Lakewood Board of Education Names New Director of Teaching & Learning, K-12

The Board of Education at a special meeting on May 5 approved Student Services Director Christine Palumbo as the next Director of Teaching and Learning, K-12 for the Lakewood City Schools beginning Aug. 1, 2016. Dr. Palumbo will be replacing Pam Griebel, who is retiring.

“The selection of Christine Palumbo for this position is a natural fit for the school district,” Superintendent Jeff Patterson said. “She is very familiar with our curriculum and staff. She is aware of the challenges that we face to continually improve academically and to meet our goals.”

Dr. Palumbo has been in her Student Services director position for the past five years. Prior to returning to Lakewood – she was a former Intervention Specialist two separate times for the District – she served as the Director of Special Education and Family Services for the Region 2 State Support Team for the Ohio Department of Education and was Supervisor of Special Education before that.

Highlights from Dr. Palumbo’s tenure as Student Services Director include overseeing the creation and implementation of the Ranger 360 sexual assault, dating and domestic violence and stalking awareness and education program; expanding of our preschool programming and working closely with the Department of Teaching and Learning to develop response to instruction and Intervention models at all levels. She is also proud of her work with Student Services’ team members to develop in-house Youth Mental Health First Aid trainers and offering this training for numerous staff members.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in Education from John Carroll University, where she was an eight-time conference champion in both the 1- and 3-meter springboard diving and an NCAA All-American in the 1-meter springboard. She earned a master’s in Curriculum & Instruction and her doctorate in Urban Education with specialization in learning and development from Cleveland State University.

"I am honored and excited to be taking on the position of Director of Teaching and Learning. I look forward to working closely with students, staff and families as we continue our good work on behalf of Lakewood students,” Dr. Palumbo said.

[Photo credit: Lakewood City Schools]