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East Cleveland principals describe 'flight plan' after national Select conference; Superior adds eighth grade
Summary
District principals told the board they attended a Select conference June 25–27 to shift the district from compliance-driven operations to engagement-centered leadership and described a measurable 'flight plan' to raise student outcomes; Superior School for the Performing Arts will add an eighth grade this fall.
Sean Holden, principal of Prospect Academy, and Monique Caesar, principal of Superior School for the Performing Arts, told the East Cleveland City School District board June 30 that a recent trip to the Select professional-development conference in Naples, Florida, reinforced the district’s effort to move from compliance-focused operations to an engagement-centered model intended to boost student achievement.
The presentation — described by staff as a collaborative visit with districts from Ohio and other states — framed the district’s next steps as a “flight plan” that sets measurable goals, aligns operations and emphasizes cross-departmental collaboration. “Select…their design quality choice, relevance and novelty motivates students because it contributes to meaningful work and learning,” Holden said, describing Select’s approach to school leadership and systems.
Caesar said the district used the conference to “toot our horn,” sharing a timeline that showed progress and noting that East Cleveland met 16 of 20 benchmarks highlighted in the conference feedback. She also announced that Superior School for the Performing Arts will add an eighth grade this year, turning the school into a third-through-eighth-grade campus.
Presenters credited the district’s superintendent and leadership for promoting cohesion across departments — from buildings and grounds to food service and instruction — and said the Select framework emphasizes coaching, data-driven decisions and the value of small wins as part of long-term transformation. Trustees asked questions about prior district participation in Select and whether the training had been used previously; presenters confirmed ongoing engagement with the group over multiple years and said the board would be provided the presentation slides on request.
The presentation concluded with staff noting that feedback from other districts was positive and that ongoing follow-up will include sharing outcomes and evidence of return-on-investment to assist the board as it considers upcoming budget pressures and program decisions.
