By: Evi Fromm

“Just keep being great” is assistant principal Barry Limon’s message for the Bellbrook student body as the 2024-2025 school year begins. Limon was hired over the summer to replace former assistant principal Todd Whalen, who now serves as principal of Xenia High School.

Before coming to Bellbrook, Limon worked in the small Butler County district of New Miami for five years.

“I started out as a Dean of Students for three years, and then I was a high school principal for one year,” he said. “Then after that, they asked me to be principal of both the middle school and the high school for one year.”

The village of New Miami sits in St. Clair Township and has a population of roughly 2,000 people.

“Our graduating classes were in the 30s,” Limon said. “It was very tiny but a great place to be.”

Now working in Bellbrook, Limon is in charge of discipline for the 9th and 11th graders and is interacting with triple the amount of students on the daily.

“On the first day, the staff held a pep rally to welcome everyone back, and as I walked in one of the cheerleaders said good morning to me personally,” Limon said. “I felt so welcomed knowing that even though school hadn’t started yet, a student already knew who I was” he said. “I feel so at home here and I want to absorb all of the Bellbrook kindness and culture that I can from the students and staff.”

Growing up outside of Olympia Washington, Limon Attended North Thurston High School.

“My high school was very focused on athletics instead of academics,” Limon said. “During my time there I played football, wrestling, baseball and soccer not only because it was the thing to do, but because my teams were my family.”

Bellbrook is a 5-star rated school, praised for its equal focus on education, athletics, as well as student life.

“Here I feel like I can get involved in everything and connect with so many more students,” Limon said. “I see myself staying here for a very long time. It is a great place to be.”