The North Union Board of Education has decided to divide the responsibilities of the chief academic officer among the superintendent and staff rather than fill the vacant position.
Dr. Erika S. Bower has resigned from her role as the chief academic officer of North Union Local Schools, effective July 31. The school board accepted her resignation at its March monthly meeting.
Bower has been appointed as the next superintendent of Ridgedale Local School District in Marion, replacing current Superintendent Robert Britton. Bower will begin her new position on Aug. 1 for the 2022-23 academic year.
Superintendent Richard Baird explained that the chief academic officer of a school district is responsible for the professional development of staff, overseeing data and testing and coordinating and supervising the curriculum, instruction and assessment programs.
Bower worked at the North Union Local Schools District for four years and helped develop “a good literacy and numeracy plan” with Technology Integration Instructional Coach Kristi Matlack and Math Instructional Coach Jodi Hoffman, Baird said.
He added that Bower left the literacy and numeracy plan in a good place to be carried out by the current staff.
At this time, Matlack will return to the classroom, but Hoffman will remain as an instructional coach. Baird said Hoffman’s role will “continue, not change.” Although she is a math instructional coach, Baird said she “helps all areas of instruction.” Hoffman’s role is temporary and is revisited by the school board every year.
“We will revisit” filling the chief academic officer position “when we phase out the instructional coach position,” Baird said.
Furthermore, the literacy plan will be coordinated and supervised at the building level, the superintendent said.
Baird will oversee the professional development of staff as well as data and testing with assistance from the North Central Ohio Educational Services Center (NCOESC), which provides educational support services for area school districts.
He added that a staff member from NCOESC will be onsite two days a week to offer services.
“It’s not about the position,” the superintendent said. “It’s about the work that needs to be done.”
This year, North Union’s enrollment has fallen slightly.
“Our district population is not necessarily growing,” Baird said.
As a result, Baird said the district must evaluate each position with a “fine-tooth comb” to “get as much resources out of every position we can get.”