Dackin Gets The Nod

A former teacher, district superintendent and higher education leader is named Ohio’s new state superintendent. Stephen Dackin is a former vice president of the Ohio State Board of Education,…which voted 14-4 with one abstention to approve his hiring to oversee public K-12 education in the state. Dackin succeeds former Superintendent Paolo DeMaria, who retired in September. Stephanie Siddens had been serving in an interim role since then. The Fordham Institute, a pro-charter school advocacy organization, says Dackin’s background makes him ideally-qualified for the position. In addition to classroom and administrative experience, Dackin had recently overseen school and community partnerships at Columbus State Community College.