Mason approved her appointment at the Tuesday board meeting. Miamisburg said they would begin the process of looking for a new superintendent in the upcoming weeks. In the meantime, Blessing will stay in her current role.
Blessing said she would begin transitioning in May and be fully employed in Mason at the beginning of next school year.
“Under Laura’s leadership, we have made great strides as a district. Her hard work, dedication, and commitment to our students, staff, and community have been truly invaluable,” said Miamisburg City Schools Board of Education President Corey Dafler. “We are grateful for everything she has done, especially with all she has accomplished while balancing many responsibilities. We wish her nothing but success in her new role.”
Blessing said the new role would allow her to use her skills and passions.
“This opportunity allows me to combine my career journey with my life experiences,” Blessing said. “It’s a chance to focus on helping others grow and thrive in their roles, which is deeply meaningful to me.”
Blessing said it was not an easy decision to leave Miamisburg schools. She signed a five-year contract with the district in July 2023.
Blessing signed a 4-year contract when she was hired in 2020. Her annual base pay is $152,341, but that is set to increase to $156,149 this August.
Under the terms of the current contract, which runs from Aug. 1, 2024 through July 31, 2029, her base salary increase to $160,000 in August 2024. It was set to climb to $163,200 this August.
“This district, this community, and all of you have left an indelible mark on me,” Blessing said. “I will forever cherish the memories we’ve created and the resilience we’ve shown together. While this decision to leave was not easy, I am excited to begin this new chapter where I can focus on supporting educators and staff while continuing to make a positive impact on the lives of students.”
Blessing has also done well in past board evaluations, with the board members scoring her as either “exceeds expectations” or “meets expectations” across multiple categories.
“Miamisburg is more than a district — it is a home filled with remarkable people who care deeply about the success of every student,” Blessing said. “I will miss Miamisburg deeply, but I will always cheer for its continued success and celebrate its future achievements.”
Blessing’s annual salary will be $166,704, according to Mason schools spokeswoman Tracey Carson.
Although Blessing’s official hire date is Aug.1, she’ll be contracted for 90 days starting in March “to ensure a smooth transition,” Carson said.
She will replace Tonya McCall, a former Mason Middle School Principal who was chief talent officer for eight years. McCall retired in December but will be providing part-time human resources assistance to Mason schools starting in March to help with the transition, Carson said.
Blessing has been an educator for 30 years, holding roles as a curriculum director, principal and elementary education teacher. She was a superintendent the past 12 years, first at Northeastern Wayne Schools, a small district in Fountain City, Indiana, for seven years, then at Miamisburg City School District since 2020.
“So it’s exciting to join a team and a community where I can focus all my energies and hopefully a lot of knowledge in one area and just be a great resource, not only for our staff, our new hires, our current staff, all of you and our families and students, because at the end of the day, it’s all about what we do for kids, so I’m just extremely excited for this,” Blessing said at Tuesday’s meeting.
Mason Superintendent Jonathan Cooper, in an email to all district staff Wednesday, said the hiring process for the position was “incredibly competitive, with a deep pool of talented candidates.”
“Ultimately, Dr. Blessing’s warmth, experience, and inspiring leadership made her the clear choice,” Cooper said, also noting in a release Blessing’s track record as “an innovative and collaborative leader” with an ability to “inspire trust and build relationships.”
As chief talent officer, Blessing will oversee the district’s human resources efforts.
“With 30 percent of Mason City Schools’ teaching staff projected to retire in the next decade, Dr. Blessing’s expertise will be critical as the district plans for the future and continues its investment in attracting and retaining top talent,” the district said in a release.
