Meet our new security receptionist, aka Coach Plas!

Steve Podlasiak

When you arrive at the Cassingham Complex these days, you will most likely be greeted by former Bexley teacher and coach, Steve Podlasiak, aka Plas. Steve took over for long time receptionist Sherri MacKay who retired in December. 

Steve is well known to many in the Bexley community. After one year of teaching at Reynoldsburg, he came to Bexley Middle School in 1985 to teach 7th and 8th grade science  and to assist with the middle school football team as well as help on the high school football staff.  Just a few years later, Steve was asked to join the track staff as a throw coach and eventually he became the head track coach. Helping him learn the ropes as track coach was BHS athlete, Greg Allen ‘88.  By 1996 Steve was the Head Coach for both Football and Track. That decade of coaching was marked by some outstanding athletic performances by many students Steve watched growing up and later taught at the middle school.

Bexley Middle School is where Plas forged many great relationships with students (many of whom he still keeps in contact with) and staff and created fun and memorable learning experiences.  Steve loved being a teacher in middle school because “the kids made me laugh all the time.” He engaged students with fun experiments like creating methane bubbles using glycerine and soap and then torching the bubbles to go up in flames with no smoke. Steve encouraged students to think outside the box and to draw upon their unique talents.

All the while Steve was teaching and coaching he was also raising his own family with wife Kathy and is proud of his Bexley grads, Scott ‘10, Brian ‘12, Sarah ‘14 and stepson Nicholas Lloyd ‘11. All of his children participated in different sports and activities, so by the time they were Bexley High School students, Steve turned his focus to being a dad rather than a coach.  A favorite memory was being the “Voice of the Lions” for Sarah’s volleyball team. Steve officially retired from teaching and coaching in the Bexley Schools in 2014.   

Not one to hang out the gone fishing sign, Steve worked for a short time as a classroom aide in the Bexley Schools and then worked for Columbus Public Health for several years. He and Kathy now live in Gahanna and are enjoying their first grandchild Mia (Scott’s daughter), who is 7 months old.  Steve continues to volunteer as a usher for the Blue Jackets and likes to stay busy.  So when this opportunity arose to serve the schools as an ambassador of sorts, it was a perfect fit for his positive energy. We are thrilled to have Plas at the Cassingham front door!

Click to view 3 photos:

Steve with his children, Scott, Brian and Sarah. Steve and his first grandchild, Mia. Steve and wife Kathy.