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Pickerington Board of Education Announces Superintendent Finalists

Three finalists along with their titles and names

Pickerington Board of Education Announces Superintendent Finalists

February 14, 2025, Pickerington, OH - The Pickerington Local School District Board of Education is pleased to announce three distinguished educational leaders as finalists in the Board’s search for the next superintendent:

  • Dr. Heather Hedgepeth - Assistant Superintendent/Chief Administrative Officer, Pickerington Local Schools. Dr. Hedgepeth has been with Pickerington Schools since 2003, serving in various leadership roles to support student success and District Operations.
  • Dr. M. Denise Lutz - Chief Excellence and Engagement Officer, Upper Arlington City Schools. Dr. Lutz has held this role since 2017, focusing on district-wide initiatives that drive academic excellence and community engagement.
  • Dr. Charles Smialek - Superintendent/CEO, Parma City Schools. Dr. Smialek has led Parma City Schools since 2018, overseeing strategic improvements and district-wide leadership.

These finalists will participate in a final round of interviews with the Board of Education on Thursday, February 20, during a Special Board of Education Meeting at Pickerington High School North, beginning at 5:00 p.m. Prior to these interviews, they will engage with invited internal and external stakeholders at a Meet & Greet session.

The Board of Education also extends its appreciation to Dr. Scott J. Hunt, who stepped in as Interim Superintendent on February 1, following the retirement of Dr. Chris Briggs, who served as superintendent for the past eight years. "Dr. Hunt has provided consistent leadership and supported ongoing initiatives while keeping the District’s focus on students and staff during this interim period," said Board President Clay Lopez. "He will remain in the interim role until the Board finalizes the hiring process.

The Board looks forward to the next phase of the search and appreciates the community’s engagement in this important decision for Pickerington Local Schools."

For additional updates on the search timeline and process, visit the Superintendent Search Page on the District website.