Personalized Solutions for Ohio Educators, Students, and Families

Search Services

Superintendent • Treasurer • Interim Leadership • Other Central Office and Building Administrators

Great districts are shaped by great leaders, and the process to find them matters.

Finding the right Superintendent, Treasurer, or Interim leader is one of the most significant decisions a Board will make. Summit ESC is here to make that process clear, relational, and supported from beginning to end.

We help you identify leaders who fit your district’s culture, values, and vision for the future.

Why Districts Partner With Summit ESC

A search process designed with your Board, not for it.

Every district has a distinct identity: its history, its people, its hopes for what comes next. That’s why Summit ESC’s Search Services are built on partnership, deep listening, and a process tailored to your community.

We bring decades of experience from sitting in the roles we now help districts fill. That firsthand perspective allows us to guide Boards with confidence, clarity, and discretion.

Our commitment to you:

A process aligned to your district’s needs and timeline
Honest feedback and transparent communication
Recruitment that reaches qualified candidates across Ohio and beyond
A guided approach that supports your Board at every decision point
A search focused on alignment, integrity, and long-term success

When the right leader is selected, districts feel it – stability strengthens, relationships deepen, and students benefit.

What Our Search Services Include

Summit ESC leads and supports your Board through a thoughtful, proven process designed to identify leaders who truly fit.

1. Profile Development

We work with your Board to define the qualities, experiences, and leadership traits that matter most. Optional staff and community engagement ensures the district’s voice and values are represented.

2. Professional Recruitment Materials

We create a polished digital brochure that authentically reflects your district, the role, and its opportunities.

3. Advertising & Statewide Recruiting

Your vacancy is promoted through:

ODE, OSBA, BASA, and OASBO
All ESC networks across Ohio
Statewide professional leadership organizations
Direct outreach and phone recruiting to qualified candidates

4. Application Screening & Vetting

We review each application thoroughly, examining qualifications, references, job history, and alignment with the district profile. Early reference checks are completed when appropriate.

5. Initial Interviews Conducted by SESC

Our team facilitates first-round interviews to identify strong potential candidates for your Board to consider.

6. Structured Semi-Finalist Interviews

Your Board leads this round with full support from Summit ESC, including:

Interview protocols
Question development
Candidate evaluation tools
Additional reference and social media checks

7. Finalist Interviews & Selection Support

We help refine final interview questions, support contract and salary comparisons, and guide Boards through final decision-making. We coordinate community engagement as part of the finalist evaluation process.

From start to finish, your Board is never navigating the process alone.

Success Stories From Ohio Districts

Districts trust Summit ESC and their feedback reflects the difference a well-supported search can make.

“Fantastic job… we enjoyed the process and the support. The Board was beyond happy! We are happy with who we found and the vetting process you provided.”
– Todd Osborn, Superintendent

Chippewa Local Schools (Treasurer Search)

“We have been fortunate to work with Summit ESC… the search process was extensive and well-planned… the perfect partners for this daunting task.”
– Norton Board of Education (Superintendent Search)

“Your open and relaxed approach made what could have been a stressful process feel manageable.”
– Cynthia C. Frola, Board Member

Springfield Local Schools (Superintendent Search)

Expertise you can trust. Experience that matters.

Our searches are rooted in the strength of our team with decades of firsthand district leadership.

Joseph Iacano | Superintendent, Summit ESC

Joseph Iacano brings more than two decades of district leadership experience, including 11 years as Superintendent at Summit ESC and 10 years as Superintendent of Crestwood Local Schools. A graduate of Kent State University and The University of Akron, he has served as a teacher, coach, principal, curriculum director, and superintendent across Summit, Portage, Cuyahoga, and Lorain counties, and has contributed to multiple state-level education committees focused on accountability, global education, and closing achievement gaps.

Jeff Ferguson | Assistant Superintendent, Summit ESC

Jeff Ferguson has dedicated 35 years to public education, serving as a teacher, coach, building administrator, and superintendent, including 15 years as Superintendent of Tallmadge City Schools. A respected collaborator and facilitator, Jeff has presented statewide on strategic planning and organizational alignment and remains a passionate advocate for the connection between strong schools and healthy communities.

Dr. Tina Dinklocker | Leadership Services, Summit ESC

Dr. Tina Dinklocker brings an extensive leadership background spanning superintendent, deputy superintendent, assistant superintendent, curriculum director, and principal roles across multiple Ohio districts. With nearly a decade at Summit ESC and experience teaching leadership and superintendent studies at the university level, she offers Boards deep insight into instructional leadership, operations, and executive decision-making during complex district searches.

Bob Wolf | Director of Human Resources, Summit ESC

Bob Wolf has served as Director of Human Resources at the Summit County Educational Service Center since July 2015. Prior to joining Summit ESC, he served as Superintendent of Waterloo Local Schools from 1997 to July 2010 and as High School Principal at Waterloo Local Schools from 1987 to 1997. He has also served as a Board of Trustees member and Vice President of the Executive Committee for The Portage Foundation, a role he has held since 2008.

Laura Molnar | Treasurer, Summit ESC

Laura Molnar is a seasoned school finance professional with more than a decade of experience in Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer roles, supporting districts through budgeting, audits, internal controls, payroll, and long-term financial planning. With direct Treasurer experience and a collaborative, transparent approach, Laura helps Boards navigate Treasurer searches and transitions with confidence, clarity, and sound fiscal insight.

Timeline & Investment

Most searches are completed in approximately eight weeks, adjusted to your needs, urgency, and Board schedules.

Pricing is transparent and straightforward for affiliated districts.

Your District’s Next Leader Matters. Let’s Find the Right Fit.

A strong search gives your Board clarity. The right leader gives your district momentum.

Summit ESC is ready to support you through a high-quality, well-structured, and deeply relational search process.

Explore What a High-Quality Search Can Unlock. Fill out the form to request a consultation.

Please contact me, I am interested in learning more.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email Address:

To validate your submission, please answer the following math problem: