The Middletown Board of Education voted on May 1 to bring in G. Elgin Card as the district’s next superintendent, capping a months-long search for new leadership. Card is scheduled to take the helm on August 1, 2026, succeeding current superintendent Deborah Houser and stepping into a role that district leaders say calls for steady hands and deep experience.
The board signed off on Card’s hiring during a special meeting, according to Middletown City Schools. The district’s announcement notes that Card and his family plan to relocate to Middletown ahead of his August start, and that the board was focused on finding a leader who fits with its existing strategic priorities rather than rewriting the playbook.
Card currently serves as superintendent of Princeton City Schools and has previously worked as a teacher, coach and administrator in both Lakota and Princeton, per Princeton City Schools. His profile with AASA credits him with roughly three decades in public education, including leadership roles that emphasize equity and community engagement.
Search process and board vote
The district partnered with K12 Business Consulting on a multi-stage search that included stakeholder questionnaires and a public "Meet the Candidates" forum on April 28, where finalists fielded questions from families, staff and students, according to Middletown City Schools. Board President Dr. Chris Urso described Card as “an experienced, accomplished, and authentic educational leader who connects exceptionally well with people,” and said the board expects him to build on the district’s existing strategic plan rather than start from scratch.
What Card inherits
Card will step into a district that leaders describe as in the middle of modernization efforts and academic improvement. The district’s audit and financial report cites gains that include a graduation rate near 91 percent and continued investments in facilities and programming, per the Ohio Auditor of State. Local officials have framed those shifts as part of a "MiddieRising" turnaround that centers on career readiness and updated classrooms.
Card has roughly three months to prepare for his August start, and the board says it plans to release more information soon on transition steps and a schedule of community meetings. District leaders are casting the hire as a push for continuity after an inclusive search process, and Card has said he is eager to begin “partnering with our students, families, staff, and community” once he arrives in Middletown.
