About Michael Sawyers

Michael L. Sawyers has dedicated more than 34 years to public education and has served as Superintendent of New Albany–Plain Local Schools since 2016. A respected statewide leader, Sawyers is known for his collaborative leadership style, strategic fiscal stewardship, and unwavering focus on student achievement and well-being.

Under his direction, New Albany–Plain Local Schools has strengthened academic excellence and accountability across all grade levels, and maintained the district’s Five-Star rating from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, and advanced a comprehensive Campus Master Plan.  He has also championed districtwide initiatives promoting inclusion, safety, and mental health—fostering a culture where every student can thrive.

Sawyers’s leadership and service have been recognized through multiple honors, including the 2024 Exemplary Leadership Award and the 2013 Distinguished Service Award from the Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA), as well as the New Albany Chamber of Commerce Delta Award for Outstanding Business Leader.

He actively represents the district through service on the New Albany Chamber of Commerce, New Albany Community Foundation, Ohio School Plan, as President of the Central Ohio Superintendents’ Association.   Sawyers also participates at the State and National levels to advocate for public education.
 

A lifelong advocate for education, Sawyers has held leadership positions at both the local and state levels, including Acting State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Deputy Superintendent, and Assistant Superintendent at the Ohio Department of Education. He previously served as Superintendent of Perry Local Schools and as a teacher, principal, and district leader in multiple Ohio communities.

Sawyers is a graduate of the Ohio School Leadership Academy and Ohio Principal’s Leadership Academy and frequently presents for the Buckeye Association of School Administrators. He earned both his Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Education from the University of Akron and holds valid Ohio licenses as Superintendent, Principal, and Spanish Teacher.

Sawyers and his wife, Paula, an Assistant Prosecutor in Licking County have three young adult children, Ben, Rose, and Noah.

Sawyers may be reached at sawyers.1@napls.us or by calling 614-413-7102.