Education Resource Strategies (ERS) is proud to announce that Eric Gordon has joined its Board of Directors.

“Having worked directly with ERS in multiple ways over many years, I know the team is deeply committed to transformational change for K-12 education,” Gordon shared. “It’s an honor to join such outstanding peers on the Board of an organization I have such profound respect for.”

Gordon brings a wealth of experience and leadership in education to the ERS Board. From 2011-2023, he served as CEO/Superintendent of Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD), during which time the district saw significant improvements in academic performance. Over this tenure, ERS partnered with CMSD directly to support his work: freeing up resources for critical investments; designing strategic compensation models; and implementing a student-based budgeting system.

“We’re so honored to have Eric Gordon, long-time ERS partner, join our Board of Directors,” said Karen Hawley Miles, CEO of ERS. “We have learned so much from his brave, thoughtful, and strategic leadership of the Cleveland school district. He serves as a role model and coach to superintendents around the nation. We look forward to his counsel as we support districts through this challenging moment in K-12 schooling.”

Gordon currently serves as Senior Vice President of Student Development and Education Pipeline at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C). His work at Tri-C focuses on identifying and addressing gaps in student development and support systems to ensure students have access to the resources and support they need to succeed.

“Eric Gordon has been a bold, innovative, and equity-centered leader his entire career,” said Ann Clark, ERS Board Member. “I know firsthand how much his presence pushes the conversation for the benefit of all students, encourages new ways of thinking, and asks questions that advance the discussion in profound ways. Undoubtedly, his presence on the ERS board will push his fellow board members and ERS to take action to transform the educator experience and accelerate student learning.”

In addition to being named one of Cleveland Magazine’s Most Interesting People early in his tenure as superintendent, Mr. Gordon’s active engagement in the Cleveland community has been noted with a number of community awards, including the Diversity Center of Cleveland’s Humanitarian Award; Inside Business Magazine’s Power 100 Award; Smart Business Magazine’s Top 50 Award, which honors the most successful executives in northeast Ohio; the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation’s Outstanding Ohio Superintendent Performance Award; and most recently the Mary Utne O’Brien Social Emotional Learning Leader Lifetime Achievement Award from the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL).

In 2016, Gordon received the Green-Garner Award of the Council of the Great City Schools, distinguishing him as the top urban educator of the year—the highest national honor in urban education.