Curt Bradshaw Discusses Southern Ohio Educational Service Center

Curt Bradshaw

"I want our staff to be a champion for children—and all that we do, and all of the decisions that we make, it all has to come back to what's best for the kids," stated Curt Bradshaw, Superintendent of the Southern Ohio Educational Service Center (SOESC), located at 3321 Airborne Road in Wilmington. Bradshaw, a farmer and fourth generation teacher, started his career as a middle school teacher at Wilmington City Schools. He was later contracted through SOESC to teach gifted students at Clinton Massie, which lead to an opportunity to serve in his current administrative role.

The SOESC began in 1914 as an "oversight body," created from the county school boards and the Clinton-Fayette-Highland Educational Service District. The merger transformed the organization into a "service provider," offering technology, special education, professional development, and other services. There are "four legs of the organization," including the State Support Team, Service Providers, the Southern Ohio Learning Center, and Services.

1) State Support Team works with districts to create plans and support them with needs.

2) Service Providers are contracted individuals—like physical therapists, speech pathologists, social workers, and more—who work in the school districts to provide support.

3) Southern Ohio Learning Center is a school with intervention specialists, mental health therapists, and more to help students who struggle to succeed in their home district.

4) Services provided by SOESC include curriculum development, professional development, technology services, and more.

SOESC is funded through fees paid by school districts for services, grants, and state funding.

Bradshaw also shared the importance of local workforce development in the community, stating, "We've got a great community, in Wilmington, in Clinton County, and really the surrounding area, and we also want to help young people understand, this is a great place to work, it's a great place to live, and it's a great place to play."

Listen to Bradshaw's full story on episode 78 of the Real Change Wilmington Podcast. Learn more about SOESC at southernohioesc.org.