WWW.SHAKER.LIFE | WINTER 2022 73
Personal Background: We moved here from Brooklyn, New York in 2014 and
bought our home in Fernway before I got this job. We chose Shaker because
we wanted to find a school district with a social/emotional focus, and a creative,
inquisitive learning environment.
I grew up in University Heights, where my mother was a school librarian. My
father was a high school administrator in East Cleveland and Cleveland Heights.
I went to Ohio State where I completed a master’s in education degree, and
then taught for a few years at Franklin D. Roosevelt School in Cleveland. I then
taught middle school math and later became assistant principal at Tompkins
Square Middle School in Brooklyn, where I met my wife, Ellie Leahy, who was
teaching English. Eleanor is from the Washington D.C. area and now works
in educational policy in the non-profit sector. Once I knew I had an interest in
school leadership, I went to Bank Street College of Education in New York City
and completed a second master’s degree in leadership in education.
After our first daughter was born, we wanted to be closer to family. We
knew we wanted to be in a community where you were connected with your
neighbors and close to the city, but most important to us was to find the
school district that matched our philosophy. Our oldest daughter is now a third
grader at Fernway, and our younger daughter will start kindergarten there
next year. My parents live nearby in Mayfield, and they have been our built-in
infrastructure from the beginning.
On Working and Living in Shaker Heights: We love that this is a community
where we see our neighbors, go to block parties, and can walk to parks and
playgrounds. Coming from New York, that was important to us. In New York,
you’re always around people and we didn’t want to give that up. We spend a fair
amount of time on family walks in the Metroparks, and we’ve hiked all the trails
around the Nature Center and Lower Lake.
We love to walk up to the Van Aken District, where the girls can get ice
cream, or we can get a cup of coffee, and see people we know. That part of
living and working in the same community is really great. Sometimes it might
take me longer to get through the grocery store, but I want to have those
moments. When my daughter saw her teacher getting pastries at Van Aken, that
was a great moment for her.
During normal times, we love being able to go to the theatre at Playhouse
Square. I also have a hobby/stress reliever/side hustle buying and selling all sorts
of sports memorabilia. I’m a huge Ohio State, Browns, Cavs, and now Guardians
fan – basically, I’m an all-around cheerleader for the region.
I just really believe in the impact of what connected schools and
communities can do together. When I think about equitable outcomes and
inclusive spaces for all our students, it’s going to require an entire community
effort. The Forward Together initiative is a good example of this type of
community effort. That stated desire has always existed here: “A Community is
Known by the Schools it Keeps.” We’re still a place that wants to create
those connections. SL