Photo Provided The Bridgeport Exempted Village School District’s Leadership Course partnered with West Liberty University this past school year. Dr. Bill Baronak was the university’s liaison. Those from the district who took part are pictured above. Front row, from left, are Felicia Porter, Kimberly Harris, Jennifer Ciroli, Sharon Liston, Tracy Lynn-Rogers, Abbi Mudrick, Ashley Namack, Lisa Clark and Zac Shutler. Back row, from left, are Jim Davenport, Jason Hanson, Chante Mitchell, Patty Joseph, Katie Sheets, Lindsey Maclay, Terri Zapolnik, Anne Haverty, Brooke Syrylo, Kelli Krob and Frank Ferrel. Not pictured are Stephanie Faykus, Patricia Croft, Zachary Melton and Dr. Bill Baronak .

BRIDGEPORT — When Zac Shutler took over as superintendent of the Bridgeport Exempted Village School District just over two years ago, he wanted to make everyone on his staff, from maintenance personnel to teachers to administrators, feel like they were important.

In talking with Bill Baronak at West Liberty University, Shutler came up with an idea. He wanted to start a leadership class.

“This is something that after my first year as superintendent I thought was important,” he said. “How do we convey to teachers, custodians and administrative assistants that we are all leaders? We can all fill that role because, oftentimes people think that just because it doesn’t say superintendent or principal on my name tag that I’m not a leader.

“Well that’s just so untrue,” he noted. “You can be the high school secretary and if people respect you and think your advice is valuable, then you are a leader in that building — sometimes more so than the person with that title in front of their name.”

Baronak, a professor of journalism and communications, and Keely Camden, dean/teacher education director/accreditation coordinator, were more than helpful in assisting the district, according to Shutler.

“They were huge supporters,” Shutler stressed.

He said the district ran a class and the teachers could earn college credits for taking the program.

“It was inspiring because we had 25 individuals take the course over the first two semesters,” he added. “We read together. We discussed together. We wrote papers together. You just build that team concept. It builds a bond because you just don’t see someone as the science teacher. You see them as a leader in the classroom.

“We talk about leadership. We’re all leaders and we understand how important it is to be role models for the students, but we also learn more about each other as people.”

Shutler said he is planning on continuing the program next school year.