LEXINGTON — Mike Ziegelhofer never planned on being an administrator, but the outgoing superintendent of Lexington Local School believes God put him exactly where he was meant to be.
As a first-generation college student, Ziegelhofer told his advisor at Bluffton University that he wanted to be a coach.
“She said, ‘We don’t have a major in that. You have to teach something to be a coach,'” he recalled.
Ziegelhofer decided to major in English education, then got his first job at Willard High School as an English teacher and football and track coach. At the encouragement of the high school principal, he went back to school to earn his master’s in administration at Ashland University. After 11 years in Willard and two at Crestview, Ziegelhofer was hired as the principal of Lexington High School.
He continued with the district for the next 32 years.
“I’m a lucky, blessed guy,” Ziegelhofer said.
Teachers, staff and the Lexington High School football team honored Ziegelhofer with a surprise send-off Wednesday evening after his final school board meeting.
As he exited Lexington High School, applause erupted from the parking lot.
Ziegelhofer said he was humbled by the show of support. He ambled past his car to stand in front the crowd.
“Don’t have anything better to do tonight?” he joked.
Then he turned serious for a moment, reflecting briefly on his 45-year education career and offering a final farewell to those standing in front of him.
“Every day’s not fun, and every day’s not easy, but I loved every day of it,” he said. “You get to work with great people who have huge hearts and among us we all get the opportunity every day to make a difference in some kid’s life.”
“It’s an amazing opportunity, it’s a tremendous responsibility and it’s damn hard to give up,” he continued. “To you, and all who have gone before you here, God bless you and thank you. Make a difference in kid’s lives.”
Ziegelhofer’s colleagues say he made a difference in many students during his time in the district. One of students was Stacy Davis.
Davis, now a sixth grade math teacher at Eastern Elementary, organized the surprise with the help of incoming superintendent Jeremy Secrist and Ziegelhofer’s secretary, Linda Volz.
Davis met Ziegelhofer in 1990 when he was her high school principal. Even after she graduated, Ziegelhofer was always willing to offer advice as she pursued her own career in education.
He also made sure to pay attention to Davis’ brother and his peers in the special needs program.
“Mr. Z has always had a heart for special needs students,” she said. “He would always seek those kids out at lunchtime and sit and talk to them and always made a point to say hi to them.”
Anne Mutti, a seventh grade English teacher, described Ziegelhofer as someone who cared deeply for staff and students alike.
“A couple years back, my mom passed away,” she remembered. “I didn’t even realize he knew, but my first day back to the school, he made a point to come up to me, to put his arm around me and say, ‘I’m so sorry to hear about your mom.'”
Tim Scheid, high school social studies teacher and football coach, said the greatest thing Ziegelhofer taught him was to treat each student with compassion, while still maintaining high standards.
“He’s a great guy and he’ll be well missed,” Schide said. “There hasn’t been a person who’s been more a part of our (football program) family than Mr. Z.”
