BETHEL, Ohio — The Bethel-Tate Board of Education has appointed Dr. Christen Davis, the longtime principal of Bethel-Tate Middle School, to serve as interim superintendent of the district.
Davis will keep her role as middle school principal while she takes on the added superintendent duties, according to the district. The board also signed a consulting agreement with outgoing Superintendent Melissa Kircher, who will assist with onboarding Davis and help the district through the leadership change through Jan. 3.
Davis is in her 14th year as principal of Bethel-Tate Middle School, where the district said she has overseen sustained gains in academic performance. The school earned an A for student growth for six straight years before the COVID-19 pandemic and has held a 5-star student growth rating on the state report card since 2023, along with a 4.5-star overall building rating, the district said.
"Dr. Davis brings extensive educational leadership experience and a deep commitment to Bethel-Tate Schools to the interim superintendent role," Board President Susan Ward said in a statement. "Now in her 14th year as a principal of Bethel-Tate Middle School, she has helped establish a sustained record of academic growth and student achievement to the school."
The district also credited Davis with leadership beyond the classroom. The Ohio Music Education Association named her Administrator of the Year in 2024, and the middle school’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports team has presented its work at state and national conferences. The school has also been recognized under the Making Middle Grades Work program, according to the district.
Before joining Bethel-Tate, Davis spent nine years as assistant principal at Ross Middle School. She began her career in New Richmond Local Schools, where she taught middle school and worked as a curriculum facilitator for seven years, the district said.
Davis holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Western Kentucky University, along with a master’s degree in administration and a doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction, both from the University of Cincinnati, according to the district.
"The leadership transition allows Bethel-Tate Schools to move forward with an experienced administrator who knows the district, its students, staff and community," Ward said in a statement. "With Mrs. Kircher assisting in the onboarding process over the coming months, the district is focused on providing continuity and a smooth transition while continuing its work on behalf of Bethel-Tate students and families."
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Bethel-Tate Local School District.