Middletown Superintendent Deborah Houser Announces Retirement
February 2, 2026
Middletown Superintendent Deborah Houser Announces Retirement
MIDDLETOWN, Ohio, Middletown City School District Superintendent Deborah Houser announced she will retire effective August 2026, following a 40-year career in public education.
Houser’s career spans nearly every level of public education, including service as a kindergarten teacher, elementary principal, district leader in curriculum and human resources, assistant superintendent, and superintendent. She has also worked for the Ohio Department of Education and served as a university adjunct professor preparing future school administrators.
Houser joined Middletown City Schools 18 years ago as an assessment coordinator and later served as Director of Human Resources and Assistant Superintendent before becoming Superintendent. She is the first woman to lead Middletown City Schools full-time in the district’s 175-year history.
“Middletown has been more than a place I worked. It has been a place that shaped who I am,” Houser said. “The relationships built with students, staff, and families over the last 18 years mean more to me than I can put into words.”
Houser said time spent in classrooms across the district shaped her leadership and connection to the community. During Houser’s tenure, the district has seen academic growth in early literacy, increased on-level math achievement, and expanded career readiness opportunities for students.
In recent years, Houser has led a significant expansion of the district’s Passport to Tomorrow initiative, a six-year strategic plan designed to help students develop transferable workforce skills and prepare for career opportunities after graduation. Houser credited the district’s progress to the staff's dedication and commitment to students.
“We are a stronger district because of Superintendent Houser’s leadership, loyalty, and hard work, and the positive impact she has had on countless students throughout her career is truly noteworthy,” said Board of Education President Chris Urso.
Houser said her focus will remain on the work ahead and on supporting a smooth transition to the district’s next treasurer and superintendent.
“This is not a farewell,” Houser said. “My commitment to Middletown remains unwavering, and I look forward to completing this chapter with care, purpose, and gratitude.”
At the March meeting, the Board of Education will discuss the search process to fill the superintendent and treasurer leadership roles. At the January meeting, Treasurer Randy Bertram, who has been serving under a retire-rehire arrangement following his retirement in 2020, announced his full resignation effective no later than July 31, 2026.
