Rivera was nominated by Tess Elshoff, the board’s vice president, after 5 p.m. Wednesday, just after he submitted his letter of interest. Local state board member A.J. Wagner said the board’s Democratic minority considered several names, but in the end decided not to nominate anyone for the temporary post.
Rivera, 41, was a special education teacher for two years, then served in a variety of principal, dean of students and chief of staff roles in several Toledo-area schools from 1998 to 2013. Then he spent just under two years in his only superintendent position — at Oregon City Schools near Toledo — before joining ODE in April.
He and Jennifer Felker are the two associate superintendents, with Rivera overseeing areas including school accountability, academic distress commissions and issues tied to the teaching profession.
Gunlock said barring any unforeseen circumstances, the state school board will vote Tuesday to approve Rivera for the interim spot, effective Jan. 1 when current state superintendent Richard Ross retires.
Meanwhile, the state board on Sunday begins the process of finding a permanent replacement for Ross. The board will interview three search firms and will consider a resolution Tuesday to hire one of them.
Gunlock said he’s looking for a new superintendent with leadership skills and an ability to bring diverse entities together — including public schools, charter schools, the legislature and the governor’s office – to drive to one goal.
“Obviously, the governor’s office as well as the House and Senate education committee chairs will be a part of (the search),” Gunlock said. “They don’t get to vote for the superintendent, but they get to sit in on the interviews, and they can have their say just like anybody else.
“I believe the board’s going to get to choose this person, and we’ll do a great job of it, as long as we get good people (to apply),” Gunlock added. “Somebody’s got to step up and do the job.”
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