LEXINGTON — The newly-hired superintendent of Lexington Local Schools is a familiar face.
The school board voted 4-0 Wednesday night to employ assistant supt. Kevin Young as the district’s new leader on a two-year contract.
Board president Keith Stoner said Martin Gottschling, who was unable to attend the board meeting, had privately expressed his support for Young’s hire.
“You have the full support of the board,” Stoner told Young during the meeting. “We’re excited for the plans that you have outlined and things you’ve talked about wanting to already start to accomplish.”
Stoner said as far as he knows, Young is the first Lexington Local Schools superintendent who graduated from the district.
A 1987 graduate of Lexington High School, Young said he was honored and humbled to step into his new role.
“I want to thank the board for their confidence that they placed in me,” Young said. “I’m committed to providing calm, steady leadership that will put students at the center of any decision I make — or our team makes.”
Young has spent the last two decades working in the district, first as a teacher and coach, then assistant principal, principal and eventually assistant superintendent.
“It’s an honor to be able to serve the community and the school district that has been a big part of my life,” he said.
“Lexington, it’s a special place. There’s no question about it. We have amazing students, dedicated staff, supportive families, and a proud community.
The board also voted to accept the resignation of Supt. Jeremy Secrist, who has accepted a new position at the Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center.
Secrist spent the last six years as Lexington’s superintendent. He submitted his resignation to the board last week.
Stoner said Secrist recommended Young as his replacement and no other candidates formally expressed interest in the position.
“We were excited that he wanted to (be superintendent). The first thing we asked was, ‘Do you want a job?’ It’s a lot of work,” Stoner said.
Young said he had, in fact, been looking for a superintendent job for the last several months.
“There weren’t hardly any openings in the area. I did interview for some other positions in other districts, but this is the one I didn’t see coming,” he said.
Board member Thomas Dover said he was pleased to hire Young in the new role.
“He’s very even-keeled. He’s a great leader, great representative of our community and we’re glad that he’s willing to step up to the task,” Dover said.
Stoner agreed.
“We have a lot of challenges right now and he’s ready to meet him head-on,” he added.
Stoner said the board does not have immediate plans to fill the assistant superintendent role.
The board also voted to hire Jacob Owens as head football coach for the 2026-2027 school year.
Owens will succeed Andrew Saris, who died unexpectedly last month. Saris was also Lexington’s high school dean of students. That role has not yet been filled.
