New Philadelphia High School, Welty Middle School have new principals
Ricky Neff
Joshua Jarvis
Rebekka Houze
NEW PHILADELPHIA (NPCS release) – At a special meeting on June 30, the New Philadelphia City Schools Board of Education approved changes to its administrative team at Welty Middle School and New Philadelphia High School.
Ryan Range was selected as the principal of the high school. He is a New Philadelphia Schools alum and returned to his alma mater in 2007 as the elementary and middle school physical education and health teacher. In his time away, he received a bachelor’s from Otterbein University and a master’s from Muskingum University before gaining teaching experience at Dublin City Schools. He served as the assistant principal at Welty Middle School from 2014-2018 and principal from 2018-2023.
Ricky Neff, who has served New Philadelphia Schools for the past 16 years as an intervention tutor, social studies teacher, and most recently, assistant principal, will assume the role of principal at Welty Middle School. Also a New Philadelphia Schools alum, Neff received an undergraduate degree from the University of Akron, a master’s from Kent State University, and he has previous teaching experience at Claymont City Schools.
“I am excited to continue working with Ryan and Ricky as they have demonstrated outstanding leadership in my time with New Philadelphia Schools,” said Superintendent Amy Wentworth. “As alumni, they know the value of a New Philadelphia Schools education and are dedicated to providing a fun and engaging learning environment that is reflective of our Quaker spirit.”
As a result of these internal shifts, the Board of Education hired Joshua Jarvis as the new assistant principal at New Philadelphia High School and Rebekka Houze as the new assistant principal at Welty Middle School.
Jarvis is coming to New Philadelphia Schools from Garaway Local Schools in Sugarcreek, Ohio, where he has taught social studies for the past nine years. Additionally, throughout his career, he has taken on increasing leadership roles, both inside and outside of the classroom, including filming all events throughout the pandemic to ensure students, families and the community remained connected, partnering with the administration to establish the Hope Squad suicide prevention program at Garaway Schools, establishing the Matt Jarvis Foundation, which raises funds for families and athletic programs in need in his community, and coaching baseball at the high school and college level for the past 14 years. Jarvis earned a bachelor’s in history from Muskingum University and a master’s in educational leadership from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Houze holds a bachelor’s in education and a master’s in educational leadership, both from the University of Mount Union. She taught in North Carolina and Ohio for nearly 20 years before advancing her career as assistant principal at Canton City Schools. There, she helped create a master schedule for students in grades K-6, and led her school in Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) implementation. She prides herself on cultivating and maintaining positive and productive relationships with all educational stakeholders, including parents, students, administrators, and the community.
“We are fortunate to find such innovative leaders who are dedicated to furthering New Philadelphia Schools’ mission to provide all students the opportunity to achieve their highest potential,” said New Philadelphia City Schools Board of Education President Todd MacMath.