Meet Cincinnati Public Schools' interim superintendent, deputy superintendent

CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Public Schools has an interim leader after superintendent Iranetta Wright submitted her resignation last week.

The Cincinnati Board of Education selected Shauna Murphy, the CPS chief of student, family and community engagement, as interim superintendent at its meeting Monday.

When announced, Murphy said she was ready to face the challenges facing the district.

"So many mixed emotions — a little humility, a little gratefulness, and excitement," she said.

According to her LinkedIn, Murphy has been with CPS for over a decade, previously serving as a principal at Woodward Career Technical High School before working in other roles for the district.

A Purcell Marian grad, Murphy attended Ohio University before getting her master's in secondary education at Xavier and a master's in educational administration at UC.

The board interviewed Murphy and Dr. Alesia Smith, chief of schools, for the job at around 4 p.m. Monday before announcing its decision.

Smith, the board said, will be interim deputy superintendent.

"Just excited," Smith said. "It's an opportunity. We're here for kids. We've known each other for a long time, and we're here to work together."

Board President Eve Bolton said last week the interim superintendent "will probably have a major impact ... and a role to play" as the district continues to face budget cuts caused by the expiration of COVID-era federal funding.

Both Murphy and Smith will serve on a special budget task force slated to meet for the first time Tuesday, May 21 at 9 a.m.

The task force has little time to make cuts and adjustments to the district's budget ahead of a June 30 deadline.

"We know we have to make some hard decisions," Smith said. "They have to be made. We're in a tight situation and we're going to make those decisions."

Bolton said the district's budget plan could be pushed back to 90 days behind schedule due to Wright's resignation. She also said more cuts than originally expected would be needed, and "the kind of cuts that are needed probably have to be within the personnel range."

Wright's resignation came just days after all six unions within CPS gave her a vote of no confidence, saying she was not communicative or collaborative and often "dismissed" their concerns without truly listening to them.

"We can't afford another year," said Julie Sellers, president of the Cincinnati Federation of Teachers.

According to her settlement, Wright will still receive her current salary through the end of her contract on July 31, 2025. That would mean she will make just under $325,000 after her resignation, not including any paid-out vacation.