Interim superintendent to retire

Interim Superintendent and Director of Teaching and Learning Char Shryock is retiring from Bay Village City School District as of July 31, when her interim contract expires.

The lifelong educator made the announcement at the June 27 Bay Village Board of Education meeting, according to a news release.

“Being connected to students has been at the heart of my work, in my 34 years as an educator,” Shryock explained. “I plan on seeking out new opportunities to use my experience to have a positive impact on education and students.”

History

Shryock has been an administrator with Bay Village Schools for 11 years, when she was appointed the district’s director of Teaching and Learning in 2011.

Prior to coming to Bay Village Schools, Shryock served the Fairview Park City Schools for nearly 22 years as a teacher, technology integration specialist, coach and curriculum leader.

She started her career with Brooklyn

City School district as a building substitute teacher.

During her year as interim superintendent, she rolled out a new district strategic plan; led the ongoing coronavirus plan that resulted in in-person learning for the year; unveiled a new website and mobile app; contributed toward a second National Blue Ribbon School award for Westerly Elementary School (grades 3 and 4); and continued a 20-year run as a Best Community for Music Education award.

Shryock also initiated an in-person Town Hall series for residents to attend and ask questions about the state of education; helped build external relationships within the city of Bay Village, its senior centers, and local nonprofit and civic organizations; served on the executive board for the Lake Erie Nature and Science Center; advocated for full-time building substitute teachers; negotiated new contracts with all district bargaining units; and worked with a community and staff advisory team to earn Bay Village Schools Purple Star status as a military-friendly district

The former middle and high school science and English teacher also made a commitment 11 years ago to work with the district’s kindergarteners on a weekly basis, teaching an integrated literacy and math/ science lesson, according to the release.

In addition, Shryock shared her own experiences in archaeology and paleontology with classes at Westerly and Bay Middle School each year.

“Char embraced the interim superintendent role wholeheartedly,” said Bay High School Principal Jason Martin. “She is a student-centered leader who found great joy in daily interactions with students at all grade levels, and found ways to be present, build

“She is a student-centered leader who found great joy in daily interactions with students at all grade levels, and found ways to be present, build relationships and support student-lead initiatives throughout the year.” — Bay High School Principal Jason Martin

relationships and support student-lead initiatives throughout the year.”

Throughout her career, Shryock, a respected state and national presenter and professional learning provider, has been recognized for her knowledge and talents, including being named Teacher of the Year by the Fairview Park City Schools, Administrator of the Year by the Science Education Council of Ohio (SECO), named Outstanding Math Educator by the Greater Cleveland Council of Teachers of Math, and receiving the prestigious Oak Tree Award by the state of Ohio PTA Council.

She has served on multiple Ohio Department of Education committees, contributing to the Ohio Strategic Plan, revising the Ohio Learning Standards for Science and the Extended Standards for Science and Math, and leading the Ohio Educator Leader Cadre.

Nationally, Shryock has been a Collaborative for Student Success Fellow, and a State Lead with Achievethecore.org Core Advocate Network.

“During her more than decade-long commitment to Bay Village Schools, Char has been a relationship-oriented leader who focused on supporting, motivating and developing our students and our staff,” said District Treasurer Meghan Rohde. “She has a true passion for education and serving students.”

The Avon Lake resident is a graduate of Baldwin Wallace University (bachelor’s degree in education) and Ashland University (master’s degree in education), also completing her School Superintendent Licensure coursework with Ashland University.

She enjoys traveling, reading and biking, the release said.

For 17 years, Shryock has volunteered her time in the summer to be an Archaeology Field Unit supervisor for the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

Shryock and her husband, Todd, have an adult daughter, Allison, who is attending law school on the West Coast.

Shryock began her dual role with Bay Village Schools on Aug. 1, 2021, after then-Superintendent Jodie Hausmann resigned to become the executive director of Connect.

Scot Prebles was named the next superintendent of the district in the spring, and his official start date with Bay Village Schools is Aug. 1.

Shryock