Eric Gordon is the former CEO of the 39,000-student Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD). He was appointed in June 2011 after serving as chief academic officer for four years. Gordon, together with Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson and other business, philanthropic, and education leaders, successfully lobbied Ohio legislators to pass The Cleveland Plan, an education reform package that was signed into law in July 2012. The Cleveland Plan received national attention for its strong bipartisan support and unprecedented collaborative process that united the people of Cleveland around a mission to transform their public school system.

Prior to joining CMSD, Gordon was the executive director for secondary learning for the Olentangy Local Schools in suburban Columbus, Ohio. In that role, he was responsible for all aspects of education for students in grades six through 12. He has worked in suburban and urban school districts as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal.

In 2016, Gordon was honored with the Green-Garner Award, which named him as the Urban Educator of the Year, the highest honor available to an urban superintendent in the United States. He was active nationally in the implementation of the Common Core State Standards curriculum and the Social and Emotional Learning Standards for children. Gordon also served as chair of the board of directors for the Council of the Great City Schools and as a member of the board’s executive committee. In 2013, he was featured in Inside Business Magazine’s Power 100  and in 2012 was voted one of Cleveland Magazine’s Most Interesting People. Corporate College and Smart Business honored him with a Smart 50 Award, which is given to the region’s top executives. Gordon is a graduate of Bowling Green State University, where he earned his master’s in education administration and supervision and a bachelor’s in secondary mathematics education and driver education.