LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Daniel Kaffenbarger

Position: Superintendent
School: Madison-Champaign Educational Service Center
School District: Madison-Champaign Educational Service Center
City, State: Urbana, OH

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Dr. Daniel Kaffenbarger was nominated by an anonymous colleague.

Dr. Kaffenbarger, also known as Dr. K, has been in education for more than 40 years. He's entering his final year at the Madison-Champaign Counties Educational Service Center (MCCESC), as he plans on retiring in July 2022.

MCCESC provides educational services for the counties' most vulnerable children. In order to provide the highest quality services, the employees must be committed to the work and meeting the needs of the students and their families. Soon after joining the ESC, Dr. K looked to adopt an organizational approach that would allow his personal values to align with a customer-first system. Soon after, he led the ESC on a journey in servant leadership that continues today.

Dr. Kaffenbarger has worked with his administrative team over the past several years to establish a mission of "We Work to Serve," and the staff does just that! Using the STAR of customer service (Serving others, Teamwork, Attitude, Reliability), supervisors within the agency work to encourage their teachers, paraprofessionals, nurses, and many others to exude a servant's heart.

To continue making servant leadership a priority, Dr. K has collaborated with the agency director to create an Aspiring Leaders Academy. This is a two-year professional learning community that focuses on building the leadership capacity of individuals within the agency. Dr. K recognizes the importance of building the skills of individuals within the ESC. These leaders will continue to provide the highest quality services for students and their families, with the ultimate goal of putting others first and working to serve.

Dr. K was most recently named the Outstanding Superintendent by the Southwest Region of the Ohio School Boards Association. His excellent performance is demonstrated through the hard work he puts forth on a daily basis to support the requests and needs of the nine districts and two career-tech centers served by MCCESC. Dr. K holds monthly meetings for superintendents - one for Madison County and one for Champaign County. He holds quarterly meetings for area principals and serves on the Business Advisory Council, Kiwanis, and the Family Children First Council, along with being a leader within his church.

On July 18, 2021, Dr. K made the following Facebook post in memory of his late father:

"Dad would be 100 today. He’s been in Heaven for nearly 10 years. I am thankful for him and the godly legacy he left behind. He taught me so many things, but watching him pastor a church taught me more about leadership than any class I’ve ever taken. Here are his leadership keys:

1. Keep your priorities straight.
2. Leave things better than you found them.
3. Don’t worry about who gets credit for the job, just get the job done. Avoid the person who is the hero of his own stories.
4. Do your best….always.
5. In mediating conflict, there are always two sides.

Simple truths, but profound. Love you and miss you!"

Each of these pieces of leadership are being employed by Dr. K today. He is passing them along to his staff so they can positively influence the lives of some of Madison and Champaign Counties' most vulnerable youth.

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Comments (8)

CONNIE COHN Posted over a year ago

Dr. Kaffenbarger was the superintendent at Triad when I started working here as a payroll specialist. He encouraged me to continue my education and work toward getting my treasurer's license. I remember often times hearing him say - "You will make a great treasurer". Without that positive support I don't think I would have been able to push through taking college classes while working full time and caring for my family. That was 15 years ago and I love my job as Triad school treasurer. Dr. Kaffenbarger still reminds us WHY we are in this business. We make a positive difference in the lives of kids!

Kyle Huffman Posted over a year ago

I have had the privilege of knowing Dr. Kaffenbarger from three different perspectives: 1. as a student in his building while he was principal; 2. as a teacher that worked for him for 7 years; 3. finally, as a fellow administrator who worked for him while he served as a local school district superintendent. Dr. Kaffenbarger has always maintained a professional atmosphere and made sure that everyone knew that they were a person first, not just a student, teacher or fellow administrator. He is always willing to mentor and share his immense knowledge with people and is an excellent educator and is focused on serving the various stakeholders of any organization he leads. He was the best high school principal and superintendent that Triad Local Schools ever had!

Michele Roberts Posted over a year ago

I have been fortunate to work with Dr. Kaffenbarger while at Triad and the ESC. He leaves a lasting imprint on the people he works with by being a servant leader and putting others first. DR. K. believes that each employee has the responsibility to be the best they can be each and every day and he practices this as the leader of the ESC. By expecting the best from each employee, he has made me a better educator and person, and I am thankful for his guidance and support.

Melissa Scoville Posted over a year ago

Dr. Kaffenbarger took a chance on me as a second-year teacher in 2005. At that time, he provided me leadership opportunities that I did not believe that I could handle, but he saw otherwise. Fourteen years later, he took another chance on me and hired me as the math "person" for his newly-established Teaching & Learning team. He continues to encourage me to take chances and extend my leadership skills. I am so blessed to have such a tremendous mentor in my life.

Tricia Honeycutt Posted over a year ago

Dr. K is a great leader because he is a great man. I enjoy serving under his guidance and will miss him dearly after he retires next year. This award could not go to a more deserving Servant Leader! ?

Daniel Kaffenbarger Posted over a year ago

So proud of my dad! His passion for education rubbed off on me and is a large reason why I am a teacher today.

Makayla Posted over a year ago

Hi how are you doing this year

James Cutlip Posted over a year ago

Something not included here is just how impactful Dr. K is. I have been blessed to be part of the admin. team at the ESC, and I can honestly say that he has definitely left me better than he found me. I am a better leader than I ever imagined, thanks to him.