Doug Marrah made music while on the administrative beat for Ashland City Schools

Doug Marrah's retirement at the end of December will mark the end of his 11-year tenure as superintendent of Ashland City Schools, and his positive influence in the district will continue to impact the future.

"Generations of kids after he is gone will benefit" from his accomplishments, said Steve McDonnell, principal of Taft Intermediate School.

As an example, McDonnell said, "32 years ago I never would have dreamed we'd have new buildings."

And that wasn't the first time Marrah had made the unexpected happen.

Marrah has taken the position of executive director of Tri-County Computer Services Association in Wooster. Hired as interim superintendent is Stephen B. Paramore.

From music teacher to principal to superintendent

Bob Foltz, who was the board president in Minerva when Marrah took his first position as superintendent, said Marrah took the district, which was having financial difficulty, from a state designation of Continuous Improvement to Excellent with Distinction. He also oversaw the construction of elementary and middle schools and the renovation of the high school.

Foltz commended Marrah for the ability to multitask. It might look as if he isn't listening while simultaneously working on his laptop and phone, but he still pays complete attention, Foltz said.

Marrah, who previously was a music teacher in Ashland schools, returned to the city from Minerva as an even better administrator, said Dwight McElfresh, who counted hiring Marrah to be the principal of the former Lincoln Elementary School in Ashland as one of his greatest achievements as board president.

"He was a terrific administrator, kid-oriented," McElfresh said, "with an eclectic knowledge (of everything from) school discipline to curricular issues to building buildings."

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Focused on facilities, academics, community

Tom Lavinder, who also served previously as president of the Ashland board, credited Marrah with a three-pronged focus − planning new facilities, pursuing academics and working with the community.

Educating students "has always been his mantra," Lavinder said.

Marrah's dedication to the arts came up again and again in a discussion of his contributions to the district, even though people used to joke about him playing his mandolin around the district when he first came to Ashland, said band parent Tiffany Sanders.

It's just one of many instruments Marrah, who was first employed as a music teacher and previously served as the district's orchestra director, can play, along with violin, tuba and guitar.

He has been known to play along with student music groups, including jazz band.

"Your love for music has just spilled over to our kids," Sanders said.

"I just love being around the kids," Marrah said, recalling a recent opportunity to take over band director Marty Kral's guitar class.

Making music with the kids, tuning up the auditorium

One of his last acts as superintendent was visiting music classes at Reagan Elementary School.

"The problem is, these kids are getting better than me," Marrah quipped, commending music students as also being academically excellent and working hard.

Marrah's musical expertise made him valuable in planning the Robert M. and Janet L. Archer Auditorium at Ashland High School, Bob and Jan Archer agreed.

He wanted the acoustics to be "just right," Jan Archer said.

"You can hear just as well in the back" of the auditorium as the front, said Bob Archer. "He knew what to do. He made it happen."

Marrah's musicianship had an effect on his desire to hold a leadership position.

He likened it to being the conductor of a symphony and putting together the ultimate performance.

For example, the opportunity to work with the facilities team to design a master plan was a part of "making life better for all kids," Marrah said.

That extends to details such as improving boys and girls locker rooms, which previously were "awful" and are now state-of-the-art, Bob Archer said.

Key to success is getting people in the 'right seats on the bus'

Leading the district is partly a matter of "putting the right people on the right seats on the bus," Marrah said, and finding people who are completely committed to children and their needs, including their mental health.

From the SPARK kindergarten readiness program and Kindergarten Camp, preparing students for school and easing their transition, to Kroc Kitchen, helping families with all aspects of meal preparation, to ongoing literacy science of reading efforts, each piece contributes to the development of students throughout their educational career, Marrah said.

Board member John Teevan highlighted Marrah's efforts to make sure district children were fed during the pandemic.

The Rev. John Bouquet, pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, also spoke of helping to deliver food baskets to families during the height of COVID, calling the endeavor one of the great successes of the district's partnership with area churches provided by Marrah and the board.

"He made it possible," Bouquet said of Marrah, who recently also offered an open door to LifeWise, released time religious instruction.

"You can close the book with your head held high," Ashland board President Zack Truax told Marrah.

"You always did what was best for the kids, for the students, even when it wasn't popular, even when it was an uphill battle, even when it was the toughest thing to do," Truax said. "You never shied away from doing what was best for the kids."

"We're better off from his tenure," McDonnell said.

Marrah's core advice to others seeking administrative positions: "You'd better make sure you love kids."

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Doug Marrah leaves legacy of music, the arts, in Ashland City Schools