“We will also work closely with the community and the staff to be able to get feedback and discussion items on what is important to the community, what’s important to the staff, and the school district and to the board in their next superintendent," said Dr. Edwin Holland, Interim Superintendent Poland Local Schools.
Dr. Edwin Holland has three decades of experience in suburban and rural education. For 13 years of his career he served as a superintendent in three school districts in Cuyahoga and Summit Counties. Dr. Holland was named Interim Superintendent by the Poland Board of Education in October.
“My experience as a superintendent with school funding and improving student achievement gives me the experience that I need, and the community will be able to use it to help improve and build upon the level of excellence that Poland Schools has been known for,” said Dr. Holland.” I want to be able to help maintain this transition for the board and community, while we build upon getting a new superintendent.”
Dr. Holland will work with the Board of Education to develop a search plan to hire the next superintendent. Dr. Holland has worked on several searches to fill key executive positions of superintendent and treasurer for school districts, and has also participated as a candidate in several searches. Dr. Holland also plans on working with staff and the community to find out what’s important in the search for Poland’s next superintendent. Dr. Holland hopes the Board of Education will be able to hire a new superintendent in the spring/summer of 2021.
When it comes to transparency and accountability, both will be critical factors in the superintendent search. The district will provide transparent communication to the community about the superintendent search, and how the district is being maintained throughout the transition.
“The role of increasing accountability is taking responsibility for what needs to be done with integrity, but also the need for transparency is communication,” said Holland. “Communicating to the community how the distinct operates, how decisions are made and how it’s going to impact and create change within the community.”
Dr. Holland started his career in education as a social studies teacher and was a head track coach and football coach. He also served as a high school principal in a Division 1 school.
“Academic, athletics and the arts are extremely important to me in education,” said Holland.