Patterson Accepts Superintendent Of Year Award
Lakewood City Schools Superintendent Jeffrey W. Patterson was honored as the 2015 Ohio Superintendent of the Year at the AASA, The School Superintendents Association's National Gala for Superintendents held in Washington, D.C. on November 14.
Patterson was named Superintendent of the Year by the Buckeye Association of School Administrators in November 2014 for his leadership of the 5,300-student Lakewood City School District.
At the time of the announcement last year, Patterson said: “I am honored and humbled. This award speaks volumes about the accomplishments of our students, the quality of our staff and the commitment from the Lakewood community and our Board of Education.”
Patterson became Superintendent in 2011 after serving five years as Lakewood’s Assistant Superintendent. Prior to coming to Lakewood, he served as Superintendent of the Orrville City School District for six years.
Patterson has provided effective leadership as the district passed both a bond and an operating levy in the same year with overwhelming support; increased student achievement, particularly for the district’s most at-risk students; landed in the top 2% of public school districts for yearly academic growth; and oversaw negotiations with the district’s professional unions that have helped put the district on strong financial footing.
Patterson has continued the Lakewood Schools’ legacy of engaging the community in major decisions that affect the district. He has earned a reputation of being forthright and transparent through his many community meetings. He is a member of the Lakewood community and is involved in a number of community organizations including the economic development group LakewoodAlive, the Lakewood Council of PTAs and Lakewood Rangers Education Foundation.
Patterson’s outreach to the community was crucial in the passage of a bond issue in 2013 that has allowed the district to move forward with its final phase of its Master Facilities Plan, which will include building three new elementary schools and completing a rebuild of the eastern half of Lakewood High School.
On selecting Patterson for the award, BASA Executive Director Kirk Hamilton said: “Jeff Patterson is an exceptional school superintendent and leader. His selection as Ohio’s 2015 Superintendent of the Year reflects not only his success as a leader, but also all of the wonderful things that have been achieved in the Lakewood City Schools.”