STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
State Superintendent
UPDATE
Board Rejects Resolution to Hire New Superintendent WITHOUT a new Search Process
During its June 2022 Board meeting, the State Board of Education voted 10-7 against a resolution to install Larry Hook as the state superintendent, replacing Stephen Dackin who recently resigned over ethics issues. Board member John Hagan proposed the resolution after Dackin's sudden resignation over growing scrutiny about his role leading the hiring process as the Board vice president, before applying for the position himself. Board members have yet to finalize a new hiring process.
Adding complication to the controversial hiring and resignation of Stephen Dackin, Board president Charlotte McGuire released a statement on June 14, 2022, stating Board members knew the Ohio Ethics Commission was seeking ethics violations information about Dackin applying for the role of superintendent when the Board voted to appoint him as the state superintendent.
Full statement reads:
On June 13, the Ohio Ethics Commission released a letter, dated May 2, to the Ohio Department of Education indicating the Ethics Commission sought additional information pertaining to the selection process for the superintendent of public instruction.
On May 3, as asked by the Ethics Commission, State Board members were made aware of the letter and complied with the request. As the Ethics Commission indicated the possibility of inquiry, the State Board treated the letter as confidential.
The State Board completed its selection process and appointed Steve Dackin state superintendent by a vote of 14-4 on May 10. At that time, the State Board determined that Mr. Dackin’s leadership, experience, vision for the future and commitment to student success were important to keeping with the State Board’s priorities to support Ohio’s students, families and school communities.
The State Board of Education and Ohio Department of Education remain committed to supporting a transparent process with integrity.
The Department continues to move forward under the direction of Interim Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Stephanie Siddens.
Ohioans deserve an honest, transparent, professional hiring process that allows us to review candidates, submit feedback, and inform the decision-making process. We need the ability to advocate for an education leader who will prioritize the safety and well-being of every student and educator, champion honest education, and embrace a Whole Child approach to learning.
Adding complication to the controversial hiring and resignation of Stephen Dackin, Board president Charlotte McGuire released a statement on June 14, 2022, stating Board members knew the Ohio Ethics Commission was seeking ethics violations information about Dackin applying for the role of superintendent when the Board voted to appoint him as the state superintendent.
Full statement reads:
On June 13, the Ohio Ethics Commission released a letter, dated May 2, to the Ohio Department of Education indicating the Ethics Commission sought additional information pertaining to the selection process for the superintendent of public instruction.
On May 3, as asked by the Ethics Commission, State Board members were made aware of the letter and complied with the request. As the Ethics Commission indicated the possibility of inquiry, the State Board treated the letter as confidential.
The State Board completed its selection process and appointed Steve Dackin state superintendent by a vote of 14-4 on May 10. At that time, the State Board determined that Mr. Dackin’s leadership, experience, vision for the future and commitment to student success were important to keeping with the State Board’s priorities to support Ohio’s students, families and school communities.
The State Board of Education and Ohio Department of Education remain committed to supporting a transparent process with integrity.
The Department continues to move forward under the direction of Interim Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Stephanie Siddens.
Ohioans deserve an honest, transparent, professional hiring process that allows us to review candidates, submit feedback, and inform the decision-making process. We need the ability to advocate for an education leader who will prioritize the safety and well-being of every student and educator, champion honest education, and embrace a Whole Child approach to learning.
New State Superintendent Resigns
June 3, 2022: State Board of Education President Charlotte McGuire issued this statement about Superintendent Stephen D. Dackin’s resignation:
“Today, I received notice from Stephen D. Dackin of his resignation from the position of superintendent of public instruction. Dr. Stephanie Siddens will serve as interim superintendent of public instruction effective immediately until the State Board can appoint her as Interim Superintendent at the Board’s June meeting. I am confident that together we will continue the important work in support of Ohio’s children, families and future.”
According to Dackin's letter of resignation, he left over public concerns about his selection as the state superintendent, “Concerns have been raised about my recent acceptance of the position of Superintendent of Public Instruction. I don’t want ‘revolving door’ questions to distract from the important work ahead for schools, educators, and especially the children. Children whose critical learning years have been disrupted by the pandemic need to be the focus of all our time, attention, and creativity.”
Dackin, former State Board vice president, was selected as the new superintendent in May 2022, by a 14-4 vote. As the recent vice president, Dackin led the search for the state superintendent position. He resigned as vice president days before the superintendent position closed and inserted himself as a candidate.
Read President McGuire's Statement
Read Dackin's Letter of Resignation
June 3, 2022: State Board of Education President Charlotte McGuire issued this statement about Superintendent Stephen D. Dackin’s resignation:
“Today, I received notice from Stephen D. Dackin of his resignation from the position of superintendent of public instruction. Dr. Stephanie Siddens will serve as interim superintendent of public instruction effective immediately until the State Board can appoint her as Interim Superintendent at the Board’s June meeting. I am confident that together we will continue the important work in support of Ohio’s children, families and future.”
According to Dackin's letter of resignation, he left over public concerns about his selection as the state superintendent, “Concerns have been raised about my recent acceptance of the position of Superintendent of Public Instruction. I don’t want ‘revolving door’ questions to distract from the important work ahead for schools, educators, and especially the children. Children whose critical learning years have been disrupted by the pandemic need to be the focus of all our time, attention, and creativity.”
Dackin, former State Board vice president, was selected as the new superintendent in May 2022, by a 14-4 vote. As the recent vice president, Dackin led the search for the state superintendent position. He resigned as vice president days before the superintendent position closed and inserted himself as a candidate.
Read President McGuire's Statement
Read Dackin's Letter of Resignation
The State Board of Education selected Stephen Dackin to be Ohio's superintendent of public instruction during its May board meeting. The Board voted 14-4, with 1 abstention. All members voted for Dackin accept for John Hagan, Kristen Hill, Jenny Kilgore, and Brendan Shea. Diana Fessler abstained.
Dackin recently resigned as the Board's vice president where he led the search for the next superintendent. He applied for the state superintendent role immediately after his resignation and just days before the the job posting expired. Dackin also served as superintendent of school and community partnerships at Columbus State Community College. Before that, he was superintendent of Reynoldsburg Schools near Columbus from 2007 until 2014.
The final three candidates for the role included:
Board members narrowed down the three finalists from a short list of seven candidates. 27 candidates applied for the role, both in and outside of Ohio. Read the job posting HERE
The incoming superintendent will replace Paolo DeMaria, who resigned from the role in September 2021, after five years of service. Dr. Stephanie Siddens, Ohio's current interim superintendent, stepped into the interim role after the anticipated interim superintendent, then-Deputy Superintendent John Richard, unexpectedly resigned in August 2021.
Dackin recently resigned as the Board's vice president where he led the search for the next superintendent. He applied for the state superintendent role immediately after his resignation and just days before the the job posting expired. Dackin also served as superintendent of school and community partnerships at Columbus State Community College. Before that, he was superintendent of Reynoldsburg Schools near Columbus from 2007 until 2014.
The final three candidates for the role included:
Board members narrowed down the three finalists from a short list of seven candidates. 27 candidates applied for the role, both in and outside of Ohio. Read the job posting HERE
The incoming superintendent will replace Paolo DeMaria, who resigned from the role in September 2021, after five years of service. Dr. Stephanie Siddens, Ohio's current interim superintendent, stepped into the interim role after the anticipated interim superintendent, then-Deputy Superintendent John Richard, unexpectedly resigned in August 2021.
LEARN MORE
Role of the State Superintendent HERE
What Ohio Needs and Deserves in a Superintendent of Public Instruction HERE
What Ohio Needs and Deserves in a Superintendent of Public Instruction HERE
In the News:
- Troy, Springboro school superintendents candidates for Cincinnati-area job, Dayton Daily News
- Ohio State Board of Education defeats attempt to install permanent superintendent, Cleveland.com
- Ohio State Board of Education selected Steve Dackin as state education chief eight days after learning an ethics inquiry was likely coming, letter shows, Cleveland.com
- Ohio’s public schools face another year without a state superintendent as students lose ground due to the pandemic, Cleveland.com
- Steve Dackin, Ohio superintendent of public instruction, resigns from job after less than a month, Cleveland.com
- New state school superintendent suddenly resigns, Dayton Daily News
- ODE superintendent resigns less than a month after approval, Spectrum News
- Honesty Welcomes Ohio's New Superintendent
- OEA Congratulates Steve Dackin on Appointment as State Superintendent of Public Instruction
- OFT President Melissa Cropper Reacts to Steve Dackin's Selection as State Superintendent of Public Instruction
- Steve Dackin, ex-school board vice president, selected to be Ohio’s next state superintendent of public instruction
- Ohio's new head of K-12 education is Steve Dackin
- Dackin chosen for superintendent of Ohio schools
- Ohio State Board of Education chooses new state superintendent