After a year at Bell Creek Intermediate, Scott Killen is taking a step up.
Killen, who has more than 20 years of experience in classroom education, is leveling up to administration, taking a position with Bellbrook Middle School as the Assistant Principal.
The job came open when current Principal Jeff Eckley announced his retirement effective at the end of the school year, and current assistant principal Jenna Hill accepted the position as principal beginning next school year.
Killen said he is excited about the job, saying he applied for the job because of the growth he saw in his own children.
“The experience my kids have had this year alone in Bellbrook at both the high school and the middle school level (made me want to apply for the job),” Killen said. “They’ve had phenomenal experiences and their teachers have really pushed them to be better students.
“I was just thrilled with the decision to come here and watching their growth forced me to think about what else I can do.”
While he’s stepping into a role in administration now, Killen said he never really thought about that on his path early on. But through his years of teaching, he began considering it as an option.
“As I matured as a teacher to get to the next step,” Killen said. “Having great leaders along the way to help guide me opened the door to think about maybe this is next. I love being around people and kids and I want to help them become the best versions of themselves. I think becoming an admin will open the door for that.”
“We are really excited and we can’t wait to have him join our staff here next year,” Hill said during the Board of Education Meeting on April 13 when Killen was approved.
Killen isn’t just a teacher here, either. As an assistant football coach, Killen will have to juggle multiple responsibilities. On top of that, Killen is also part of the District’s leadership team, helping to teach the FOCUS 3 platform to all district employees.
“That’s going to be interesting. I’m looking forward to the challenge,” Killen said. “It goes back to growth. We want to help the students and the staff grow together to become the very best version of what a middle school can be.”
Killen spent his first year of teaching at Tri-County North, then moved on to Wilmington where he spent two years, then to Clinton-Massie for 10 and back to Wilmington for another 10 before coming to Bellbrook.
In the next few years, he has a few goals in mind at BMS.
“We want to continue on the path we are on,” Killen said. “Continue to be an excellent school – a Blue Ribbon school. But then, what’s next? Can we be the very best school in the state of Ohio. That’s what I’m looking for.”