![]() ![]() It’s really important that we maintain the trusting relationships we’ve built with the business community, faith community, you know, all of the community partners.” Can you give a few examples of these partnerships? It’s crucial if we want to make progress. And so maintaining those healthy relationships that this is truly, in Cleveland’s language, an all-in proposition. And now almost everything we’ve done depends on partnership. “You know, when I came to Cleveland, people didn’t want to partner with the district and the district didn’t want to partner with people. Credit: Mark Naymik/Signal Cleveland Cleveland’s community partnerships are crucial–and unique There are so many organizations, non-profit and otherwise, working with the district. And I mean, I have, too, listened to lots of other people, but at the end of the day, I’ve always come back and just pressure-tested it with kids.” CMSD CEO Eric Gordon marching with students during Cleveland’s 2022 Labor Day parade. And then I’ve tried to deliver on what they are telling me that they want and need. But I’ve just trusted that what kids tell me is true. I hope that when I leave, the kids still have what I believe is the right voice, but in most organizations is a huge outsized voice. Morgan and the leadership will continue to authentically trust and listen to kids, because some of the best learning has come from them.” Where do you get your inspiration for your vision for CMSD? I’ve learned so much, and I’ve trusted kids to help me know what we need. “I mean, the best relationships for me are kids. Credit: Erin Woisnet for Signal Cleveland Trusting in student voices is key Of the relationships you have built, which have had the greatest impact on the trajectory of Cleveland schools? “Going forward, Morgan, the mayor and this community have to have a youth agenda and really get serious about the things that make it hard to be a kid so that kids can be good at being students in school.” CMSD Chief Eric Gordon talks about the state of education in Cleveland with Signal Cleveland reporter Paul Rochford. If we make those things a lot easier, school itself will be a lot easier. Those are the things that make it hard to go to school. We need to be tackling poverty that affects housing instability and safety in the neighborhoods. “The gains that I made were on an education agenda, but the gains that are going to be made next have to be on a larger youth agenda. “I think what we’ve proven over the past decade is that we can improve education for kids in Cleveland, but that doing it in the face of the other conditions that kids and families face makes it difficult. Cleveland needs a citywide youth-focused agenda What is the biggest thing holding back the school district or the success of students right now? Gordon’s responses have been edited for clarity. Signal Cleveland sat down with Eric Gordon to talk about how his time at the district has shaped his understanding of the biggest issues surrounding K-12 education in Cleveland. ![]() When asked what “unfinished business” he would like to see completed, Gordon pointed to initiatives that have already shaped his legacy- the Say Yes Cleveland scholarship program and its wraparound support program in K-12 schools, and the PACE career-planning curriculum. “I think because we know each other and we trust each other, that he’ll still let me support him in the background when he needs me,” he said. Gordon hired Morgan as a district administrator in 2014, and he said he is encouraged by the time they’ve spent catching up in the past few weeks. He feels he has taken steps in that direction and hopes his success o r, Warren Morgan, will work to achieve the same goal. He said those are the driving forces behind the work he has done and the change he has made. Reflecting on his 12 years in the top leadership position, Gordon told Signal Cleveland about the reality of “two Clevelands” and his desire to “unlock” for everyone the Cleveland experienced by wealthier people and by suburbanites. CEO Gordon at the announcement of his successor, Warren Morgan. He began his career in the classroom, teaching in schools in Toledo and New Orleans. ![]() Gordon came to Cleveland schools in 2007, when he was hired as the chief academic officer. The 52-year-old has been a leader in the district for 16 years.
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