Review of ECS CEO Succession Process

**Dr. Adam Tobias**
Board of Trustees President
ecsboard@ecspgh.org

Dear ECS Stakeholders,

As we near the end of the school year, I am grateful for the dedicated individuals who spearheaded the CEO succession planning process and ensured a thoughtful, energized, and well-informed search. Today’s CEO succession planning update brings the process full circle, and I am thrilled to showcase the almost-completed process which will conclude at the Monday, June 17 Board meeting.

Over the last eight months, I have published several updates in the monthly district newsletter and sent stand-alone communications. Each letter is linked below:

Since these letters provided a lot of information, I want to provide an overview of the important work our community has completed to allow the ECS Board of Trustees to vote on a CEO contract at the Monday, June 17 Board meeting at 6 p.m. at the Middle School.

To begin the process, I appointed a CEO Succession Planning Team composed of teachers, parents, staff, and Board members to inform the entire selection process. This started with the creation of a request for proposal (RFP) to identify a search firm that could guide ECS in a thorough nationwide search for a new leader. The CEO Succession Planning Team interviewed several interested organizations and recommended three executive search firms to the Board. During its Jan. 17 meeting, the Board selected OnRamps . Dedicated to cultivating equitable and skill-based hiring practices, OnRamps partnered with the CEO Succession Planning Team to develop a formal search and selection process consistent with ECS’s culture and values. The first part of this process was collaborative listening sessions to gather insights from stakeholders across our ECS system. Listening sessions provided a comprehensive understanding of the supports and attributes needed for a successful CEO, and more than 50 ECS stakeholders with varying backgrounds, education, and experiences participated.

Based on the information disclosed during listening sessions and in collaboration with the Succession Planning Team, OnRamps built a CEO profile, updated the job description, and established four core competencies to ensure equity and avoid biases during the hiring process. ECS’s CEO position went public, and a nationwide search commenced, ultimately leading to the review of applicants and the interview process. The graphic below showcases the results of an equitable and well-rounded search approach.

The ECS Board of Trustees continues to prioritize the need for diversity, especially within its hiring practices, and while immense efforts were made to reach diverse prospects, the Board acknowledges that the final three candidates invited to the in-person interviews during May were not of a historically marginalized population. That said, all three candidates brought an impressive array of talents, knowledge, and experiences that promoted distinctions in other areas including:

Two of the three candidates were from out of state.
The candidates had previously worked in a myriad of educational careers including public, private, and charter sectors.
Candidates had a wide range of experiences both in and out of the education world.
Each candidate demonstrated a strong commitment, understanding, and implementation of DEI practices in the work place.

Finally, more than 40 stakeholders conducted in-person interviews with the three top candidates. Each stakeholder involved in the in-person interview process completed a feedback survey for the Board’s analysis and consideration.

As I reflect on the last eight months, I am grateful for our community’s support and willingness to collaborate. Throughout the process, more than 70 different voices were heard, and your contributions to such an important decision will make history and help shape the future of ECS.

I look forward to the ECS Board of Trustees voting on the CEO contract at the Monday, June 17 board meeting. Until then, thank you for your continued support.

ECS. We grow citizens.

Sincerely,

Dr. Adam Tobias, ECS Board of Trustees President