On April 16, 2009, the Cincinnati Board of Education unanimously selected Mary A. Ronan as Superintendent of Cincinnati Public Schools. Ronan, a 32-year veteran of the district, has served as Interim Superintendent since August 1, 2008.
The Board's goal was to look for a superintendent to lead the 34,000-student district and continue its progress raising academic achievement and the graduation rate, bringing it to national prominence.
“The selection of a Superintendent is perhaps the most consequential decision that a school board can make,” said Board President Eileen Cooper Reed. “We promised 14 months ago that we would not rest until we found the right leader for our students, our school system and our community. Today, we are delivering on that promise.”
Cooper Reed noted that the selection process, which included two national searches, permitted the Board to cast a wide net in attracting a Superintendent candidate pool. CPS' Board announced in January 2009 that it would undertake a second national search for a superintendent. An initial search ended in June 2008 after it was determined that neither of the two finalists was a good fit for Cincinnati.
The Board involved the community in a major role in the selection of a superintendent. During the second search, a Community Advisory Group convened by the Board was asked again to review candidates and determine which ones the Board should proceed to interview.
During the initial search, this Community Advisory Group reviewed input collected via several community forums and an online survey, and approved a description of the skills, qualifications and experience sought in superintendent candidates. The group was comprised of representatives from faith-based communities; parent groups; the Labor Council; neighborhood groups; civil rights organizations; the City of Cincinnati/other municipalities in the district; service organizations; business groups; and higher education.
The selection process provided Board members with vital interview opportunities to explore candidates’ visions, goals, priorities, skills and problem-solving abilities, Cooper Reed said.
“As stewards of a public organization with a budget approaching $500 million and the priceless responsibility of educating our community’s children, it was especially important to ensure we followed best human resource practices in our process, including formal interviews,” Cooper Reed said.
In Ronan’s case, she added, the Board had the added advantage of being able to observe and evaluate her day-to-day, on-the-job performance over the past nine months. Ronan, who had served as CPS' Director of Schools, was appointed Interim Superintendent because she was familiar with CPS and its initiatives and was able to ensure a smooth opening of the school year and continued progress.
“We’ve had the benefit of both perspectives in this selection, and because of that, we feel absolutely confident we have the right person for this very important job,” she said.
Former Superintendent Rosa Blackwell retired when her contract ended on July 31, 2008.