Richard Ross (Ohio)
Richard Ross is a former Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction. He was hired by the Ohio Board of Education and assumed office on March 25, 2013. Previous officeholder Stan Heffner stepped down amid revelations that he had committed several ethics violations stemming from his interactions with Educational Testing Services.[1] Michael Sawyers, the Deputy Superintendent at the time of Heffner's departure, was asked to filled in until the State Board of Education, which employs the Superintendent, appointed Ross as a permanent replacement.[2]
Ross announced in November 2015 that he would retire on December 31, 2015. He had originally planned to retire over the summer of 2015, but he decided to stay after a charter school scandal involving then-director of school choice David Hansen.[3]
Biography
Education
- B.A. in social studies, Ohio State University
- M.A. in educational administration, Ohio State University
- Ph.D. in Educational Administration, Bowling Green State University[4]
Political career
Ohio superintendent of public instruction (2013-2015)
Ross was appointed Ohio superintendent of public instruction by the Ohio Board of Education, effective March 25, 2013.[5] He beat out acting superintendent and fellow finalist for the position Michael Sawyers, who had been serving temporarily while the board, which employs the superintendent, searched for a permanent replacement for Stan Heffner.[2] Sawyers was the deputy superintendent when Heffner resigned in July 2012 and he was asked to assume the role. Heffner tendered his resignation in July 2012 amid an investigation by the state inspector general into Heffner's relationship with Educational Testing Services, which had offered Heffner a job and presented a conflict of interest. Heffner's resignation went into effect August 10, 2012.[6]
Ross announced in November 2015 that he would retire effective December 31, 2015.[3]
Common Core
Ross supported the implementation of Common Core education standards in Ohio.[7] Ross was an ally of Ohio Governor John Kasich, who also strongly supports Common Core and defends the standards. According to The Plain Dealer, Ross stated that "...opposition often comes from people worried that their school district's scores will drop under the multistate tests. Rather than complaining...they should try to improve so students do well on the tests."[8] He was joined in his support of Common Core by leaders in the Republican-controlled legislature and the Ohio Business Roundtable, a group of powerful CEOs.[7]
Opposition to Common Core had been mild in Ohio as of 2014. A move by a backbench Republican state representative to delay funding for Common Core implementation was stalled in committee by Ohio House leadership.[8] As of the summer 2014, Tea Party members, from both local and out-of-state groups, had begun to rally against the standards.[7][8]
Calls for Ross' removal
Ohio State Senate and Ohio House of Representatives Democrats called for Ross' removal from office in late-July 2015, asking the state's school board to fire Ross for "the recent scandal involving the cover up of failing charter school grades in state evaluations, the plan to takeover the Youngstown public schools crafted behind closed doors, and general lack of accountability to the State Board of Education and the public."[9] Senate Minority Leader Joe Schiavonni said in a statement, "Under Superintendent Ross' leadership, the Department of Education has shown a severe lack of transparency and a disturbing disregard for the law."[9]
Appointments
2013
Ross was appointed Ohio superintendent of public instruction by the Ohio State Board of Education effective March 25, 2013.[5]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Richard + Ross + Ohio + Education"
See also
| Ohio | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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- Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction
- Superintendent of Schools
- Ohio school districts
- Ohio Department of Education and Workforce
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ ‘’NPR Ohio, “Ohio state superintendent Stan Heffner resigns amid ethics charges, attendance rigging investigation,” August 4, 2012
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Examiner, "Ohio education head Heffner resigns in wake of Inspector General report," August 4, 2012 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "examiner" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 3.0 3.1 Jeremy P. Kelley, My Dayton Daily News, "State school superintendent to resign," November 6, 2015
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Richard Ross' Biography," accessed October 14, 2015
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 State Impact - NPR, "Richard Ross named Ohio state superintendent," March 12, 2013
- ↑ ‘’NPR Ohio, “Ohio state superintendent Stan Heffner resigns amid ethics charges, attendance rigging investigation,” August 4, 2012
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 NPR: State Impact, "Despite opposition, the Common Core has a firm footing in Ohio," June 11, 2014
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 The Plain Dealer, "Common Core standards for Ohio schools questioned by some," April 26, 2014
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Patrick O'Donnell, Cleveland.com, "Senate Dems join House leaders in seeking ouster of State Supt. Dick Ross," July 20, 2015
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Michael Sawyers |
Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction March 25, 2013 - December 31, 2015 |
Succeeded by Lonny Rivera |
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