ASHLAND – Citing a desire to pursue other opportunities, Mapleton Local Schools superintendent Rodney Hopton has notified the district of his intent to resign when his contract expires July 31.
The district board of education accepted Hopton’s resignation at a meeting Monday.
Though no formal timeline has been set, board president Tom Donley said the board plans to post the job opening quickly and to accept applications for at least a month. The board will run the search itself instead of contracting with an outside entity to facilitate the process, Donley said.
Hopton declined to elaborate on the kinds of opportunities he is pursuing, but added, “I’m definitely going to be doing some new things.”
Hopton has led the district for five years, first under a two-year contract and then under a three-year contract. He retired in 2015 and was rehired by the district at a lower pay rate.
Before coming to Mapleton in 2013, Hopton served as director of pupil services at Wooster City Schools. He previously worked as a middle school principal at Wooster, a high school principal in the Lucas Local Schools district and a teacher at Ashland Middle School.
“I’ve had a wonderful five years here,” Hopton said, adding that he is particularly proud of the strides the district has made in curriculum development since he came on as superintendent.
Donley said the board has a good relationship with Hopton and likely would have renewed his contract had he chosen to stay.
Donley said Hopton has committed to helping district board members and administrators through the upcoming contract negotiation process with teaching staff before he departs.
Going forward, Donley said, the board will be looking for a new superintendent who will be able to continue Hopton’s work on curriculum and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education.
