Christine Gordillo wrote:The Lakewood Board of Education has named Mason (Ohio) City School District Superintendent Kevin L. Bright as the next assistant superintendent for Lakewood City Schools. Bright will replace Jeff Patterson, who will succeed Superintendent P. Joseph Madak when he retires on July 31, 2011.
Bright, who has headed the Mason City Schools in southwest Ohio for the past 13 years, comes to Lakewood with impressive credentials over a 37-year career that includes being named state Superintendent of the Year in 2003.
Other awards and accomplishments he has garnered are a testament to Bright’s leadership of the Mason Schools in both financial and academic aspects. Mason is currently ranked 5th in the State of Ohio in student achievement while spending below the state average in pupil expenditure. Bright has earned the Buckeye School Administrators Association’s Barney Dunnan Award for Greatest Student Achievement Growth in Ohio. In addition, the district has been given the “Making Your Tax Dollars Count” award for excellent financial accountability from the State Auditor’s office each of the five years since the award’s inception.
“Dr. Bright’s experience will be invaluable as we lead the district through some uncertain times in public education,” said Patterson. “He has an outstanding background in curriculum and instruction, and with the operations of a school district.”
Added Board President Matthew John Markling: “Dr. Kevin Bright is an academic expert who produces astonishing scholastic results … With the addition of Dr. Bright to the current administrative leadership, Jeff Patterson has assembled a ‘dream team’ that will continue to build upon the reputation the Lakewood City Schools has for demanding academic excellence.”
Bright, who was assistant superintendent in Mason before becoming superintendent in 1998, oversaw explosive growth in the city of Mason and the district, which went from an enrollment of 2,500 when he joined the district in 1990 to more than 11,000 students in its six schools today.
While enjoying great success at Mason, Bright was looking for a change in his surroundings and a new challenge.
“Lakewood has a wonderful reputation. I always wanted to come to an area with a more diverse population and more urban area. I look forward to bringing my knowledge and expertise to help this district,” said Bright, who also cited closer proximity to some of his family as a reason for his relocation.
During his tenure at Mason, Bright implemented a number of innovative curriculum and instruction strategies that helped bring the district up from one struggling in academic performance to a district rated “Excellent with Distinction” by the state. Mason has also been the home to four national Blue Ribbon Schools during Bright’s stewardship.
Prior to joining Mason City Schools, Bright held various leadership positions with the Findlay City Schools, including assistant superintendent, director of personnel and junior high principal. He started out his career as a social studies teacher in the Lucas Local Schools near Mansfield.
Bright holds a BA from The Ohio State University, an MA and PhD in Educational Administration from Bowling Green State University.
http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/read/2011/03/22/schools-name-new-assistant-superintendent