Madison Local Schools Selects New Superintendent
Launch the media gallery 1 playerMadison Local Schools has selected a familiar face to lead the district as superintendent. Robert S. Peterson, who has been in the district for nearly 3 decades and most recently has served as Madison Comprehensive High School principal, was chosen during a special meeting this afternoon. He was chosen from a strong field of 24 candidates of which 14 had previous superintendent experience. MOESC Superintendent Kevin D. Kimmel and consultant Ed Swartz assisted the district in their search for the new superintendent.
Peterson starts a three-year contract as superintendent on August 1st, 2020. He officially replaces Shelley Hilderbrand and John Thomas, who was serving one year as interim superintendent when Hilderbrand was placed on leave in 2018. She was hired on a three-year contract in 2017, so the search for a full-time, permanent superintendent did not start until this year.
Madison Board President Tim Wigton said it was Peterson’s dedication to the district that helped push him to the top. “[Peterson] was chosen for his knowledge of the district because he is a Madison graduate and has worked as a teacher and administrator for 29 years at Madison. The Madison Board of Education feels that he will provide a degree of personal commitment that is needed to lead us forward for many years to come.”
"I feel honored to be selected to lead the Madison Local School District,” said Peterson, “and I would like to thank the Board of Education for providing me with this opportunity. I have a strong passion for Madison students, staff, and the Madison community and look forward to providing the necessary leadership and support to help move the district forward. We have great students at Madison, and we want to challenge them and support them every day so that when they graduate they are fully ready to be successful in the pathway of their choice.”
Peterson said he hopes to cultivate a strong sense of unity and trust throughout the district and the school community. “We have a great group of teachers, classified staff, and a strong administrative team that really cares about our students. I look forward to providing our staff and administration with a strong system of support so that they can continue to provide our students with great experiences and a quality education.”
He had some words of encouragement to the district since they have not been together since March. “Our school district is the center of our community, and with the closure of our schools due to the pandemic, I know it has been difficult on Madison students, families, and staff, and I just really look forward to the day when we can all see each others smiling faces and gather again as a Ram Family.”