HARRISON — A school administrator has earned yet another professional honor.

        Don Jostworth, principal of Harrison Junior School in the Southwest Local School District, was recently named Ohio Middle School Educator of the Year.

Don Jostworth poses in the gym at Harrison Junior School (Glenn Hartong photo) | ZOOM |

        Described by his colleagues as quiet, unassuming and one “who gets the job done,” Mr. Jostworth is modest about his achievement.

        “The entire staff at Harrison Junior School and the atmosphere in the building just lends itself to students being very successful,” he said.

        The Ohio Middle School Association gives the award

        for unique and innovative contributions. Recipients can be teachers, administrators or parents and must belong to the association, which has about 7,000 members.

        “Middle school is a tough time for kids — they've got a lot going on emotionally and physically,” said Mr. Jostworth, the father of two college-age daughters.

        “I think we bring a lot of patience and excitement to our school for students to learn.”

        Mr. Jostworth, 51, is a past president of the association. He has been principal at Harrison Junior School 19 years and was assistant principal six years prior to that. He began his career in the Southwest district in 1973, teaching high school business and coaching varsity baseball.

        “Don has done an awful lot for the organization and for Harrison Junior School,” association president Charlie Beard said. “He's brought in thousands of dollars in grants, works well with kids and staff and even did a great job as the local person on the scene for our conference in Cincinnati last year.”

        Harrison Junior School was selected in 1984 as a national Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, and in 1991 was named one of Ohio's outstanding middle schools.

        Mr. Jostworth works with the University of Cincinnati and College of Mount St. Joseph, preparing students for careers as middle school teachers.

        He has bachelor's and master's degrees from Xavier University and is pursuing a doctorate at the University of Cincinnati.

        Mr. Jostworth also was named Ohio Secondary School Principal of the Year in 1985.

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