 3-minute-per-speaker limit, striking her gavel when speakers try to finish their statements.
On Tuesday night, three residents overcame that limit to deliver a tag-team speech praising Amlin and denouncing Superintendent Jason Spencer.
The first speaker, Kelly Harkness, described initiatives launched under Amlin’s tenure, including participation in Destination Imagination, Little Lancers and the Food Bus, “which not just him but his entire family, helped to volunteer their time and support it to serve our community.”
“These initiatives reflect his forward thinking leadership, his dedication to our children and his commitment to the people of this district,” she said.
In addition, Harkness said, attendance has consistently improved since Amlin became principal. “That’s not just a statistic,” she said. “It’s a reflection of student engagement … where students feel seen, supported and motivated to show up.”
Despite the improvements, Harkness said, “Jake has been targeted unfairly under our current administration, and we as a community, we have to call that out.”
She referred to a controversy at the beginning of the school year, when longtime teacher Laurie Torrence died suddenly on the Friday before school started. As reported by WOUB Public Media, many teachers wanted to delay the start of school by one day because the shock of Torrence’s death kept them from completing start-of-year work. Amlin and middle school Principal Sonia White brought those concerns to Spencer, who refused to shift the schedule.
“After more heartfelt messages from staff, Jake and Sonya did what any good leaders would do, and they sent emails to both the superintendent and the board requesting reconsideration,” Harkness said. “Their reward for advocating for the emotional health of their school was verbal reprimands, which allegedly violated the chain of command. But let’s be clear — Jake did go through the proper channels. When those failed, he acted within his rights under the board’s policy to communicate with the board. That’s not insubordination, that’s advocacy and that’s leadership.”
The next speaker was Sammy Gaul, who started off by saying, “I’m going to pick up where Kelly left off.”
Gaul noted that Amlin was also reprimanded for publishing the 2024–25 student handbook without board approval, even though then-Interim Superintendent Bruce Hoover and Treasurer Bruce Steenrod had approved the purchase.
“The requisition was documented, the process followed, yet Jake was still disciplined, while Sonia White, who followed the same process for the middle school, was not,” Gault said. “The inconsistency speaks volumes.”
Gaul further noted that when Amlin asked to view White’s personnel file in November, “Dr. Spencer never responded. This is a clear policy violation by the superintendent,” she said.
Spencer has a history of “ignoring the rules and policies with no accountability,” Gaul said, noting controversies with previous employers.
Gaul had begun to discuss an email Spencer sent in March to area superintendents when the timer went off. Her thought was picked by Jon Slaybaugh.
In the email, Spencer appealed to fellow superintendents for guidance.
“From day 1, the constant attacks on my character, the divisiveness, endless public records requests, a rogue principal creating division at every opportunity, poor academics, or the turnover on the board have all led me to wonder if I am crazy or if this is normal,” Spencer wrote.
Slaybaugh said, “We see the superintendent labeling a veteran, respected principal as rogue. This is not private evaluation. It’s a plea for sympathy sent to professional peers, casting blame on someone who has consistently stood up for the staff, for students, for the emotional and academic health for the school.”
Spencer’s description of Amlin, Slaybaugh said, “reveals what many of us have feared: That this decision not to renew Amlin’s contract is not rooted in performance, but in personality conflicts and a defensive leadership style.”
While expressing sympathy for Spencer’s feelings of struggle and lack of mentorship, Slaybaugh said, “What we cannot allow is for his personal discomfort to become justification for retaliating against a school leader who has done his job with integrity. If anything, Jake Amlin’s firm advocacy and consistent results should be seen as a model to emulate, not a threat to silence.”
No member of the board or Spencer responded to the public comments, and the meeting progressed to the regular agenda.
Amlin, Coolville Elementary Principal Ashley Miller and Amesville Elementary Principal Angela Klingelhafer reported on end-of-year activities at their schools. Federal Hocking Middle School Principal Sonia White was not present. All three principals reported that preliminary results of state testing indicate improvement in most areas.
Steenrod presented updated financial projections and discussed the potential impact of elements in the proposed state budget.
The board moved into executive session to discuss a complaint against a public employee and the employment of a public employee. The board resumed open session around 9:30 p.m. and immediately adjourned.
In other business, the board:
- Approved a memorandum of understanding with the Federal Hocking Teachers Association to delay the start of contract negotiations to August to see how the state budget works out. The current FHTA contract expires July 31.
- Renewed contracts for 16 staff members, including Casey and Towne.
- Accepted resignations of six teachers with a combined 54 years with the district.
- Accepted retirements of Eric Tabler, high school Spanish teacher, and bus drivers Donnie Poston and Bruce Lackey.
- Created a new position for a Digital Learning Coach. The coach will supervise students enrolled in the Tri-Rivers Educational Computer Association online school and College Credit Plus, as well as overseeing in-school suspensions. Steenrod did not have an estimate of the position’s cost.
The Federal Hocking Board of Education meets on the third Tuesday of the month. The next meeting will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 17, in the cafeteria at Amesville Elementary School, 23 Main St., Amesville.
Correction: This story was updated at 11:15 a.m. on May 27, 2025, to correct an error in a statement by Kelly Harkness regarding Jake Amlin’s hire in 2016.
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