August 4, 2023 • 11 mins
Brad Turson is in his 5th year as the Superintendent of the Plymouth-Shiloh Local schools. Turson is entering his 36th overall year in the district, which has around 680 students and more than 100 total staff members. Turson was born in Willard, but grew up in Plymouth and graduated from Plymouth. He spent 17 years as a basketaball coach, which included many long tournament runs. Brad is married with kids and grandchilren and enjoys hunting and spending time outside. Learn more about the Plymouth-Shiloh Local Schools and Superintendent, Brad Turson, on the podcast.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
The CEO you should know, broughtto you by Robie Foster Miller Eric Insurance.
This week CEO Brad Urson, Superintendentof the Plymouth Shiloh Local Schools.
Brad, good morning, Good morning, Aaron, Thank you so much for
coming in. I've heard that namefor me in sports many years, basketball
(00:22):
coach, among other things. ButI want to jump in and begin at
the top. How long have youbeen superintendent in Plymouth? I will be
starting my fifth year as superintendent inPlymouth this school year, but you told
me you have been in the districtfor a long long time. I have.
This will be my thirty sixth yearin the district at for the Plymouth
Shilow Local school has been very blessedthat they've given me that opportunity, all
(00:46):
right, tremendous. So as webegin there, let's begin maybe with a
bit of history. The district hasbeen around for a I know you have
a new building now, but it'sbeen around for a long time, right,
it really has. I know it'sover one hundred years. Actually,
we did consolidate with Shiloh and thenineteen fifty eight fifty nine school years,
so it's been Plymouth Shiloh local schoolsince then. But you said the first
(01:07):
building if you date back, it'sbeen there. What nineteen nineteen was the
original date, and then it wasadded on to a number of time.
That building is no longer there.It was the one that sat down in
town and at the entrance to thepark. All right, So let's talk
about the overall school district beginning abrand new year. Hard to believe August
is here and it's time to goback to school, right, it really
(01:30):
is. Yeah, things summer seemto go fast if you talk to everyone.
But I'm more excited about the newschool year. We think we've been
making great strides the last three,four or five years. We have some
gaps affiliate with our students because ofCOVID, but we've identified those and we're
working to correct some things and continueto help our students succeed. All right,
now, how many students overall?Can you ballpark? How many you
(01:53):
have across the district this year?We have about six hundred and eighty students,
and then we will also have thirtyseven thirty eight preschool students. Okay,
Now, in terms of just teachers, how many do you guys employ.
I'm a little bit over sixty teachers. Now what about when you throw
(02:14):
in everybody in terms of staff,bus driver's cafeteria, how many ballpark there?
Yeah, our staff is around betweenone ten and one fifteen. So
I always visit with superintendents and I'vehad a chance to do that. As
you hear the voice this morning ofBrad Terson again this week's CEO, you
should know he is the superintendent ofthe Plymouth Shiloh Local Schools. It's like
(02:36):
running a business, right, Imean, you think about it, it's
a school, but you have somuch you're watching over. It really was
kind of eye opening when I firsttook the position as superintendent. Being a
former principal, you are only concernedabout your building, your students, your
staff that you have in there,and then all of a sudden, you
have the responsibility of everyone in thedistrict. So it's a challenge. It's
(03:00):
a challenge that I enjoy. Ienjoy working with all of our people.
We have tremendous staff that are onlyconcerned with our students succeeding and their well
being, and I'm just really proudto help them and try to serve everyone
in the community. Well, Brad, you are now the superintendent. You
mentioned principle. What all roles haveyou had in terms in this district.
(03:21):
I was a teacher for eleven yearswhen I came. I originally taught eight
years of Upper Sandusky, and thenI came back to Plymouth, which is
my home, and I taught elevenyears. I taught in the It was
the OWE program then, which wasoccupational work experience where students worked. They
came to school half a day andworked half a day. Now it's called
CBI Career Based Intervention. I believeit took a little break in there.
(03:45):
Taught two years and then I washigh school principal for three years. Actually
in the early nineties, decided thatI really needed to coach and teach a
little bit more. I was fairlyyoung at the time, had a newborn
child that I really hadn't seen much, so I went back to the classroom
for nine years. Was coaching varcitybasketball then, which I did for seventeen
years, and the last nine yearsof that I became middle school principal,
(04:10):
and then I did that role forseventeen years before becoming the superintendent. All
Right, I know some great,great years for Plymouth basketball. I was
thinking you know, traveling up toAnderson Arena, those long you know,
tournament runs. You think back now, I know your son Brook, you
know, on the team, Butthose were some great memories. They really
are. Yeah. I was ableto coach all three of my sons,
(04:30):
which was very very special and againan opportunity that our district gave to me
that I'm very thankful for. Butjust had the opportunity to coach so many
quality young men. It was greattimes. You look at Anderson Arena.
I think our entire community was therewhen we were up there. Anyone could
have robbed anyone in town that theywanted, because no one was in town.
(04:50):
But we had some great runs andit was just because of the great
people that were around me. Andit was fun. It's a good time,
terrific to learn this morning the entirestory of Brad Urson, this week's
CEO. You should know. Heis the superintendent of the Plymouth Shiloh Local
Schools. All right, well,let's step away from work and find out
a bit more about you. Solet's step back to the beginning. If
(05:13):
you would tell us where was BradTerson born. I was born in Willard,
Ohio. My parents lived in Plymouth. I am born in brad Plymouth.
Boy love the Big Red always have. Graduated from Plymouth High School in
nineteen seventy six, attempted to playcollege basketball at Ohio Northern. Found out
I really wasn't as good as Ithought I was once I was there for
(05:35):
a year and finished my education ayear here at Mansfield OSU, and then
my final two years I graduated fromOhio State University in Columbus. All right,
terrific. And then after you graduated, did you start did you say
Upper Sandusky? Yeah, my originaljob right out of college. I taught
eight years at Upper Sandusky. Wasable to teach and coach under some great
(05:57):
manors there LEEH. Hemminger, whois Ohio High School Basket Weall Coach Association
Hall of Famer. I was ableto be his assistant. Many other people
really just helped mold me and menearned me and it was the greatest experience.
Then I had the opportunity to returnto Plymouth after eight years, and
that's I came home. All right, great to hear. Now let's stay
(06:17):
with you and talk about family.I know you mentioned three sons, so
if you would tell us a bitmore about brad Terson and the family.
Yeah. I have three sons andtwo stepdaughters. My oldest is a lawyer,
my middle son is he works forNationwide Insurance. He's in business corporate,
and my youngest son, Brooke,is the assistant men's basketball coach at
(06:38):
Ashton University. My oldest stepdaughter worksin an insurance company, and my youngest
stepdaughter works for Nationwide Children's as aphlebotomist. So we also have five granddaughters,
which has been quite a change forme. I was used to the
three sons and raising them. SoI have a lot of daughters in my
life now and I have found thatI'm very blessed because of that. Also,
(07:00):
all right, so married kids,grandkids, if you would, What
do you do when you're not working? Do you have any hobbies? I
do? I like to hunt.I'm a deer hunter. I pretty much
say I'm more of a deer watcher. I do occasionally harvest a deer,
and our family does eat it,and you know, it's part of what
(07:23):
we do. But I just liketo go to the woods. I love
being outdoors. I have a gardennow, which I know my dad would
be shocked if he knew. Thatbecause I was never much of a gardener,
but just we live on seventeen acresand I just love having my own
place and going out and kind ofmanaging the land and just being outdoors.
All right, glad to learn theentire story this morning of brad Tersen,
(07:46):
this week's CEO. You should knowagainst superintendent of the Plymouth Shiloh Local Schools.
All Right, Well, before Ilet you go, it's been a
great conversation learning about you and aboutthe district. Is there anything new in
the school district this year? Iknow you said, you know a lot
of excitement kids are headed back.I'm sure there's always you know, a
lot to prepare for when you know, for a new school year. Any
(08:07):
anything new As you guys prepare forthe new year. I think we'll just
continue to try to move forward fromwhat we have for the four years.
We feel we've accomplished a lot.We will be building a new bus garage
this year, which will be good. We're bringing our bus garage from Shiloh
onto the campus with our high schooland middle school on buildings out there.
(08:28):
More than that, I just thinkevery year we continue to build on what
we've done. We're making sure thatour students are safe, our staff is
safe, They're well being is veryimportant. Mental health works into a lot
of what we do now. Sowe're just excited to continue to serve our
students, serve our district, andprovide the best we possibly can so our
students can be successful. All Right, I know there's always that summer break,
(08:50):
but not really for superintendents, right, you're around almost. Yeah,
we get vacation days, so youtake your vacation days. But yeah,
it's that was an adjustment for sure. When I first took over US,
I was used to six weeks offas a middle school principal. So I
had a couple of weeks off andgot to recharge a little bit, spend
some time with the family, andlooking forward to really amping things up here.
As we get going and getting close, and you told me first day
(09:13):
this year's when August twenty third,which is about a week later than we
normally start. So we move thingsback a little bit because of not only
the Richmond County, but the hereIn County Fair We have students to participate
that way. Also a little someof our district is in here In County,
so we will be going until Maythirty. First, it's always to
(09:33):
me amazing as they moved the footballseason up a week that it begins August
eighteenth. That gets you in ahurry. We will have yet one football
game in without him being in school, and we'll be playing the second one
right away, so we'll get goinghere for sure. Volleyball, I think
golf has a match this Friday.Okay, actually so I think they'll be
kicking the fall season off for allright, terrific. Now, before I
(09:56):
let you go, what if somebodywants more information about the Plymouth Shiloh Local
School. I'm assuming the district websitewould probably be the place to go to
be able to get all kinds ofinformations, probably even including calendars of events
and things, right right, Yeah, we have really tried to build our
website up since I've taken over asuperintendent. We have Bonnie lash As in
(10:16):
charge of that for us, andshe does an excellent job. It's just
Plymouth Shilo SD dot org. Thatwill also take you to our district Facebook
page, which a lot of peoplefeel more comfortable being on also. But
if anyone ever needs any information,they certainly are free to contact the board
office or any of the buildings,and we'll do our best to help them
(10:37):
out, all right. This week'sCEO you Should Know Brad Urson, Superintendent
of the Plymouth Shiloh Local Schools.Well, it's been great to learn your
entire story. We thank you somuch for coming in and we wish you
continued success. Yeah, thank youfor the opportunity. You know, just
really appreciate it. Brad Urson,Superintendent of the Plymouth Shiloh Local school The
(11:00):
CEO you Should Know, read abio, see a photo, and hear
the extended interview at WMAANFM dot com. This is John Roby of RFME Insurance.
This said that a good leader setsthe bar high because he or she
wants to reach goals and make thebest of their teams. We're proud to
introduce you to some of the community'sleaders on the CEO series.
The CEO you should know, broughtto you by Robie Foster Miller Eric Insurance.
This week CEO Brad Urson, Superintendentof the Plymouth Shiloh Local Schools.
Brad, good morning, Good morning, Aaron, Thank you so much for
coming in. I've heard that namefor me in sports many years, basketball
(00:22):
coach, among other things. ButI want to jump in and begin at
the top. How long have youbeen superintendent in Plymouth? I will be
starting my fifth year as superintendent inPlymouth this school year, but you told
me you have been in the districtfor a long long time. I have.
This will be my thirty sixth yearin the district at for the Plymouth
Shilow Local school has been very blessedthat they've given me that opportunity, all
(00:46):
right, tremendous. So as webegin there, let's begin maybe with a
bit of history. The district hasbeen around for a I know you have
a new building now, but it'sbeen around for a long time, right,
it really has. I know it'sover one hundred years. Actually,
we did consolidate with Shiloh and thenineteen fifty eight fifty nine school years,
so it's been Plymouth Shiloh local schoolsince then. But you said the first
(01:07):
building if you date back, it'sbeen there. What nineteen nineteen was the
original date, and then it wasadded on to a number of time.
That building is no longer there.It was the one that sat down in
town and at the entrance to thepark. All right, So let's talk
about the overall school district beginning abrand new year. Hard to believe August
is here and it's time to goback to school, right, it really
(01:30):
is. Yeah, things summer seemto go fast if you talk to everyone.
But I'm more excited about the newschool year. We think we've been
making great strides the last three,four or five years. We have some
gaps affiliate with our students because ofCOVID, but we've identified those and we're
working to correct some things and continueto help our students succeed. All right,
now, how many students overall?Can you ballpark? How many you
(01:53):
have across the district this year?We have about six hundred and eighty students,
and then we will also have thirtyseven thirty eight preschool students. Okay,
Now, in terms of just teachers, how many do you guys employ.
I'm a little bit over sixty teachers. Now what about when you throw
(02:14):
in everybody in terms of staff,bus driver's cafeteria, how many ballpark there?
Yeah, our staff is around betweenone ten and one fifteen. So
I always visit with superintendents and I'vehad a chance to do that. As
you hear the voice this morning ofBrad Terson again this week's CEO, you
should know he is the superintendent ofthe Plymouth Shiloh Local Schools. It's like
(02:36):
running a business, right, Imean, you think about it, it's
a school, but you have somuch you're watching over. It really was
kind of eye opening when I firsttook the position as superintendent. Being a
former principal, you are only concernedabout your building, your students, your
staff that you have in there,and then all of a sudden, you
have the responsibility of everyone in thedistrict. So it's a challenge. It's
(03:00):
a challenge that I enjoy. Ienjoy working with all of our people.
We have tremendous staff that are onlyconcerned with our students succeeding and their well
being, and I'm just really proudto help them and try to serve everyone
in the community. Well, Brad, you are now the superintendent. You
mentioned principle. What all roles haveyou had in terms in this district.
(03:21):
I was a teacher for eleven yearswhen I came. I originally taught eight
years of Upper Sandusky, and thenI came back to Plymouth, which is
my home, and I taught elevenyears. I taught in the It was
the OWE program then, which wasoccupational work experience where students worked. They
came to school half a day andworked half a day. Now it's called
CBI Career Based Intervention. I believeit took a little break in there.
(03:45):
Taught two years and then I washigh school principal for three years. Actually
in the early nineties, decided thatI really needed to coach and teach a
little bit more. I was fairlyyoung at the time, had a newborn
child that I really hadn't seen much, so I went back to the classroom
for nine years. Was coaching varcitybasketball then, which I did for seventeen
years, and the last nine yearsof that I became middle school principal,
(04:10):
and then I did that role forseventeen years before becoming the superintendent. All
Right, I know some great,great years for Plymouth basketball. I was
thinking you know, traveling up toAnderson Arena, those long you know,
tournament runs. You think back now, I know your son Brook, you
know, on the team, Butthose were some great memories. They really
are. Yeah. I was ableto coach all three of my sons,
(04:30):
which was very very special and againan opportunity that our district gave to me
that I'm very thankful for. Butjust had the opportunity to coach so many
quality young men. It was greattimes. You look at Anderson Arena.
I think our entire community was therewhen we were up there. Anyone could
have robbed anyone in town that theywanted, because no one was in town.
(04:50):
But we had some great runs andit was just because of the great
people that were around me. Andit was fun. It's a good time,
terrific to learn this morning the entirestory of Brad Urson, this week's
CEO. You should know. Heis the superintendent of the Plymouth Shiloh Local
Schools. All right, well,let's step away from work and find out
a bit more about you. Solet's step back to the beginning. If
(05:13):
you would tell us where was BradTerson born. I was born in Willard,
Ohio. My parents lived in Plymouth. I am born in brad Plymouth.
Boy love the Big Red always have. Graduated from Plymouth High School in
nineteen seventy six, attempted to playcollege basketball at Ohio Northern. Found out
I really wasn't as good as Ithought I was once I was there for
(05:35):
a year and finished my education ayear here at Mansfield OSU, and then
my final two years I graduated fromOhio State University in Columbus. All right,
terrific. And then after you graduated, did you start did you say
Upper Sandusky? Yeah, my originaljob right out of college. I taught
eight years at Upper Sandusky. Wasable to teach and coach under some great
(05:57):
manors there LEEH. Hemminger, whois Ohio High School Basket Weall Coach Association
Hall of Famer. I was ableto be his assistant. Many other people
really just helped mold me and menearned me and it was the greatest experience.
Then I had the opportunity to returnto Plymouth after eight years, and
that's I came home. All right, great to hear. Now let's stay
(06:17):
with you and talk about family.I know you mentioned three sons, so
if you would tell us a bitmore about brad Terson and the family.
Yeah. I have three sons andtwo stepdaughters. My oldest is a lawyer,
my middle son is he works forNationwide Insurance. He's in business corporate,
and my youngest son, Brooke,is the assistant men's basketball coach at
(06:38):
Ashton University. My oldest stepdaughter worksin an insurance company, and my youngest
stepdaughter works for Nationwide Children's as aphlebotomist. So we also have five granddaughters,
which has been quite a change forme. I was used to the
three sons and raising them. SoI have a lot of daughters in my
life now and I have found thatI'm very blessed because of that. Also,
(07:00):
all right, so married kids,grandkids, if you would, What
do you do when you're not working? Do you have any hobbies? I
do? I like to hunt.I'm a deer hunter. I pretty much
say I'm more of a deer watcher. I do occasionally harvest a deer,
and our family does eat it,and you know, it's part of what
(07:23):
we do. But I just liketo go to the woods. I love
being outdoors. I have a gardennow, which I know my dad would
be shocked if he knew. Thatbecause I was never much of a gardener,
but just we live on seventeen acresand I just love having my own
place and going out and kind ofmanaging the land and just being outdoors.
All right, glad to learn theentire story this morning of brad Tersen,
(07:46):
this week's CEO. You should knowagainst superintendent of the Plymouth Shiloh Local Schools.
All Right, Well, before Ilet you go, it's been a
great conversation learning about you and aboutthe district. Is there anything new in
the school district this year? Iknow you said, you know a lot
of excitement kids are headed back.I'm sure there's always you know, a
lot to prepare for when you know, for a new school year. Any
(08:07):
anything new As you guys prepare forthe new year. I think we'll just
continue to try to move forward fromwhat we have for the four years.
We feel we've accomplished a lot.We will be building a new bus garage
this year, which will be good. We're bringing our bus garage from Shiloh
onto the campus with our high schooland middle school on buildings out there.
(08:28):
More than that, I just thinkevery year we continue to build on what
we've done. We're making sure thatour students are safe, our staff is
safe, They're well being is veryimportant. Mental health works into a lot
of what we do now. Sowe're just excited to continue to serve our
students, serve our district, andprovide the best we possibly can so our
students can be successful. All Right, I know there's always that summer break,
(08:50):
but not really for superintendents, right, you're around almost. Yeah,
we get vacation days, so youtake your vacation days. But yeah,
it's that was an adjustment for sure. When I first took over US,
I was used to six weeks offas a middle school principal. So I
had a couple of weeks off andgot to recharge a little bit, spend
some time with the family, andlooking forward to really amping things up here.
As we get going and getting close, and you told me first day
(09:13):
this year's when August twenty third,which is about a week later than we
normally start. So we move thingsback a little bit because of not only
the Richmond County, but the hereIn County Fair We have students to participate
that way. Also a little someof our district is in here In County,
so we will be going until Maythirty. First, it's always to
(09:33):
me amazing as they moved the footballseason up a week that it begins August
eighteenth. That gets you in ahurry. We will have yet one football
game in without him being in school, and we'll be playing the second one
right away, so we'll get goinghere for sure. Volleyball, I think
golf has a match this Friday.Okay, actually so I think they'll be
kicking the fall season off for allright, terrific. Now, before I
(09:56):
let you go, what if somebodywants more information about the Plymouth Shiloh Local
School. I'm assuming the district websitewould probably be the place to go to
be able to get all kinds ofinformations, probably even including calendars of events
and things, right right, Yeah, we have really tried to build our
website up since I've taken over asuperintendent. We have Bonnie lash As in
(10:16):
charge of that for us, andshe does an excellent job. It's just
Plymouth Shilo SD dot org. Thatwill also take you to our district Facebook
page, which a lot of peoplefeel more comfortable being on also. But
if anyone ever needs any information,they certainly are free to contact the board
office or any of the buildings,and we'll do our best to help them
(10:37):
out, all right. This week'sCEO you Should Know Brad Urson, Superintendent
of the Plymouth Shiloh Local Schools.Well, it's been great to learn your
entire story. We thank you somuch for coming in and we wish you
continued success. Yeah, thank youfor the opportunity. You know, just
really appreciate it. Brad Urson,Superintendent of the Plymouth Shiloh Local school The
(11:00):
CEO you Should Know, read abio, see a photo, and hear
the extended interview at WMAANFM dot com. This is John Roby of RFME Insurance.
This said that a good leader setsthe bar high because he or she
wants to reach goals and make thebest of their teams. We're proud to
introduce you to some of the community'sleaders on the CEO series.
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