27 people seek Youngstown Schools CEO position

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

More people have applied to become the first city school district chief executive officer.

Eleven people submitted their applications to bring the total to 27. Tuesday was the filing deadline for the CEO position.

The Youngstown City School District Academic Distress Commission, the panel charged with selecting the CEO, meets at 4 p.m. today at Choffin Career and Technical Center to begin reviewing the list.

Commission members have said they expect to make a selection by early June.

The CEO will have broad authority in running the city school district, which has struggled academically for years.

The latest commission and the CEO came out of the Youngstown Plan, legislation passed last summer by both houses of the state Legislature and signed into law by Gov. John Kasich.

The CEO’s annual salary, which will be reimbursed by the state along with benefits, is expected to range from $160,000 to $180,000.

The new applicants are:

James Bird of Hermitage, Pa., founder of Advancement Resources Services Private Consulting since 2012.

Darren Jenkins of Minford, Ohio, superintendent/CEO of Bellaire Schools, Bellaire, Ohio, since 2015.

Werner Lange of Newton Falls, adjunct professor at Slippery Rock University and Clarion University, 2013-14.

Tyrone Olverson of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, superintendent of Finneytown Local Schools since 2013.

Maria Pappas of Poland, superintendent of Cranberry Schools, Seneca, Pa., 2010-13; former principal of Paul C. Bunn Elementary School in Youngstown.

Robert Pugh of Poland, adjunct faculty at Eastern Gateway Community College and Youngstown State University, since 2014 and 2013, respectively.

William Ryser Jr. of Girard, Girard High School principal since 2007.

Arthur Stellar of Hingham, Mass., vice president of National Education Foundation and CyberLearning since 2012.

Sherry Ulery of Shaker Heights, Ohio, chief of staff, Chicago Public Schools, from 2012-15.

Milton Walters of Youngstown, assistant professor of human resources, Youngstown City Schools, since September.

Leatha Williams of New Martinsville, W.Va., school improvement specialist/federal programs coordinator, school not listed, 2011-15.