SHELBY — Michael Browning’s movement up the professional ladder has granted him more flexibility to interact and engage with district staff and students.
Browning, Shelby City Schools superintendent, recently completed his first year leading the district. He was hired in April 2023 and began a three-year contract Aug. 1, 2023.
His teaching years began in the Hamilton Local School District in Franklin County —starting as a substitute teacher in 2001.
The 50-year-old most recently spent five years as the high school principal for London City Schools prior to his hiring as Shelby’s superintendent.
“As superintendent, you’re able to go and visit (district buildings) and kind of just walk through,” he said. “You’re not necessarily doing an evaluation, but you just want to see what’s going on.”
“You want to make sure there’s good engagement in the classroom and you want to see good teaching taking place. Being superintendent kind of allows you to do that and since we’re on one campus, I get to do it a lot and I think that’s what makes this job fun.”
Browning wants to see others succeed
Shelby City Schools saw accomplishments from its academics, athletics and extracurricular programs during the 2023-24 school year.
Academically, Shelby began the 2023-24 school year coming off a strong rating from the previous report card issued annually by the Ohio Department of Education.
Browning said in a fall 2023 quarterly update that the district received four out of five stars in its report card, “indicating that we are exceeding state standards.”
Athletically, Shelby’s boys’ basketball team stands out. The team’s 2024 tournament run set several program bests, including the most wins in a single season before falling to Maysville in a thrilling Division II semifinal performance.
Browning said celebrating the success of others is one of the reasons he became involved in education.
“Whether that (success) be athletics, music or on the stage, you just want to see your students do well,” he said.
“Being able to go to all the events, participate with them and as I said at graduation, giving high fives and handshakes after games, that to me is special. That has a lot of meaning to me.
“I think the kids enjoy it — seeing that your superintendent is invested in what you’re doing and cares about your successes. I think that goes a long way.”
New school-based health center
A new building for grades pre-K through 8 and the Whippet Athletic Complex were two amenities that attracted Browning to the district.
He said the gleam of new facilities appealed him and he hopes all the newness attracts more families to the district.
“I hope that’s an attraction (to) people moving to the area,” Browning stated. “Our goal is to make this the premiere district in the area and to do that, you’ve got to have facilities and you’ve got to have something different.”
On Dec. 6, 2023, Shelby City Schools became one of 17 districts in the state of Ohio to house a Nationwide Children’s Hospital school-based health center (SBHC).
Available services include wellness checks, immunizations, blood work, as well as sports and work permit physicals. Additional health services include yearly checkups and treatment of asthma, ADHD and others.
“That’s different. Not every school has that,” the superintendent said of the district’s SBHC. “When you have those perks, you know, that should attract people to the area and that’ll bring in more students and more opportunities in the future.”
Shelby Board of Education changes
As Browning’s school year began, Heather Braun and Brad Ream were welcomed as newly-elected members of the Shelby Board of Education.
Furthermore, Scott Rose was elected president by his fellow school board members on Jan. 15, 2024, replacing Lorie White, who spent 16 years on the board and eight as president.
Browning said it was important to become familiar with board members’ inspirations to serve and what they hoped to accomplish.
“You have to get to know them and know their why. Why do they want to be on the board and why do they want to put themselves out there?” he explained.
“Heather (Braun) and Brad (Ream), they’ve been able to take the bull by the horns and jump right in. They’ve gotten involved in our committees and had a voice in what’s going on.
“It’s been really great to work with them and really all the board members over the last year.”
As Browning and other district staff concluded the 2023-24 school year, he said preparations for next year were already started.
“Those talks are in the early stages, but at the same time, it’s always about looking forward and trying to figure out how we can get better,” he said.
‘It’s a learning curve’
Both the City of Shelby and its school district were new to Browning about a year ago. The superintendent said his beginnings with the district have been a learning curve.
“You don’t know what you’re getting into — but as you learn more about the district and the wants and needs of our schools, it becomes easier,” he said.
Browning said he and his family have also enjoyed acclimating to businesses, restaurants and other amenities around the city.
“The city’s been great to me,” he said. “Just being able to go to restaurants, the library and just meet people has really been special.”
“Certainly with my younger daughter, now involved in softball, just going to games and being able to be a dad is really neat. This whole year has been just incredible and the people have been very nice, and hopefully that continues.”
