A 40-year public servant, passionate advocate for continuing education, a lifetime resident of Guernsey County and a proud alumna of Cambridge High School, Sharon Cassler, will be the lone 2024 inductee in the Cambridge High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame.
Sharon was a member of the Cambridge High School Class of 1979. She attended Glass Plant Elementary, Cambridge Junior High and Cambridge High School. During her high school career, she was a member of the marching band, concert band; sympathy band; pep band; woodwind and clarinet choir, drill team, was a majorette participated in the American School Band Directors Association (ASBDA) solo and ensemble. She was also treasurer of the Future Homemakers of America (FHA), a track team Cinderella, library aide, office aide; and a member of the Future Teachers of America (FTA).
Upon graduation from high school, Sharon immediately entered the workforce. She worked at the Guernsey County Health Department for two years before being appointed as the Clerk of Council for the City of Cambridge, a position she has held for 40 years.
Sharon has been active in the Ohio Municipal Clerks Association (OMCA). She successfully completed the Career Development Program through Kent State University to become a Certified Municipal Clerk in 1992and continued her training to become a Master Municipal Clerk in 2003. She served as OMCA President in 1994.
Sharon has a passion for Clerk Education and served OMCA as the Chair of the Professional Development Committee for more than 10 years. She was named the OMCA Clerk of the Year in 2000.
Sharon is currently serving on the Ohio Municipal League (OML) Board of Directors. The OML was incorporated as an Ohio non-profit corporation in 1952 by City and Village Officials who saw the need for a statewide association to serve the interests of Ohio municipal government. She served OML as their President in 2020.
She is also an active member of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC). IIMC is the premier organization of Municipal Clerks. Founded in 1947, IIMC has more than 75 years of experience improving the professionalism of Municipal Clerks. IIMC has more than 15,000 members worldwide. IIMC is affiliated with 49 US States, nine Canadian Associations as well as 9 International Associations (Belgium, the Netherlands, Israel, Portugal, Scotland, Whales, England, Bulgaria, and South Africa).
Sharon has served on more than a dozen committees within IIMC, in an effort to ensure proper education is available for Municipal Clerks all over the world. She served on the IIMC Board of Directors from 2001-2003 and was elected as their Vice President in 2008. She then succeeded to the office of IIMC President in 2010.
While serving as IIMC’s President, Sharon visited dozens of States in the United States, three provinces in Canada as well as South Africa, Scotland, and England. She says it was her pleasure to serve as not just an Ambassador for IIMC, but for OMCA and the City of Cambridge.
In 2016, Sharon received IIMC’s highest honor by receiving the prestigious Quill Award. The Quill Award was established in 1987 and is meant to recognize Municipal Clerks who have distinguished themselves by making significant and exemplary contributions to their community, state, municipality and in particular IIMC and their peers. Sharon successfully completed 10, six-hour sessions through the Athenian Leadership Society to become a Fellow in IIMC.
To continue her passion for Clerk Education, she was selected to serve on the IIMC Foundation Board of Directors. The Foundation raises money for the sole purpose of offering scholarships and grants to members so that they can attend the education sessions to receive their certification.
Sharon was also honored with having an Endowment established in her name through the IIMC Foundation. This Endowment will allow Clerks in Ohio to receive scholarships for their educational needs.
There is no doubt that her education in her home and the Cambridge City Schools has inspired her to work to make Cambridge even better than she found it to be as a student herself.
Sharon is an active life-time member of Christ Global Methodist Church. She is the Director of Women’s Ministries, serves as the Chairperson of the Worship Committee and is a member of the choir. She co-leads morning worship through song.
In addition to playing a large role in her local church, she helps to spread the gospel throughout the community and even the world by serving on the Board of Directors for the Living Word Outdoor Drama and the board for the LifeWise Academy for Guernsey County.
A graduate of the Cambridge Citizens Police Academy and a member of the Police Academy Alumni Association, Sharon strives to make Cambridge safer and even more friendly than it already is.
These positions, missions and servanthood opportunities prove that Sharon wants the best for Cambridge and the residents of the community she loves. She does not hesitate to tell the “Cambridge story” wherever she travels.
Sharon is the daughter of Joe and Isabelle Starr. She resides in Cambridge with her husband Bill. They have one son and daughter-in-law, DJ and Jessie and two grandchildren, Cameron and Benjamin.
Cassler will be recognized at prior to Cambridge Bobcat football game on Aug. 30. The official induction ceremony will take place at 11:30 a.m. Aug. 31 at Cambridge High School Auditorium. The cost of the lunch is $15 and reservations must be made by Aug. 23. For reservations, contact Jodi Neff at 740-584-9733.