Richland Newhope superintendent announces retirement

NEWS RELEASE

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Aug. 23, 2017

Contact:  Jane Imbody, Director of Community Relations, at 419-774-4215 or jimbody@rnewhope.org.

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 Richland Newhope superintendent announces retirement

 (Mansfield, OH) – The Richland County Board of Developmental Disabilities (RCBDD) is looking for a new superintendent after Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Prather announced on Wednesday she plans to retire at the end of 2017.

 Prather has worked in the developmental disabilities field for the past 37 years.  She was chosen to lead Richland Newhope in 2007.  In 2014, she also began serving as superintendent of the Crawford County Board of Developmental Disabilities. 

 During her tenure, she has served on several statewide rule-writing and public policy committees while also being very active in community organizations such as United Way, the Kiwanis Club of Mansfield, the Richland County Youth and Family Council, and Special Olympics.

 “I think it’s a good time for both boards to have new leadership,” says Prather.  “It was my goal to stay until each county completed the transition of adult day and transportation services to private provider partners.  We successfully did that in Richland County in 2016 and expect to complete the process in Crawford County by the end of this year.”

 “I love my job and will truly miss everyone I work with, especially the individuals and families that we support,” she adds.

 The RCBDD has formed a Superintendent Search Committee comprised of three board members.  The Ohio Association of County Boards of Developmental Disabilities (OACB) will be assisting in the search for Prather’s replacement.

 The committee will also be seeking staff input throughout the process.  The goal is to have a successor on board by Jan. 1, 2018.

 The Crawford County Board of Developmental Disabilities will be conducting a separate search for its new superintendent.

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