At the December 16 Board of Education meeting, the Ada Schools accepted the resignation of elementary principal Ben Thaxton and hired Tim Closson as an interim replacement beginning after the holidays.

Thaxton has accepted the position of Executive Director at the Northwest Ohio Area Computer Services Cooperative (NOACSC). He thanked the board for allowing him to end his contract and noted that he will “always be a Bulldog.”

Superintendent Robin VanBuskirk remarked that the K-5 grades surprised Thaxton by making the day “Mr. Thaxton Day.” Honors included a binder of thank you letters from all the students and a gift of Ada-themed ties to emphasize that “Ada ties can never be broken.”

Thaxton was emotional while addressing the board but laughed when he recounted a “hug that went sideways” earlier in the day–students were so enthusiastic in a group hug that he ended up on the floor.

Closson previously served as Elementary Principal in Ada. He is returning to the job after 6 months of retirement and 14 years as principal of Bluffton Elementary School. At the meeting, Closson demonstrated that he still has Ada-themed ties in his wardrobe.