Role and Company
Superintendent, East Holmes Local Schools
Expertise
32 years experience in education
Location
Berlin, OH
About Joe
Mr. Edinger is a 1979 graduate of Van Wert High School who later went on to graduate in 1983 from Bluffton College (Education Degree) and Ashland University (Administration Degree) in 1989. He met his wife, Susan while at Bluffton College. Susan was a Kindergarten teacher at Millersburg School. Their three children are graduates of West Holmes Local Schools.
His career in education began with a teaching assignment in Killbuck and later at Millersburg Elementary School. Mr. Edinger was brought to West Holmes to teach Science and to serve as the first computer instructor for the district. While employed as a teacher he also worked a second job with the Holmes County Office of Education as a Supervisor and Program Director for the Holmes County Summer Youth Program, During this time he completed his Master’s in Education – School Administration Program at Ashland University. He left the classroom in 1990 and went to the Northwestern Local School District where he served as the Principal of West Salem Elementary School. After two years he made another job change and went to Triway Local Schools where he served for 19 additional years. While at Shreve Elementary, Mr. Edinger lead his staff from a state ranking of Continuous Improvement to Excellent. In addition to serving in these roles he has also enjoyed working as a adjunct professor for Ashland University and working in youth ministry. In 2011, he accepted the position as Superintendent of Schools for the East Holmes Local Schools.
His interests include church, fishing and boating, nature, computers and related technologies, sports and helping with a variety of community organizations and projects. Love Out Loud is a local mission project he started in 2009, while serving as the Director of Youth Ministry for Millersburg United Methodist Church. This provides free home repairs to families in Holmes and Wayne Counties and has grown to involve approximately 300 people each summer and provides assistance to 22 homes.
During his many years of employment in education, he has held many responsibilities as District Special Education Coordinator, VI-B Program Coordinator, Chapter I (Title I) District Coordinator, EMIS Coordinator, Outdoor education Director for 5th and 6th Grade students, County Representative for Ohio Elementary Principals Administrators, President Wayne Holmes Association of Elementary Administrators, Professional Development Committee District Representative, Member of Curriculum Council, Member of Local Professional Development Committee and Bargaining Team Member for various contracts using traditional and Interest Based Bargaining.
On three occasions, Mr. Edinger has been recognized and received awards from Ohio Governors for excellence in education. Governor’s awards were given from: Governor Richard Celeste – Outstanding Supervisor (Job Training Partnership – 1986), Governor George Voinovich – (Hall of Fame School – 1992) and Governor Robert Taft (Educational Excellence – Academic Improvement – 2002). In addition to these honors he was named Exemplary Principal by the W.H.A.E.S.A and Distinguished Art Educator by O.A.E. for his support of Arts Education in Ohio.