The Board of Education has named three candidates of diverse experience to replace Mark Freeman as district superintendent following his retirement at the end of this year.
A review of the candidates’ application materials posted at shaker. org revealed that David A. Bowlin has worked with educational publishing and online education; Gregory C. Hutchings has worked to implement and authorize the International Baccalaureate Programme; and Demond A. Means has worked to close the achievement gap. All three candidates will visit the district this week and will speak in public sessions at the high school March 13-15.
Bowlin is director of curriculum and professional development at The Center for Learning in Westlake, Ohio, where he has been working since September 2011. The Center for Learning is a nonprofit publisher of resources and lesson plans for teachers. Bowlin’s application stated that he worked as Visual Learning Network Partner’s director of online learning in Pittsburgh, PA and was formerly voted as “Second in Charge” to the superintendent of the Elizabeth Forward School District in Elizabeth, PA. He previously worked as principal and assistant principal at Elizabeth Forward High School and was dean of students and gifted coordinator at West Jefferson Hills School district in Jefferson, PA.
Hutchings is director of preK-12 initiatives in the 13,000-student Alexandria City Public Schools in Alexandria, VA, where he was formerly director of the middle school. His applications stated that in his time as director of preK-12 initiatives, Hutchings has worked to implement and authorize the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme for students grades 6-10. He previously worked as middle school principal and assistant high school principal at Nashville Public Schools in Nashville, TN, where he achieved full authorization of the IB Middle Years Programme and also worked as middle school assistant principal at Chesterfield County Public Schools in Richmond, VA.
Demond A. Means has been superintendent of the 3,500-student Mequon-Thiensville School District in Mequon, WI since July 2008. His application stated that during his superintendency, he has worked to close the achievement gap and developed a three-year budget reduction plan. He previously worked as Mequon-Thiensville’s assistant superintendent, as the director of human resources and interim superintendent in Wauwatosa, WI and as assistant principal and associate principal of Nicolet High School in Glendale, WI. Means also taught social studies at Homestead High School in Mequon, WI from August 1994 to June 1997.
Bowlin, Hutchings and Means will speak at public presentations taking place March 13, 14 and 15 respectively from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the high school upper cafeteria. Community members may also submit their questions for the candidates at shaker.org/SuperintendentSearch before 3 p.m. on the day of the candidate’s scheduled speech.
