Get To Know The New Heights Superintendent

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS — On the first day of school, new CH-UH Superintendent Elizabeth Kirby visited every building in the district. The visits weren't long, but it was more than she could have imagined doing during her tenure with the Chicago Public Schools.

Kirby's path to becoming the superintendent of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Schools was a winding, ouroboros-like road. She grew up in the Buckeye-Shaker neighborhood, next door to Gene's Corner Beverage.

She is the daughter of two teachers who worked in the Cleveland Schools. Her mother taught French, her father worked with students with hearing disabilities. Classrooms and textbooks were an early part of Kirby's life.

She went to Harvard University. She briefly flirted with pursuing a law career before deciding it wasn't for her. Instead, she sought out a "very small" undergraduate education program at Harvard. She said her class was composed of about 15 students.

"I had a fire for education," she said.

Boston and then Washington, D.C. were briefly home for Kirby. She taught social studies classes to high school students in both cities before heading to Chicago. Her career in administration began earnestly in the Windy City, where she became principal of Kenwood Academy.

Kenwood Academy is located in a Chicago neighborhood called Hyde Park. Kirby said Cleveland Heights and University Heights bear many similarities to that community. "They're both known for their diversity, for their support of the schools," she told Patch.

For nine years, Kirby led Kenwood Academy as principal. In 2012, she became a Network Chief for the Chicago Public Schools, the third largest school district in the U.S.

"I was kind of an assistant superintendent," she said. Chicago Schools serve so many students, across so many schools, that delegation of oversight falls to network chiefs. The chiefs are responsible for clusters of schools. Kirby's area included 40 buildings at one point.

Kirby was elevated again, becoming Chief of School Strategy and Planning for the entire Chicago Public School system. She was working with 656 schools across the metropolis. She held that role for years before deciding it was time to come home.

Patch also discussed Kirby's first impressions of the district and what she believes to be the greatest challenges facing Cleveland Heights-University Heights Schools. That article will be published later this week.

Coming Home

It was the students that convinced Kirby to come to Cleveland Heights.

From her time on the east coast, to her stay as one of the most important voices in the Chicago Schools, Kirby always had one thought in the back of her mind — Cleveland is home.

She always intended to return to her roots, to be closer to her family and ailing mother. When the CH-UH Schools job opening was posted, and she read the criteria for the new superintendent, she felt a kismetic connection.

"Everything seemed to align," she said. Her skill set and experiences were perfect fits for what this suburban Cleveland school district wanted. She applied and began an extensive interviewing process.

However, it was during a unique interview with a group of middle school students in Cleveland Heights that Kirby formed a special bond with her future district.

"That was the toughest interview I've ever had," she said. "Those kids dug into my résumé."

The students bombarded her with questions. They wanted to know where she stood on different issues, they wanted to know her history and experience, they wanted to know everything. The interview won Kirby over.

"I loved that student voice mattered here," she said. "I loved the involvement from the students and how much they had learned."

On March 14, 2019, Kirby was announced as the next superintendent of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Schools.

First Days

The Heights Schools welcomed students back into classrooms on Monday. It was a day of butterflies and sweaty palms for students, parents, teachers and the superintendent. Kirby took the time to visit all of her schools throughout the day.

"This is an example of how I want to engage the district," she said. Coming from the Chicago Schools to Cleveland Heights, Kirby believes she can be more hands on in tackling issues and talking with the community.

"I want to build on this district's strengths and address its challenges," she said.