Assistant Principal Kristen Kearns will leave the high school at the end of the school year to be a District Coordinator of Teaching and Learning at Worthington City Schools.
Kearns, who joined the administrative team in the fall of 2023, said the move was driven by a desire to advance her career.
“I love Bexley, so there was no one thing that made me decide to leave,” she explained.
“When the opportunity to pursue my career goals became available, I decided to take a leap of faith.”
Her new role will focus on developing curriculum and working with administrators, instructional coaches and teachers across the Worthington district, she explained.
Principal Jason Caudill said Kearns will be missed.
“She brought a lot of positive energy and a focus on students and their well-being,” Caudill said.
Kearns said leaving has been more bittersweet than she anticipated.
“I was at my last district for 10 years, and I wasn’t as emotional as I am now because of how amazing everyone is,” she said.
Kearns and her husband, who moved to Ohio from Florida to start a family, were drawn specifically to the district because of its reputation, she explained.
“Bexley is an excellent example of the type of school district I wanted to work for,” Kearns explained. “One where teachers and staff take their jobs seriously and make thoughtful, sincere decisions that are in the best interest of students.”
Kearns added she will especially miss the staff. Throughout her time here, she said, she has seen teachers go to great lengths to ensure students were in the best position to succeed.
“I truly hope the students know how much this staff cares about them across all facets of their lives,” she said. “I don’t know if I’ll ever have another staff match this level of care and dedication.”
Caudill said the school received approximately 30 applications for Kearns’ position before the April 27 deadline. He said after reviewing the applications, select applicants will attend Zoom interviews and finally in-person interviews with students, staff and parents.
Caudill added each stage narrows the applicant pool by roughly 50%.
While Kearns primarily focused on organizing testing and managing logistics, the role of the new assistant principal will depend on the skills they excel at most, Caudill explained.
The target hire date is May 13, pending approval by the Board of Education, he explained, and the new assistant principal will start Aug. 1.
“You’re looking for the best fit,” Caudill said. “Someone who’s student-centered and who will put kids first in their decision making.”
Published and digitized May 2026.
