At its April 11 meeting, the Upper Arlington Board of Education will consider candidates for two open administrative positions — Stephanie Siddens, Ph.D., for deputy superintendent and Kristin Robbins, Ed.D., for director of secondary education. Dr. Siddens currently serves as the interim superintendent of public instruction for the state of Ohio, and Dr. Robbins is the principal of Bexley High School.
“Dr. Siddens and Dr. Robbins really stood out in our search to fill these vital roles in our administrative team,” Dr. Hunt said. “Dr. Siddens has an unparalleled knowledge of public education, and Dr. Robbins has extensive expertise in the secondary realm. They will be tremendous assets to Upper Arlington Schools and the community as a whole.”
Dr. Siddens has more than 25 years of experience in education, beginning her career in Fairfax County Public Schools in Fairfax, Virginia, as a program evaluation specialist. In 2006, she joined the Ohio Department of Education and has served in roles including the director of the office of early learning, the senior executive director of the center for curriculum and assessment and the senior executive director for the center of student supports. She was selected to become the state’s interim superintendent in 2021, and currently oversees all department programs and operations. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and a doctoral degree in educational psychology from the University of Iowa.
Dr. Robbins has more than 30 years of experience in secondary education, primarily at Bexley High School, where she has served as principal since 2018. Prior to that, she spent 18 years as the assistant principal at Bexley High School. She began her career in the Westerville City Schools, where she served first as a language arts teacher and later as a dean of students. She has a bachelor’s degree in education from Miami University; a master’s degree in education, policy and leadership from The Ohio State University; and a doctoral degree in educational administration, also from Ohio State.
Both Dr. Siddens and Dr. Robbins will officially join Upper Arlington Schools this summer, as the two current associate superintendents, Andy Hatton, Ed.D., and Kathy Jenney, Ed.D., will be leaving the district. Dr. Jenney, who currently serves as the district’s interim superintendent, will be retiring. Dr. Hatton will become the superintendent of Findlay City Schools.
“With both Andy and Kathy moving on, it was the right time to re-evaluate our administrative structure,” Hunt said. “We are reallocating the associate superintendent positions to create the deputy superintendent and director of secondary education — which will not increase the number of administrative positions in the district. These reallocations will provide us with greater support in the area of teaching and learning that will directly impact students and families.”
The Upper Arlington Board of Education meeting will begin at 6 p.m. on April 11 in the Upper Arlington Municipal Center, 3600 Tremont Road. Community members are welcome to attend the meeting or to watch it, live or recorded, on the district’s YouTube channel.