A veteran area educator was hired Monday as the new director of curriculum and technology for the Marietta City school district.
At a special meeting, the Marietta City Board of Education unanimously approved the hiring of Ruth Kunze as director of curriculum and technology on an interim basis. She retired this spring after 35 years with Belpre City Schools, where she served as a teacher, assistant principal at Belpre Elementary School, coordinator for Reading First and coordinator for the Race to the Top and Teacher Incentive Fund programs.
Kunze said she was drawn to the position when she saw it posted because of her interest in working with curriculum and instructional leadership.
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"This job is one that I've always wanted to do, so I will do my best for you," she told the board after the vote was taken.
Kunze's salary will be a prorated amount based on $70,000 a year, the amount made by her predecessor, Jason Smith, who recently stepped down as director of teaching and learning.
Superintendent Harry Fleming said the change in title is simply more descriptive of the job. Kunze's duties will largely be the same as Smith's, who oversaw curriculum design and implementation, school improvement, professional development planning and more, in addition to chairing the district's technology committee.
Fact Box
Ruth Kunze
Age: 56.
Residence: Parkersburg.
Family: Husband, Norman; two adult children.
Occupation: Hired Monday as Marietta City Schools' director of curriculum and technology.
Experience: 35 years with Belpre City Schools, working as a teacher, elementary school principal, Reading First coordinator and Race to the Top and Teacher Incentive Fund coordinator.
Fleming, who worked with Kunze while he was superintendent at Belpre, praised her work ethic. He said she was hired on an interim basis because the school year had already begun, and the district will assess the arrangement in the spring.
"We may not do another search," he said. "If she likes us and we like her, which I think we will, we may just offer her the job in the spring."
