Superintendent Kitchen speaks to Cville Rotary

During Thursday’s Circleville Noon Rotary meeting, members had the privilege of gaining deeper insights into the operations and mission of the Pickaway County Educational Service Center (ESC) from its Superintendent, Tom Kitchen.

The presentation shed light on the pivotal role that ESCs play in supporting education at a county level and their significant contributions to local schools.

Kitchen began by explaining the function of an Education Service Center (ESC), emphasizing its role in providing essential services and support to school districts within the county. ESCs serve as collaborative entities, pooling resources, and expertise to enhance educational opportunities for students while assisting districts in meeting various state and local educational mandates.

The Pickaway County ESC works closely with several local educational institutions, including Teays Valley, Circleville, Logan Elm, Westfall, and Pickaway-Ross Career Technology Center. Their scope of support encompasses a wide array of initiatives, ranging from literacy programs to instructional materials support and regional data management.

During the presentation, Kitchen outlined some of the core services provided by the ESC, including speech, occupational and behavior therapists, curriculum and special education consultation and professional development, grant coordination, and many more! These services are instrumental in ensuring the smooth functioning of educational institutions and fostering continuous growth and improvement within the education sector.

Exciting developments were also shared regarding the future of the Pickaway County ESC.

Attendees learned that the ESC recently acquired Mound Street Elementary, signaling an expansion of their operations. Once renovations are completed, the ESC will relocate to this new facility, further solidifying its commitment to serving the educational needs of the community.

For those interested in learning more about the Pickaway County ESC or of their services, visit the ESC’s website at pickawayesc.org .

Whether it’s information on programs, resources, or upcoming events, the website serves as a comprehensive hub for all things related to educational support in the county.