Community Corner

Back To School: Meet The New Principals

Meet six new principals at the Cleveland Heights - University Heights School Districts this year.

The Cleveland Heights - University Heights School District has had a number of leadership changes this summer, from the appointment of a new superintendent to principal changes at the schools.

Here is a quick introduction to the new principals at the school district.

1. Monticello Middle SchoolDeborah Moore

Moore formerly served as principal of Shaw High School since 2010. Prior to that she was principal of Cleveland’s Collinwood High School (2005-2010), Alexander Hamilton Middle School (2003-2005), and Glenville High School Freshman Academy (2000-2003).

"She has a great working knowledge of how to manage students, keep them safe, and develop a philosophy of education that fosters student drive, teacher excellence, and a community of informed and active parents," said Superintendent Nylajean McDaniel.

2. Wiley Middle School: Fred Thomas

Thomas began his career in Cleveland Heights as a math teacher at Cleveland Heights High School. Thomas left the district in 2000 to become a principal in the Bedford City Schools before returning in 2006 to become assistant principal of Wiley Middle School. He replaces Octavia Reid, who is taking a position in the district office.

"With Mr. Thomas’s knowledge of the school, students, staff and parents, we are confident that he can step into Dr. Reid’s shoes and ensure a seamless transition for the Wiley Middle School community," McDaniel said. 

3. Roxboro Elementary SchoolMichael Jenkins

Jenkins was a principal at Bataan Intermediate School in Port Clinton, OH, and prior to that he was an elementary school principal in Parma.  In addition to teaching at Coventry Elementary from 2002-2006, he has also been a teacher and curriculum developer in Lakewood, Solon and the Houston, Tex., Independent School District.

"He comes to us with a wealth of experience, in-depth familiarity with our District and a commitment to excellence," McDaniel said.

4. Cleveland Heights High School: Alisa Lawson-McKinnie at R.E.A.L. Early College and Jane Simeri at Mosaic School

Lawson-McKinnie has been a high school administrator for 17 years. For the last 11 years, she has been serving as a high school principal in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. She also worked in the Columbus Public Schools as an assistant principal, the same district where she began her career in education teaching English.

She replaces Marc Aden, the district's longest serving principal. Aden has retired.

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Also at Cleveland Heights High, Jane Simeri will lead the Mosaic School. Simeri began working in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District since 1990 when she served as a teacher at Cleveland Heights High School.  She served at Heights High teacher for 10 years. During the 2010-11 school year, Ms. Simeri was named the Coordinator of Educational Services, with a focus on the gifted and the arts programming.

5. Boulevard Elementary SchoolShelley Pulling

Pulling brings twenty years of educational experience with her to Boulevard. She has taught at the elementary school level in a multicultural learning community in the Galveston Independent School District and the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. She was an assistant principal for four years and has served in the Perry Local School District as principal at the Perry Elementary School for the last 10 years. Ms. Pulling earned her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education in 1991 and her Master of Educational Administration in 1999, both from Cleveland State University.    



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