Former TV anchor hired as spokeswoman for Dayton Public Schools

A longtime Dayton news anchor has been hired as the new

director of public relations and media for Dayton Public Schools.

The district hired Marsha Bonhart, a former anchor and reporter at  WDTN Channel 2  for 27 years, Tuesday.

She left the station in 2014 and worked for a short time as Wilberforce University’s assistant vice president of public relations and programming.

>> MORE: Marsha Bonhart lands new job, “there is life after dot, dot, dot”

Bonhart had been working for Dayton Contemporary Dance Company as its director of development since June of 2016.

Her salary will be $87,000.

The district also hired Venita Kelley as its director of strategic communications and community relations, at a salary of $89,000.

Kelley owns a consulting firm, has been a college professor, worked with Central State University and served as a representative to the governor’s office for efforts on closing the achievement gap in schools.

Superintendent Rhonda Corr said Bonhart and Kelley also will interface with the Ohlmann Group, which does marketing work for the district.

>> MORE: Marsha leaving WDTN as graceful as ever

District officials said the two positions will fill the equivalent of three to four people’s previous roles.

>> MORE: Dayton Public Schools names superintendent

Last fall, DPS laid off director of family and community engagement Toni Perry Gillispie, then saw other key communications staff retire or resign – Jill DruryKen Kreitzer and Jill Moberley.

Moberley, the district’s  former director of strategic communications, retired in December after 35 years.

>> MORE: Strike or not, Dayton schools will open Aug. 15