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Westerville superintendent emphasizes student supports, community ties after levy passage
Summary
Superintendent Angie Hamburg told the Westerville City Schools podcast that the November ballot measure's passage lets the district refocus on student supports, including continued rollout of MTSS, stronger community engagement and efforts to build a sense of belonging for all 14,500 students across 25 buildings.
Angie Hamburg, superintendent of Westerville City Schools, said the passage of a November ballot measure has allowed the district to shift from campaigning to concentrating on classroom supports and community engagement.
"We're very grateful and relieved that that passed so that we can focus on our regular work and our core business of meeting our kids' needs and educating them," Hamburg said on the district podcast hosted by Melanie Amato.
Hamburg described two district priorities she is most proud of so far this year: expanding the district's multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) and strengthening districtwide alignment of curriculum and programs. "Kate Toma, our curriculum director, and her team is doing an outstanding job of really aligning that work," she said, adding the effort "centers around making sure that we are using data to make sure kids are getting what they need at all levels." The superintendent said MTSS work covers academics, behavior and social-emotional learning.
On the "We Are The Ville" initiative, Hamburg said leadership development and cross-school coordination are intended to reduce siloed operations and bring schools into closer collaboration. She highlighted expanded opportunities in related arts and extracurriculars coordinated by staff, and plans to convene superintendent advisory kits and advisory work with middle school students.
Hamburg recounted visiting classrooms, serving lunch, riding a My Van route and observing hands-on lessons to illustrate the district's emphasis on engagement: parent volunteers helped elementary students with squid dissections, she attended an English learner culture fair and participated in classroom readings. "A lot of the community, family support, came in and helped with that," she said.
Asked what she hopes every student experiences before the school year ends, Hamburg said, "a sense of belonging. That's our slogan, but it's really how do we live that? How do we make sure that all kids have something in our schools and someone in our schools that they are able to connect with?" She said the district will continue to measure and evaluate supports and is focused on communications strategies to deepen family and community involvement.
Host Melanie Amato opened the episode with a light anecdote: she said some students jokingly call Hamburg the district's "queen of calling snow days," noting her daughter once told her she assumed Hamburg was "just the person that called snow days." Hamburg laughed and emphasized the limits of that role, saying weather and other inputs determine closures.
Hamburg closed the episode by thanking the community for its support of the ballot issue, praising the district's diversity and wishing families a restful holiday season before the district returns in 2026.
