11/03/2025
PRINCIPAL BAUER STEPPING DOWN … Ottawa Hills Elementary School principal Jeremy Bauer announced his intention to step down in a letter to parents Monday afternoon.
“This is a difficult letter to write. As many of you know, my family and I suffered the unimaginable loss of our daughter, Charley, nine months ago to acute myeloid leukemia,” he wrote. “Not a moment goes by that we do not feel the ache of her absence. Grief changes you — it reshapes your priorities, your purpose, and your heart in ways you could never expect.”
“After deep reflection, I have come to the difficult realization that I need to step away from my role as the principal of OHES. The love I have for your kids, the staff, and the families of Ottawa Hills has not wavered, but my purpose at this time in my life has shifted,” the letter continues.
A 1993 graduate of Ottawa Hills High School, Bauer had been serving as principal of Stranahan Elementary Schools in Sylvania when he was hired to be principal at OHES in July, 2021.
“Today was a tough decision to announce for both Dr. Bauer and the district,” Superintendent Adam Fineske said. “We support him and his family fully and wish them all the best as they move forward with their new endeavors and continue ‘to do hard things!’ We are truly grateful for the past five years of his leadership, passion, dedication and true love for everything Ottawa Hills.”
Fineske’s comments reflect a portion of Bauer’s letter, in which he writes: “In the midst of our grief, my wife and I have held tightly to Charley’s last words: ‘I can do hard things.’ It has become a reminder that even in the most painful chapters of life, we sometimes choose a new path — and sometimes a new path chooses us.”
Bauer and his wife will be focusing their efforts on Tiny Hooves Farm, in Sylvania, a nonprofit “dedicated to supporting individuals and families in the grief community — offering comfort, connection, and compassion to other families navigating loss.”
Effective Dec. 1, Rose Gaiffe, OHES assistant administrator, will serve as interim principal. The school district will launch a search for a new principal who will take the helm at the start of the 2026-27 school year.
