April 2023
Board Continues Postponing Awarding a Search Contract, and Accepts Interim Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Siddens' Resignation
For several months, the State Board of Education has voted for 30-day postponements of a resolution that would award a contract to a search firm to assist in generating candidates for the role of a permanent state superintendent. Each month since July 2022, the Board has postponed a vote on the Resolution to Contract with a Search Firm to Conduct the Search for the Next Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Dr. Stephanie Siddens, interim superintendent, shared this month that she would be leaving the Ohio Department of Education for a role in a local school district. She is expected to transition out of her role in the early summer. The State Board of Education is expected to review a shortlist of internal candidates to fill the interim superintendent role in the May meeting.
Dr. Stephanie Siddens, interim superintendent, shared this month that she would be leaving the Ohio Department of Education for a role in a local school district. She is expected to transition out of her role in the early summer. The State Board of Education is expected to review a shortlist of internal candidates to fill the interim superintendent role in the May meeting.
August 2022
Board Installs Dr. Stephanie Siddens as Interim Superintendent
The Department of Education will now be helmed by Dr. Stephanie Siddens, who has been a member of the Department since 2006. Dr. Siddens previously served as the senior executive director of the Department's Center for Student Supports, where she led efforts around Ohio's Whole Child Framework, early learning, positive behavioral supports, nutritional support, and more. She has more than 26 years of experience in prekindergarten through grade 12 education.
June 2022
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
May 2022
Board Rejects Resolution to Hire New Superintendent WITHOUT a new Search Process
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
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
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