October 25, 2023 – Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center resembles a mini college campus full of vibrant art, diverse culture, and career-technical learning opportunities. Yet, many are unaware of how it became a beacon for artists welding their crafts or what individual is behind the brick walls and talent gracing its classrooms.
Housed on one side of campus are buildings for standard academics. On the other side are bricklaying, carpentry, automotive repair, and welding classrooms. However, sprinkled throughout the entire campus are the arts. Because of this, Fort Hayes could be considered Columbus' modern-day version of the hit musical Fame's New York High School of Performing Arts. Enter the high school and discover saxophones blaring jazz and choreographers shouting "5-6-7-8." Cut across the lawn and continue up a flight of stairs to find a student art gallery decorated with raw emotions.
In a small wing off the gallery is where you will find the orchestrator of this grand symphony: Principal Dr. Milton Ruffin. In his office are sparkling trophies, including Emmys and a GRAMMY, a sleek grand piano, and photos of Ruffin and famous faces - ranging from music superstars of the '60s to a U.S. president.
With excellence as an expectation, he has inspired generations of Fort Hayes students with his strong work ethic and intense dedication to his passions. Considering his accomplishments, it is hard to believe Ruffin was once a struggling student, trying his best to navigate the highs and lows life tossed at him.
Steel Town Dreams
In the 1960s, Youngstown, Ohio, was booming with steel production and a robust economy. Two of Ruffin's most significant influences were his mother and father in a modest house on the edge of town. A quiet, stern, hard-working steel worker and a witty school librarian with endless humor taught a young Ruffin the importance of cultivating a strong work ethic.
A hazy sunrise fell on the Rust Belt as Ruffin finished his paper route. Although exhausted, he still had a tremendous pep in his step. He daydreamed about getting his hands on a wooden object with shiny single-coil pickups and vibrating strings. Months after begging his parents to let him work the route, Ruffin finally had enough money to buy his dream instrument.
He rushed home, gathered his paper route money, sprinted down the street, and bought a little electric guitar from a neighbor in Youngstown.
The only stipulation? Young Ruffin's parents demanded that he stick with it – no quitting or giving up a few weeks later because it became difficult.
"Whatever I did, I had to see it through," Ruffin said. "That was the foundation of everything that I've done in my life from childhood on."
Ruffin enjoyed playing the guitar, but something didn't feel quite right as he grew. His large hands felt cramped and fit awkwardly around the neck of the guitar. After noticing Ruffin's uncomfortable hand position, a friend introduced him to the bass.
"As soon as I touched the bass guitar, I knew right then that was the beginning of the rest of my life," Ruffin said. "It just fit perfectly."
The Ruffin Brothers and Motown
Chatter echoed as classmates filed into the auditorium for a school assembly. Backstage, Ruffin and his brother were nervously warming up as they waited for their band, the Ruffin Brothers, to be introduced.
Moments earlier, after a heated argument, the Ruffin Brothers' lead singer stormed out of the auditorium and quit the band.
"We had issues, you know, that some bands have, and we just couldn't get along with the singers," Ruffin said.
The Ruffin Brothers had to make a decision quickly. Either they canceled their performance in front of the entire school, or they attempted to sing while playing their instruments. With his bass guitar and his brother on the drums, Ruffin collected the courage to sing.
"That's how I started singing in the band," Ruffin said. "I've been singing ever since."
The Ruffin Brothers only stayed on the school stage for a short time. They quickly traded assembly performances for professional gigs as they opened for George Clinton, Parliament-Funkadelic, Cameo, Blue Magic, Gary Toms Empire, and many others.
"We were so young, and it was kind of a novelty," Ruffin said. "Remember the Jackson 5 and young groups like that? We were kind of like that, but we were very professional-sounding."
Word of the band's success spread to Ruffin's cousin, who showed up to meet the Ruffin Brothers for the first time. Ruffin's cousin, David, pulled up to meet them in his Winnebango. And in case you are wondering, the answer is, "Yes!" The same David Ruffin from the Temptations, whose memorabilia graces Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, is Principal Ruffin's cousin.
Ruffin and his brother boarded the Winnebago and headed to Hittsville, U.S.A., with the Temptations artist.
They traveled 3.5 hours to Detroit, Michigan - the soul music mecca and birthplace of Motown Records. A two-story house greeted them, with the front porch beckoning them to the renowned Studio A.
During that time, the recording studio was open 24/7, and famous artists such as Diana Ross & The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson & the Jackson 5, the Marvelettes, and Lionel Richie had already created hit music in the same notorious Studio A that the Ruffin Brothers were about to record.
"I have some audio recordings from that session in my possession," Ruffin said. "[David Ruffin] was very impressed with us. He was really interested in whether or not we would want to go out and play a little bit."
At this time, David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks just left the Temptations and started a band called the Ruff Riders.
Unwilling to leave school behind due to big aspirations, Ruffin chose education instead of possible stardom.
College Obstacles
"The very first time I ever had a formal music lesson was on a college level," Ruffin said.
Ruffin dreamed of attending college; however, he found it to be one of the most challenging obstacles he faced as a musician and an educator.
"Mainly, a lot of African American students were being 'tracked' into certain careers," Ruffin said. "'Well, you're good with your hands. Maybe you should think about a career and go out and get a job with your hands rather than go to college?' Therefore, college prep was not part of my schooling, which made [college] difficult."
Ruffin's grandmother worked over 40 years as a maid for a Youngstown State University professor. During her time there, she would tell the professor stories of her grandsons who played music. As a favor to Ruffin's grandmother, the professor arranged for Ruffin and his brother to go to the Youngstown University School of Music.
"It was kind of a blessing and a curse because when I went to college for music, I didn't have all of the literary parts of music learning and music achievement," Ruffin said. "It was really difficult. That's where that whole journey started as a result of my grandmother and my parents saying that if we wanted to do something, we had to stick with it. And so, here I am 50 years later, still sticking with it."
On the brothers' first day of college, their dad took them to the university and paid for their entire college tuition – in cash.
"I still remember him holding that money in his hand and going to pay for it," Ruffin said. I think about that every day – that he was able to provide for us this way."
Unfortunately, Ruffin started failing class after class. After spending four grueling years at Youngstown State, he transferred to The Ohio State University to finish his education.
It took him EIGHT years to earn his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance. He applied for his master's degree to continue his education. Still, his low grade point average resulted in a 'no' from Ohio State.
Defeat sunk in.
Realizing he may never earn a teaching degree, Ruffin opened a thriving private teaching studio in the Short North.
"I returned to OSU and asked them for a second chance, which they finally agreed to," Ruffin said. "But they put me on probation, and I had to do another bachelor's degree in music education."
By the time he earned his second bachelor's degree, he won the award for Best Student Teacher. That would be the first of many shiny awards that would eventually hang on the walls of Ruffin's Fort Hayes office. The awards fill him with a sense of pride - and remind him that he was capable even when others thought not, but Ruffin always says that he's 'not driven by accomplishments', but instead is 'driven by accomplishing.'
Accomplishing Dreams: From Educator to Fort Hayes Principal
All packed up and ready to uproot to Pasadena, Texas, Ruffin was thrilled. He had accepted a job after college and couldn't wait to become a teacher. As he was getting ready to leave, Columbus City Schools (CCS) called with a counteroffer, and the rest is history.
"I stayed in Columbus, and I never - even till this day - have been to Pasadena," Ruffin said.
The CCS offer was to be an instrumental music teacher at Monroe Middle School…and Ruffin soaked up every moment. He mentored the youth while fully engaged in his craft.
After teaching for about 10 years, Ruffin loved the impact he was making but wanted a new challenge. He set his sights on finally getting his master's degree. He then earned a principal certification, becoming first an Assistant Principal and then a Principal at Monroe. His principalship moved from Monroe to Fort Hayes, where he's been for the past 19 years.
With his leadership and vision, Fort Hayes transformed from a school of a mere 437 students to over 2,000, with Fort Hayes and the Career Center combining to create the more expansive Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center.
"We had political folks [former President Obama and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden] visit our school because it's such a good place to see that the arts are a program that meets kids where they are and allows them to be able to express and do themselves," Ruffin said.
Ruffin believes schools like Fort Hayes are successful because the art of being different and somewhat outrageous is celebrated. He shared those similar words with former President Obama when he asked what made Fort Hayes successful.
The art of accomplishing is alive at Fort Hayes and is apparent throughout the school. Fort Hayes recently received an Emmy award for a show its students assisted in creating and also a GRAMMY Enterprise Award in 2012.
"It's every musician's dream to receive a Grammy award, not only as a musician but as an educator."
Ruffin's work is far from over at Fort Hayes, and he looks forward to the future and the many more successes the students and staff of Fort Hayes will accomplish. He wants others to know that they should always pursue their dreams.
"Wanting to be a teacher and go further academically wasn't likely because my poor academic performance didn't show my capabilities," Ruffin said. "So, going on to get four college degrees, including a Ph.D., proved those folks wrong who thought or predicted it couldn't happen."
Ruffin Family Fun Facts
- Ruffin's wife, Merlyn, and his Daughter, Nia, all earned their Ph.D.
- Nia is a No.1 Billboard Gospel Chart Artist and attended CCS schools Indianola, Monroe, and Northland
- Ruffin's brother, Anthony, works as a Culinary Educator at Columbus Downtown High School
