MANSFIELD — Doug Theaker has been honored by the Ohio School Board Association for 45 years of service, according to a press release from the Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center.
Theaker, one of the MOESC Board of Governors members, was presented the Central Region Milestone Service Award at the Central Region Conference in Columbus on Sept. 25.
Theaker was recognized for his lengthy career in serving on school boards, starting with 20 years on the Ontario Board of Education, as president for 11 of those years.
Time has not slowed Theaker down, as he still currently serves as president on Pioneer Career and Technology Center’s board, as well as vice president of MOESC’s Board of Governors.
Theaker lives an active life beyond serving on educational boards. He hosts two programs on TV 68 WMFD, “Senior Living” and “I Love My Job,” as well as hosting the WMFD Rehab Telethon for 28 years.
He is a Navy veteran of the Korean War and is very active in local veterans’ programs, including being on the Richland County Veterans Service Commission for over 43 years, currently serving as its president.
Theaker was recently inducted into the Ohio Veterans’ Hall of Fame and was recognized in 2018 as the Outstanding Senior Citizen for Richland County by the Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging.
He has served as an Ontario Village councilman, the director of Richland County’s Job and Family Services, and president of the Richland County United Way.
Theaker said the reason he has spent so many years in service is simple: students.
“I want to help kids. If you go into this profession, whether teacher, administrator, board member, or whatever, you have to be there for the kids. I really attribute a lot of that to my wife, who was a kindergarten teacher for 32 years.” Theaker said his patriotism is also a motivation.
“I’m a veteran, and there is nothing better than being involved to make it so that when I look back upon my life, I feel I have done something to make my community and this country a better place to be,” Theaker said.
MOESC Board President Mary Dixon praised Theaker.
“Doug is an example to all of us about giving back to his community, to veterans, and especially to kids. He is very knowledgeable about current developments, but he can always add the historical perspective to a situation,” Dixon said.
MOESC Superintendent Kevin D. Kimmel echoed Dixon’s praises.
“I want to congratulate Doug Theaker on receiving this distinguished honor from the Ohio School Boards Association in recognition of 45 years of Board service and leadership, especially the 26 years as a member of the Board of Governors at Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center. Doug and his wife, Mary Jean Theaker, who was also recognized for her 30 years of board service, are both a testament of servant leadership and they should be commended for support of our schools, educators and students throughout our region,” Kimmel said.
Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center provides specialized academic and support services to 10 school districts and over 17,000 students in Crawford, Morrow and Richland counties.
Client districts receive services from curriculum, gifted and special education consultants, speech pathologists, psychologists, special education teachers, occupational therapists and physical therapists
