FREMONT, Ohio — As schools are preparing for summer break, Fremont is saying goodbye to its superintendent, while his replacement is a familiar face.
Jon Detwiler is wrapping up his seventh year as superintendent at Fremont City Schools.
He started in the district as a teacher, then principal, and came back after a few years at Lakota.
But Detwiler said it's time to walk away from his career at FCS, and he will look back on his time with pride in guiding the district through the COVID-19 pandemic and finishing the long overdue new school building construction.
"We built five new buildings, over $100 million worth of construction projects," Detwiler said. "I am so proud of what the condition is of the district that I'm leaving, and hopefully, we'll be set up for decades to come."
The new incoming superintendent is also a familiar face for the district and actually has a little more experience at Fremont City Schools than current superintendent Detwiler does.
Denice Hirt is the current assistant superintendent but has been with the district for 28 years with experience as a teacher, coordinator, principal and director.
"I'm a born and raised Fremonter, and I think that being able to see all of the pieces coming up, and knowing where we are already, it just feels good," Hirt said. "Feels very right."
She said she is looking forward to taking the reins in the great position the district currently is in, and understands the inner workings of the district far better than an outside hire could have.
"Every single role that someone does when they come to work at Fremont City Schools is unique and different," Hirt said. "The commonality is we are all here for students, all here for children and I have the luxury of being able to see that in action in so many different ways."
Detwiler will retire at the end of the school year and Hirt will take Detwiler's place as the next superintendent in August.
"She's been my assistant superintendent and really responsible for a lot of the growth and the places where we are," Detwiler said. "So, I think the trajectory for us is fabulous with her at the helm."
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