CHRISTINE FOWLER-MACK

Former Superintendent, Akron Public Schools

Ohio Watch Video

Christine Fowler-Mack is the former superintendent of Akron Public Schools in Ohio, where she began her career as an elementary school teacher. Prior to becoming superintendent in Akron, Fowler-Mack was chief portfolio officer of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD), a district with 39,000 students and the highest number of children living in poverty in the nation. In this role, she spearheaded the planning and launch of more than 20 entrepreneurial, autonomous, and accountable schools. School performance, student achievement, social/cultural indicators, and partnerships are successful outcomes of this work as reflected on the district’s report card.

Fowler-Mack helped to design CMSD’s Office of Enrollment and Choice, which led to groundbreaking personalized engagement for students and families around the selection of a school that best aligns to their interest and needs. She also helped develop the district’s Charter School Office, work that resulted in an Effective state rating for CMSD’s authorization and management of partnerships with charter schools.

As one of the architects of The Plan for Transforming Cleveland’s Schools, Fowler-Mack helped to create a blueprint for reinventing public education in the city. Since implementation of the plan, CMSD’s graduation rate has increased 22.4 percent, enrollment in high-quality preschool has increased 68 percent, and the district closed the achievement gap between Cleveland’s Hispanic and African-American students and their peers statewide.

Fowler-Mack was a member of the fourth cohort of the Future Chiefs leadership development program, a graduate of the first cohort of American Association of School Administrators, and a graduate of Howard University’s Urban Superintendent Program.