BY CONNOR BORTZ

Family is the basis of any true man’s decisions as he tries to do what is best for those he loves. Mr. Paul Imhoff, superintendent of the Mariemont City School District, will be departing from Mariemont and heading north to Upper Arlington City Schools after the end of this school year. This isn’t strictly a business though; he has his whole family to look after.

Mr. Imhoff started at Mariemont in July of the 2007-2008 school year. Prior to receiving the job as superintendent, Imhoff was the assistant superintendent of Madeira City Schools as well as having previously held jobs as assistant principal and principal at Wyoming Middle School and Mapleton High School.

Upper Arlington is quite the jump in size compared to Mariemont. “The school district of Upper Arlington has about 5,700 students,” states Mr. Imhoff. “Which put in the perspective of a Cincinnatian is about 300-400 students larger than Sycamore.

Of course with more size comes more money and funds, but Imhoff’s ties to Columbus also played a major part in his decision to move north. “I grew up living in Columbus surrounded by my family,” Imhoff says. “And all of my family is still living there.”

Most of Imhoff’s side of the family resides in the Columbus area today. Imhoff said the job was the perfect opportunity for him to be with his entire family and live in and around the community in which he grew up.

Though Imhoff will be leaving Mariemont after this school year, the Mariemont community has affected him in ways that he will never forget. “I love Mariemont; I will always love Mariemont,” Imhoff comments. “When I look at Mariemont, I look at it as one big family.”

The biggest impact that Imhoff had on the district was the building of three new schools, these being Mariemont Elementary, Terrace Park Elementary, and Mariemont Junior High School.

Mr. Imhoff looks at one of his accomplishments as a great team effort to help the community. “I don’t really look at the schools as something I did,” Mr. Imhoff declares. “I think of it more as something that the whole administration did to better our students’ educational environment to help them grow as students.”

Imhoff may have had a large impact on Mariemont during his time here, but he believes the impact left on him is great too. “It has been a real honor serving this district with all these wonderful administrators, teachers, and students,” said Imhoff. “It is also just a wonderful place to raise a family.”

Although the end has come for Imhoff and his tenure at Mariemont, the impact Mariemont has had on him will stay with him forever. “Mariemont has embraced us and made us a part of the family,” Imhoff concludes. “That is something I will never forget.”