The retirement of one longtime principal will result in new leaders at two Columbus schools next fall.
Randy Gratz, principal at Central Middle School since 2003, will retire as of the end of the school year.
Gratz, 64, said he has enjoyed working alongside students during the past 14 years — seeing them develop academically and socially. When he retires effective June 30, it will be after spending 40 years in the field of education.
“I get fired up when I work with kids,” Gratz said.
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He was involved in the initial planning and design process in developing the new Central Middle School, one of his biggest assignments.
Besides the day-to-day experiences of working when students and fellow staffers in Columbus, his BCSC career also has given Gratz some international perspective about learning. He was selected in 2006 as a Miyoshi education ambassador that allowed him to travel overseas under the longtime partnership between BCSC and the Miyoshi school district in Japan. Columbus and Miyoshi are sister cities.
Two years later, Gratz was one of 400 school administrators from across the country who were chosen to travel to Beijing, China.
“Just seeing some of the similarities was probably one of the great things I’ve ever seen,” he said. “It’s so great to be immersed in another country.”
However, he said one of the memorable highlights of his job has been judging senior projects at Columbus East High School. That assignment has allowed Gratz to catch up with former Central students.
“That’s been a really rewarding thing for me,” he said.
Gratz said he is planning to spend more time with his wife Ruth while enjoying hobbies such as mountain biking and kayaking when he retires.
He credited BCSC for providing professional opportunities to educators that aren’t available in other districts.
“My experience with BCSC has been so rewarding because of all the opportunities,” Gratz said. “It’s been a great experience.”
{&subleft}New middle school principal
Gratz will be replaced by Jay Payne, principal at Smith Elementary School who previously worked five years as assistant principal at Central.
Payne, 52, said he is also looking forward to returning to Central effective July 1. Payne has been with BCSC since 2000, starting as a Columbus North High School dean of students and a basketball coach.
He has been principal at Smith for the past four years and hopes to be a positive influence to students in his new role.
Payne will earn $109,941 as Central principal.
“Middle school is such a transition year socially and emotionally,” Payne said. “I’m excited to help with that part, and academically.”
Payne’s three sons — Tanner, Tucker and Jackson — also attended Central and said he hopes to see many Smith students at the school in the future.
“It’s been a wonderful four years with a wonderful staff and students,” Payne said.
{&subleft}New elementary principal
Another BCSC administrator is also being promoted to fill Payne’s position, also effective July 1.
Casey Voelz, assistant principal at Parkside Elementary School, has been named principal at Smith Elementary School.
Voelz, 33, has been with the district since 2014. She was assistant principal at Taylorsville and Parkside elementary schools upon her arrival to BCSC, and has been at Parkside the past year.
Voelz started her teaching career in 2007 as a seventh-grade history instructor with the Center Grove Community School Corp. in Greenwood.
She will earn $101,128 as Smith principal.
“I was ready for a challenge,” Voelz said.
Voelz said she wants to continue the momentum built at Smith under Payne’s leadership.
“I’m very excited about this new chapter in my life,” she said.
The principal said she got into education so she could “open doors of opportunity for every student.”
Laura Hack, BCSC’s director of elementary education, said Voelz has shown the ability to engage with children and parents.
Voelz was selected over 17 other candidates.
“She will be an amazing leader at Smith,” Hack said. “She has been well versed in many facets of education.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Randy Gratz” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Age: 64
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Communication and English, Manchester University; Master’s degree in Secondary Administration and Supervision, Indiana University in Bloomington
Work history: Gratz started with the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. in 2003 when he was hired as principal at Central Middle School. He previously worked at Triton Middle School in Shelby County, serving as assistant principal and athletics director. He also spent three years as assistant principal at Manchester High School and seven years as principal at Manchester Jr./Sr. High School. He is retiring from his position as Central Middle School principal effective June 30.
Personal: Wife Ruth
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Casey Voelz” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Age: 33
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education, Indiana University; Master’s degree in Administration Supervision, Ball State University
Work history: Voelz started her education career in 2007 as a seventh-grade history teacher with the Center Grove Community School Corp. She was hired by the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. in 2014, serving as assistant principal at Taylorsville and Parkside elementary schools. She has been assistant principal at Parkside for the past year. She will be principal at Smith Elementary effective July 1.
Personal: Husband John; sons Jackson and Harrison
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Jay Payne” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Age: 52
Education: bachelor’s degree in math from Purdue University; master’s degree in administration from Butler University
Work history: Payne started with the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. in 2000 as dean of students at Columbus North High School, where he also served as basketball coach. He was promoted to assistant principal at Central Middle School, where he served for five years before being hired as principal at Smith Elementary School. Before coming to BCSC, he taught math at Lebanon High School and Tri-Central Community Schools. He will be principal at Central Middle School effective July 1.
Family: Wife Michelle; sons, Tanner, Tucker and Jackson
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