Liz Kirby: Superintendent as Chief Politician

Until 2019, Liz Kirby had spent her entire education career in Chicago, moving from a teacher to a superintendent-equivalent position in the country’s third-largest school district. When she decided to “come home” to the Cleveland, Ohio, area, she thought Chicago had prepared her for just about anything. 

But after taking the helm at Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District, Kirby realized there was a big difference between leading in Chicago and being the superintendent of a smaller school district in a state rife with school choice legislation. 

Early on, Kirby recognized that she would need to take on more roles than she ever expected—including that of a politician. In this episode, Kirby shares how she balances her district duties with her political advocacy at the state and local level, working to provide the best possible education for her students.

Liz Kirby (@CHUHSupt)

Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District (@CHUHSchools)

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