Joelle Magyar, current superintendent of Brecksville-Broadview Heights City Schools in Cuyahoga County, will be the leader of Avon Lake City Schools starting Aug. 1.
Members of the Avon Lake Board of Education announced the selection March 27, after whittling down their list of candidates to Magyar and David Harmon, chief of human resources with the Dayton Public School District.
Magyar said that during her four months of preparation, she will work with the district and the Board of Education to make sure the transition is as smooth as possible.
“I plan to meet a lot with (Superintendent Bob Scott) … a lot with the board,” she said. “It’s not my goal to come in here and undo everything that has been done in this district.
“My goal is to come in here and make this as smooth a transition as possible.”
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Through a two-month long interview process, Magyar said she has gotten to know school board members.
She had high praise for the Avon Lake community and looks forward to working with the school system.
"It's a breath of fresh air," Magyar said. "Just the interactions I've had with the board already, and it hasn't been a ton, just through the interview process.
"It's truly caring about me as a person, in addition to professionally, what I can do for the district."
The decision was not one that the board took lightly, or one that they arrived at quickly, said Jim Stobe, school board president.
The board considered candidates from all around the state and beyond.
"Between the three (candidate deliberation) meetings that we had, we met as a board over 15 hours, just in person," Stobe said.
In considering a new superintendent, the board wanted a leader with a clear vision for what Avon Lake Schools should look and feel like, he said.
The board wanted someone with a real sense of community and who would fit in with the city of Avon Lake.
"The most important thing we talked about was wanting to find a leader," Stobe said. "A superintendent's role is unique in that, yes, there are a million things that go on in the district.
"But somebody has to have the buck stop with them to lead all those people. And we wanted to find the best leader."
Magyar is coming in with some big shoes to fill in taking over for Scott, who held the position in Avon Lake for 18 years.
Scott announced his intention to retire in November 2022, and a search began soon after.
"Joelle is going to bring a fresh perspective, and that's really important for the school district," Scott said. "I've been here for 18 years.
"We've done some really great things. But sometimes, good is new. New is good."
Members of the Board of Education called Scott a hero of the Avon Lake community.
He said that he looks forward to "riding off into the sunset" to his next chapter.
"The July board meeting will probably be my last day," Scott said. "(After that) it's the next chapter.
"I think it's time for someone else to take over as Avon Lake superintendent. I haven't really decided what I'm going to do, but I know I've got a lot left to give."
For Magyar, the transition presents one major challenge: getting up to speed with district projects.
As part of the final interview process, Magyar and Harmon were required to give a short presentation on their first 90 days as superintendent, Stobe said.
Magyar said she is confident in her abilities to acclimate to the district's new, years-long building project.
She said this will be her fourth building project as a school district administrator and looks forward to seeing it through.
"I know a lot of the superintendents in Lorain County," Magyar said. "They've already reached out to me and congratulated me, and whatever I need.
"I'm very excited; looking forward to starting."
