Q&A With Falls Schools Superintendent Dr. Todd Nichols

How many years of experience do you have in education?

Twenty-three years in education, 18 in administration, mostly at the secondary level, high school principal. But, the last four years as superintendent and very early in my career I had district responsibilities including transportation director and director of athletics for the district… I was also EMIS [Education Management Information System] coordinator. So, all along I’ve have district responsibility, as well as being high school principal.

What’s exciting you most about the [Cuyahoga Falls City School] District and this position?

What is exciting is the very firm foundation. Dr. [Ed] Holland did a great job with the team and the administrative staff to establish a foundation from which to build. I met with Jim Zwisler [district educational consultant leading the committee updating its strategic plan, "Planning for the 21st Century"] today for about two hours, and it turns out he and I speak the same language – the same training in our background and the same foci, if you will – academically. So, with the foundation and the personnel who are around us, the school district is good. Frankly, I’m not sure that everyone knows how good it really can be and I’m excited to try to help take it to the next level.

Is there something you want people to know about you that they might not find out through the course of education or schoolwork? Do you have any pets?

[Laughs.] I have a 10 year-old Yorkie named Buster. He’s a great dog. Beyond that, my family, both my wife and my son and our daughters and their family are extremely excited about being here. The two older ones [daughters] are married, the third one is getting married.