Why the Ohio Right to Life president helped interview the next Hilliard Davidson principal

Local parents who participated on the parent, faculty and student interview committee for Hilliard Davidson High School's next principal included such professionals as college professors, personal trainers and health care workers.

Also on the list was Mike Gonidakis, president of Ohio Right to Life, one of the state's most prominent opponents of abortion.

Hilliard City Schools spokesperson Stacie Raterman said "each person on the committee was there as a Davidson parent, staff member or student." Davidson High School, which has a student population of about 1,800 students, is one of three high schools in the district of nearly 16,000.

"No one was chosen as a representative of any outside organizations," Raterman told The Dispatch in an emailed statement.

Gonidakis, who has two children in the district including a junior and incoming freshman at Davidson, said he was "interested and motivated for who is the next principal of our great high school."

"We love public education, and we support public education, and we wanted to be part of the process," Gonidakis said. "I think ... I was very well positioned to offer insight into that process, and I'm blessed for the opportunity to do that."

Gonidakis known for statewide anti-abortion advocacy

Gonidakis has been a key figure in the effort to limit and eventually eliminate abortion in Ohio.

Last year, he was reappointed for a third, five-year term to the Ohio state medical board. Democrats and liberal groups have opposed Gonidakis holding a seat on the board.

More: Ohio Right to Life leader says 10-year-old could've gotten abortion in Ohio

Gonidakis said he was focused on how to improve Davidson and that he, like everyone else who participated in the community search, added important diversity to the discussion.

"I'm grateful that I live in a community where we have strong diverse views and opinions on a whole host of issues — that makes us better as a community," he said. "I welcome any and all people in our community with different values and opinions than I do."

Panel sought to represent 'All aspects of the Davidson' community

The interview panels for the principal job, which were held on June 21 and 22, were comprised of nine parents, 10 students, and 14 staff members, Raterman said.

"We intentionally worked to invite parents, staff, and students who represented all aspects of the Davidson High School Community," Raterman said.

Some of the participants mentioned they wanted to be a part of the process, and others we contacted and asked to be a part of the process.

Gonidakis said many of the questions that participants asked were from a provided list focused on accountability, keeping schools safe and ensuring competitiveness with other districts.

"I always speak for myself, but we had a diverse group and our parent group included men, women, different religions, ethnicities," Gonidakis told The Dispatch. "Hilliard's becoming more and more diverse, and that's a beautiful thing. And it was just great to see the commonality of us as parents wanting all the same thing for our high school."

There were 18 applicants for the job and five were brought in for interviews with the panel, Raterman said. Each candidate met with a group of students, parents, and staff members, and panelists asked questions and discussed with candidates.

After the end of the two sessions, each group noted each candidate’s strengths and what other questions should be asked if they were to move on.

The decision ultimately fell to Superintendent David Stewart's cabinet, who selected William Ragland as the next principal for Davidson, Raterman said. Ragland's hiring was approved by the board in early July. He most recently served as a principal in Reynoldsburg City Schools and was an assistant principal in Westerville City Schools prior to that.

Stewart did not return requests for comment.

Gonidakis said he was impressed by the quality of all the candidates, but thinks Stewart made the right choice.

"I think our new principal is going to take us in a whole new direction," he added.

@Colebehr_report

Cbehrens@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio Right to Life head was involved in search for Hilliard principal