The deep pride and tradition that define the Rocky River community resonate with me each day. They reflect a shared understanding, held by students, staff, families, and community members, that our schools are part of something much larger than the present moment. They are connected to generations of River students and families who have helped…

Welcome back from spring break, everyone! I hope the past week provided time to relax, recharge, and enjoy time with family and friends as we head into one of the busiest and most exciting stretches of the school year. Over the next seven to eight weeks, our schools will be filled with academic focus, activities,…

Earlier this month, my youngest daughter, Miriam, participated in the OMEA District 4 Middle School Honor Band. This experience brought together students from across Northeast Ohio to learn, rehearse, and perform under the direction of a highly regarded conductor. In just two rehearsals, paired with individual practice, nearly 100 eighth-grade students came together to perform…

Following the March 4 Swatting Incident Dear Rocky River families, staff, and students, On March 4, 2026, our school district was one of many across the state of Ohio subjected to what is known as a swatting incident. For those unfamiliar with the term, swatting refers to a false report, often a threatening call or…

Today, we are excited to kick off the next phase of our journey to understand artificial intelligence and its impact on teaching and learning in Rocky River City Schools. One of the guiding adages for our leadership team has been simple: go slow to go fast. As we begin exploring AI in a K–12 environment,…

Welcome to 2026, Rocky River! As we turn the page to a new year, I want to take a moment to reflect on the many accomplishments of 2025 and share our optimism for the opportunities ahead in 2026. Rocky River City Schools continues to be a district defined by excellence, impact, and pride—because of the…

Pizza. Full stop. I love pizza. And in 2025, I ate quite a bit of it. As we head into early 2026, I’ll probably eat a little less, but my love for pizza hasn’t gone anywhere. For Father’s Day this year, my family gave me a gift that turned out to be far more meaningful…

As we wrap up our stretch into winter break, I am filled with gratitude and pride for the incredible start to the school year across Rocky River City Schools. Every day, I see the meaningful work happening in our classrooms, hallways, rehearsal spaces, and throughout our community. Our students, staff, families, and residents continue to…

There is a small coal-mining town southeast of Pittsburgh and north of Morgantown, West Virginia, called Uniontown, PA. Founded on July 4, 1776, the town grew alongside the rise of the coal and steel industries in western Pennsylvania. Route 40, the first national road, still runs through its center. Uniontown is where Sead and Emmira…

Rocky River City School District is the fifth district I have had the privilege to serve during my career. When I first began my journey as an educator, I never could have imagined this path, but I am incredibly fortunate to have learned, connected, and worked alongside so many wonderful colleagues, families, community members, and…