Bluffton Middle School principal, Kyle Leatherman, shared his talent on Friday morning at the middle school year-end talent show.

He wasn’t even on the program.

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And the end of the show, to Leatherman’s surprise, it was announced that he was named Ohio Middle Level Association (OMLA) “Educator of the Year.”

Attending the presentation was Jay Clark, president of OMLA and principal of Van Buren Middle. Also attending was is wife, Jill, and their three children, Kooper, Macy and Parker.

Janelle Bogart, teacher, told the Icon, “We are incredibly happy to say he received the award. Bluffton teaching staff members nominated him.

Leatherman has served as Bluffton Middle School principal since June 2013. Prior to that he was a teacher at Gibsonburg from 2007 to 2013.

One of the activities he encouraged teachers to develop is the popular “Night at the Museum.”

Last year eight Bluffton Middle School teachers were recognized by the Ohio Department of Education for their efforts on creating that event.

Those teachers were Jared Byers, Janelle Bogart, Natalie Armstrong, Robin Ault, Cindy Lee, Jackie Bourassa, Lauren Moser and Sandy Karhoff.

The cross-cultural project with Language Arts and Social Studies involves sixth, seventh and eighth graders

Leatherman is a Heidelberg College graduate and obtained his principal licensure in Education from the University of Findlay.

About the OMLA
More than 9,500 individuals are members of OMLA.

Founded in 1973 by a group of middle level educators, OMLA is the fastest growing professional organization in Ohio. Members include people at all levels of the profession – teachers, administrators, supervisors, parents, college personnel, state department officials and students.

An executive board made up of elected officers and regional representatives governs it.

OMLA became affiliated with the National Middle School Association in 1975 and has become the official voice for Ohio’s middle level people.