VERMILION — You could say Philip Pempin is downsizing. But that’s not to say he’s going to be kicking back.

After spending the entire 21 years of his career in education in Cleveland as a teacher and administrator, the 49-year-old Pempin will become the newest leader of the Vermilion Local School District.

He replaces Bruce Keller, the district’s outgoing superintendent who announced his retirement in January.

An assistant superintendent for Cleveland Schools, Pempin was chosen for the Vermilion post at the conclusion of a special, four-hour board meeting Sunday during which a group of school and city officials, teachers, administrators, and parents interviewed finalists Pempin and Mark Robinson, assistant superintendent for the Brecksville-Broadview Heights Schools.

His three-year contract, which begins Aug. 1, will pay him $114,126 annually. The contract terms require him to pay 10 percent of his monthly health insurance premium, according to a release from the school board.

Sunday’s decision came two weeks ahead of schedule.

“We had originally intended to meet April 29 and 30, but we felt a little bit pressed because we knew (Pempin and Robinson) were interested in going to other communities to be superintendent,” said Vermilion School Board President Timothy Rini.

Pempin was one of two finalists — from an initial field of 41 applicants — for the top post at another Lorain County district, Firelands, which ultimately hired Greg Ring, its current director of curriculum

In the Cleveland Schools, Pempin was responsible for 18 kindergarten-through-eighth-grade schools with a total enrollment of more than 7,500 students. He also served as principal of Cleveland’s Riverside Elementary School for eight years.

In Vermilion, he will oversee a district of about 2,500 students, which has two elementary schools, a middle school and one high school.

“As I explained to the board Sunday, working in Cleveland is very similar to Vermilion,” said Pempin by phone Monday evening. “I was in the West Park area (on Cleveland’s west side). We had a lot of firemen and police, as well as doctors and lawyers. There was a lot of community involvement.

“ Cleveland has been fantastic for what it’s prepared me to do,” he said.

The hunt for a new chief involved numerous special meetings with board members and of separate sessions involving teachers, administrators, parents, students and others. About 80 parents, students, teachers, staff, administrators and members of the community took part in a series of 10 focus groups designed to more clearly define the specific qualities and characteristics desired in the district’s new leader.

Pempin has been married for 27 years to his wife, Nahid, who heads her own small company that designs electrical transformers. The couple has two sons; Michael is married to a teacher and lives in Colorado, while Matthew is slated to graduate from The Ohio State University this year.

Pempin plans to remain in the community for a long time.

“I spent my entire career up to now in Cleveland. I like to stay loyal to a district,” he said. “I’m going to make sure I involve myself with the community like Mr. Keller did. I’m hoping I can make the same impact he did.”

After a transition period during which he will work with Pempin, Keller will formally step down Dec. 31 after 17 years with the Vermilion district, the last 10 as superintendent.

Contact Steve Fogarty at 329-7146 or sfogarty@chroniclet.com.

 

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