Karla Warren (614) 995-3867
Scott Blake (614) 995-3867
For Immediate Release Tuesday, October 14, 2008
State Board of Education selects next state superintendent of public instruction
Columbus – This afternoon, the State Board of Education unanimously voted to appoint Deborah Delisle as the next state superintendent of public instruction.“I deeply appreciate the opportunity to work with the State Board on the selection of Deborah as our next state superintendent of public instruction,” said Governor Ted Strickland. “I believe Deborah is exactly the right person for the job at the right time. I look forward to working with her to accomplish our shared goal of building a world-class education system for Ohio students.”
Deborah Delisle replaces Susan Tave Zelman, who has served as state superintendent since 1999. Zelman announced her resignation earlier this year and will start Nov. 3 as the senior vice president of education at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in Washington, D.C.
“I am confident that Deborah will continue our strong reforms of the past decade and bring a new vision that will elevate our education system to one of world prominence,” said State Board President Jennifer L. Sheets. “We were looking for an individual that would bring together stakeholders and advocate for public education. I am certain Deborah brings the right skills and experience to lead Ohio’s education system.”
In June the State Board hired Hudepohl & Associates, a Columbus based executive search firm, to manage the search. The State Board interviewed five candidates for the position. In addition to members of the State Board, Governor Strickland’s chief of staff John Haseley and State Senator Joy Padgett served as members of the Board’s search committee.
“I am honored to be selected as state superintendent of public instruction,” said Deborah Delisle. “I am excited to jump right in and work with the State Board, governor, legislature, our districts and the many other education stakeholders to ensure our students are prepared for success in today’s global economy.”
As state superintendent, Delisle will lead and supervise the state’s elementary and secondary education system; oversee the Ohio Department of Education (ODE); administer licensing of Ohio’s early childhood through high school educators; serve as the State Board’s secretary; and manage relationships with key stakeholders, such as the governor, state legislature, chancellor of Ohio’s university system and local school districts. Delisle will start no later than Dec. 1, 2008 with an annual salary of $194,500, an option of a car allowance of $550 per month or use of a State vehicle and up to $7,500 relocation assistance for reasonable and customary expenses to facilitate her relocation to central Ohio.
Since 2003, Delisle has been the superintendent of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District. She previously held the position of associate superintendent for educational services at the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District. As superintendent, Delisle implemented the district’s One to One Teaching and Learning with Technology program, which by 2012 will provide all students and teachers in grades 6 through 12 with a laptop computer for wireless learning. The program is in its pilot year this school year and recently distributed laptops to all students in the Monticello Middle School. Delisle also has partnered with two neighboring school districts to establish an International Academy, which will provide a bilingual program of English and Mandarin Chinese, and led the transformation of the Cleveland Heights High School into five small schools.
Delisle is a member of many educational associations and committees, including ODE’s International Education Advisory Committee and the Buckeye Association of School Administrators’ State Report Card Committee. She serves on the Executive Board for the Midwest Regional Lab of Learning Point Associates, Minority Student Achievement Network’s Governing Board, the Greater Cleveland Schools Superintendents Association’s Executive Board and has held the positions of Treasurer and President-Elect on the Ohio Schools’ Council.
In 2008, eSchool News named Delisle one of 10 Tech Savvy Superintendents in the nation, and she was selected as one of America’s Top Twenty Educators by Learning Magazine.
Prior to joining the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District, Delisle held the positions of director of academic services, director of curriculum/professional development and elementary school principal in the West Geauga School District; language arts specialist in the Orange School District; and coordinator of the K-12 gifted/enrichment program in the Shaker Heights School District. She has also taught graduate level courses at Kent State University, Ursuline College, University of Northern Colorado and Simon Fraser University.
Delisle conducted her post-graduate work at Kent State University and Ashland University in administration and curriculum development. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Springfield College in Massachusetts and a Master’s degree in Special Education from Kent State University.
