From the desk of Superintendent Moran

Great teaching and engaged students are at the center of what we do, but the day-to-day success of a school district also depends on countless “behind-the-scenes” systems working reliably, often without anyone noticing. When those systems are strong, schools feel calm, safe, and ready. When they falter, everyone feels it.

That’s why this month, I’m proud to share the opening of our new Operations Center. This is an important investment in the transportation, maintenance, and custodial teams whose behind-the-scenes work keeps our schools safe, ready, and running smoothly every day. This work at the Operations Center also connects to a bigger story across our district: thoughtful facility planning and construction progress that will serve students today and position Tipp City Schools for the future. Construction projects can be challenging in the short term—traffic patterns change, spaces shift, routines adjust—but the long-term impact is significant. 

• We are building environments that support strong instruction, student growth, and pride in our schools. As we move forward, you will continue to see visible progress at our PK–8 building site as crews complete foundational work and the structure begins to take shape.

• Another important area of progress is our connection with families. We’re continuing our transition to MyPowerHub, the updated version of the PowerSchool parent portal experience. This update introduces a mobile-friendly interface and a more user-friendly way for guardians and students to access information. The login screen will look familiar, and usernames and passwords are not changing, but families will notice a refreshed look, especially on mobile. 

• This month has also brought many moments of student success worth dedication within our schools. I’m proud to share a creative success story from Tippecanoe Middle School. Students in Heather Combs’ Graphic Design art class recently designed sticker concepts for the Downtown Tipp City Partnership and submitted them for judging across three themes—Past, Present, and Future. Bryce Westfall and Makayla Utz had their designs selected, and the stickers are now in production. The partnership recognized Bryce and Makayla at its annual dinner, highlighting not only their talent but also the strong connection between our schools and our community. Congratulations to these students for representing Tippecanoe with creativity, professionalism, and pride.

• Two Tippecanoe High School students, accompanied by teacher Alexis Morgan, recently attended a Tipp City Rotary Club luncheon to share their speeches from the annual Rotary Speech Contest. Although the contest was held earlier, Rotary members had the opportunity to hear the students’ prepared remarks and recognize their accomplishments. Caroline Kaibas earned first place, and Katelyn Beeson placed third. Kaibas will advance to the Rotary District competition on February 22 at Wright State University.

• Thirty-two students from L.T. Ball Intermediate School, Tippecanoe Middle School, and Tippecanoe High School competed at the 12th annual Miami County Science Day, supported by the Ohio Academy of Science.  This is an opportunity for students in grades 5 to 12 to work independently on a scientific study of their choice and then share their findings. (The Tippecanoe Gazette highlights the students’ success separately in this week’s paper.)

• Tippecanoe High School swimmers delivered a strong showing at the 2026 Southwest Ohio High School Swimming & Diving Classic (SW Classic).  This is widely regarded as one of the nation’s largest high school swim meets, with athletes competing against more than 120 teams across two demanding days. Athletes raced morning preliminaries at Trotwood Madison High School and, for those who advanced, competed under the lights in evening finals at St. Xavier’s Keating Natatorium, demonstrating determination and sportsmanship throughout the weekend.

• Three Red Devils earned places in the finals, a significant accomplishment at an event of this caliber. Ridley Brenner (sophomore) placed 6th in the 50 fly and 13th in the 100 IM, Liam Dunkle (sophomore) finished 9th in the 50 fly, and Avery Anderson (senior) earned 15th in the 1650 freestyle.  Swimmers also had a strong league showing at the MVL Championship Meet.

• The winter season also brought a major championship moment for Tippecanoe High School. The Lady Red Devils clinched the Miami Valley League title with a Senior Night victory over Fairborn, finishing the league season 17–0 and improving to 19–2 overall. It marks the program’s first MVL championship since the 2020–2021 season, a tremendous accomplishment for our athletes and coaching staff.

• Tippecanoe High School senior CJ Bailey reached an impressive milestone this season, scoring his 1,000th career point. Entering Tipp’s matchup against Xenia, Bailey needed 16 points to reach the mark. He got there in memorable fashion—knocking down a fourth-quarter 3-pointer for his 16th point of the night, officially joining the 1,000-point club. Congratulations to CJ on a moment that reflects years of hard work, consistency, and dedication to the program.

• Athletic success continued for Tippecanoe Middle School athletes.  The 8th-grade girls basketball team defended its title in back-to-back seasons at the MVL Champions.  The Lady Red Devils finished undefeated, going 18-0.  The 7th-grade girls finished as runner-up. The 7th-grade boys basketball team all earned the MVL Championship title and finished the season 13-5.  

• One of the newest after-school opportunities at Tippecanoe Middle School is already making a big impression: esports. Recently, our TMS esports team traveled to The Ohio State University to learn about esports curriculum and career pathways. We look forward to seeing how this program continues to grow and inspire students to explore new interests and skills, creating exciting future possibilities. The TMS esports team is now headed to regionals.

• Spring is an exciting and busy season for our performing arts students. We invite families and community members to attend the Tippecanoe High School spring musical, The Addams Family: A New Musical Comedy, on March 6 and 7 at 7:00 PM and March 8 at 2:00 PM. Join us to celebrate student talent and show your support for our vibrant arts community.
  At the same time, our band students are preparing for a memorable trip to Disney World, where they will have the incredible opportunity to perform on a national stage. Meanwhile, our choir students are hard at work rehearsing for OMEA contests and upcoming spring performances, refining their skills and striving for excellence. We are proud of the commitment and passion our students continue to show as they represent Tipp City Schools through music and the arts.

• Broadway Elementary and L.T. Ball Intermediate had successful Read-a-thons. Broadway Elementary students read an incredible 116,296 minutes during this year’s Read-a-Thon, raising $28,360.80 to support their school. We are equally proud to share that L.T. Ball Elementary also hosted a highly successful Read-a-Thon, achieving comparable results: raising more than $24,000 and students logging 166,550 minutes.

These efforts would not be possible without the tremendous support of our families and parent organizations. We extend special thanks to LTPA for championing and sponsoring this initiative at the intermediate school. Funds raised through the Read-a-Thons directly benefit students by supporting classroom resources, enrichment opportunities, literacy initiatives, and other programs that enhance the elementary experience. Most importantly, the Read-a-Thon reinforces the joy and importance of reading. 

When we share these stories, we’re not just highlighting achievements—we’re showing what’s possible when caring adults, strong programs, and an engaged community support students. Thank you for continuing to partner with us. Thank you for supporting our staff, encouraging our students, and believing in the work of public education. Progress doesn’t always look flashy, but it’s meaningful—and it’s happening every day in Tipp City Schools.

Finally, as we plan, Tipp City Schools is also preparing for the future through staffing. School districts must recruit and plan well in advance to ensure we have great educators in place for next year. We are committed to hiring talented, student-centered professionals who will contribute to our culture, support our learners, and strengthen our teams. When we talk about the future of our district, it isn’t only about buildings and systems, it’s about people. The people and values that make Tipp City special.