POLAND TWP., Ohio - While preparing for a trip to India, Poland superintendent Craig Hockenberry thought he had pulled a muscle in his chest.

Upon his return, a doctor discovered a cancerous cell on his esophagus in September. 

After decades in education the superintendent is now preparing for his retirement following a diagnosis of esophageal cancer. He realized the unpredictability of his health made it challenging to fulfill his duties effectively.

"I started to realize over time that, you know, this is getting very, very challenging, and it's very unpredictable. One minute you get a bloody nose. Next minute, you know, you're sick, throwing up. And I couldn't predict when I was going to be sick," Hockenberry said. 

The superintendent will be moving back to Cincinnati with his family. Although his prognosis is promising, the road ahead will be challenging, as further treatment is planned for January 2026.

"I have to go through a very complicated and very risky surgery where they take half your stomach and half your esophagus out, and then they reconnect it...it could be upwards of eight to 10 weeks where I'm basically incapacitated," Hockenberry said. 

For Hockenberry, deciding to leave was a tough but necessary decision. He found it difficult to inform the board and staff about his retirement due to his close bond with them.

"I got such a great relationship with, with the community to the point where they're not really my colleagues, they're my dear friends," 

Hockenberry will go on medical leave December first and retire August 31, 2026.