NELSD Announces Administrative Changes for the 2026-2027 School Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 29, 2026
(937) 325-7615

NELSD ANNOUNCES ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES FOR THE 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio, May 29, 2026—The Northeastern Local School District (NELSD) is excited to announce three administrative appointments for the 2026-2027 school year, pending approval by the NELSD Board of Education at its June 29, 2026, regular board meeting. Mr. Rob Shaffer will return to Northeastern Elementary School (NEES) as principal; Mrs. Alicia Anstine has been promoted to principal at Kenton Ridge Elementary School (KRES); and Mrs. Lindsay Heintz joins the administrative team as assistant principal at Kenton Ridge Elementary.

"We are incredibly excited about the leadership taking shape for next year," said Superintendent Jack Fisher. "These are talented, dedicated educators who know our students, our families, and our community, and we are confident they will continue to move our schools forward."

Mr. Shaffer is no stranger to NELSD or to Northeastern Elementary School. He is, in many ways, a product of it. Shaffer joined the district in 1995, spending five years teaching sixth, seventh, and eighth grade at South Vienna before moving into administration as assistant principal at South Vienna Middle School for 11 years. In 2011, he transitioned to Northridge Elementary—which became Kenton Ridge Elementary School in 2023—where he has served as principal ever since. 

Now, Shaffer returns to Northeastern and South Vienna, the community where his career began, bringing with him more than three decades of NELSD experience, a reputation for thoughtful and insightful leadership, and—if you've spent any time around him—a signature bow tie. Shaffer holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Wright State University and a Master of Science in Educational Administration from the University of Dayton. He lives in Springfield with his wife, Mandy, who serves as PreK-2 principal at Shawnee Elementary, and they are the proud parents of Sam, Jack, and Annie.

Mrs. Anstine steps into the principal role at Kenton Ridge Elementary after a standout 2025-2026 school year serving as assistant principal under Mr. Shaffer. In that time, she quickly became a valued and beloved presence on campus, building meaningful relationships with students, staff, and families while helping create a warm, student-centered environment. A Kenton Ridge alum, Anstine brings nearly two decades of experience in early childhood education. 

Prior to joining NELSD administration, she served as a kindergarten teacher at Shawnee Elementary School and spent many years at Rockway Elementary School, where she held leadership roles as team lead and a member of the Building Leadership Team. She also served as a kindergarten teacher at Rockbrook Elementary School in Lewisville, Texas, and Rocky Hill Elementary in Knoxville, Tennessee. Anstine holds a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Miami University and a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership with Principal Licensure from Concordia University Chicago. She lives in Springfield with her husband, Andy — also a KRHS alum — and their two children, Graham and Avalyn, who attend Kenton Ridge.

"We are incredibly excited for Mrs. Anstine as she steps into this new role," Fisher said. "She has brought warmth, care, and strong leadership to Kenton Ridge Elementary, and we are confident she will continue to help the school and its students thrive."

Joining Anstine on the Kenton Ridge Elementary administrative team is Mrs. Lindsay Heintz, a Kenton Ridge High School Class of 2007 graduate who brings more than 14 years of classroom experience and a genuine passion for giving back to the community that shaped her. Heintz has served as a seventh grade math and sixth grade science teacher at Kenton Ridge Middle School since 2021. 

Prior to joining NELSD, she taught at Global Impact STEM Academy(GISA) from 2017–2021, where she designed and implemented project-based learning experiences, led interdisciplinary STEM initiatives, facilitated virtual and blended learning environments, and built partnerships with community professionals to enhance student engagement. She also brings teaching experience from schools in Arizona and the greater Cleveland area. Heintz recently earned her Master of Arts in School Leadership from Concordia University Chicago and holds a Bachelor of Science in Education in Middle Childhood Math and Science from Ohio University. Her connection to Kenton Ridge runs deep — and as an added note of Cougar pride, her husband  Brad was recently named Kenton Ridge Athletic Director and is himself a proud Class of 2007 KRHS graduate. Lindsay and Brad have two children, Ellie and Cooper, who will both be Cougars in the near future.

"We are thrilled to add Mrs. Heintz to our administrative team," Fisher said. "Her instructional experience, collaborative spirit, and deep connection to Kenton Ridge make her a wonderful addition to KRES."

All three appointments are effective for the 2026-2027 school year, pending formal approval by the NELSD Board of Education at its June 29th meeting.

About NELSD:
Northeastern Local School District (NELSD) is a public school district located in the northeastern portion of Clark County, Ohio.  NELSD serves approximately 3,000 students in grades PK-12 at two facilities across the district, Kenton Ridge Campus (PK-12), and the Northeastern Campus (PK-12). For additional information, visit www.nelsd.org. 

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