Report: Ex-Westerville superintendent used district resources for outside work

WESTERVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) – The former superintendent of Westerville City Schools resigned from his position instead of facing discipline for using district resources for outside work, according to documents obtained from the district.

According to an educator misconduct form filed by the district’s human resources director, on Feb. 14, then-superintendent Dr. Joseph Clark used district time and equipment to record five teaching modules for an online course at the American College of Education.

In addition, the district said Clark is still listed as a senior faculty member on the college’s website.

“When Dr. Clark was hired by the Westerville City School District Board of Education last year, he advised the Board that he intended to discontinue his teaching at the American College of Education,” the misconduct report states.

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The recordings of teaching modules for the college were discovered in the recycle bin of Clark’s district-issued computer, according to the report.

In a statement released Wednesday, the former superintendent didn’t acknowledge the modules listed in the report. However, he slightly disagreed with the district’s characterization of the events.

“The Westerville board knew that I would give up my position at ACE if it was ever a distraction from my work in Westerville,” Clark said. “My unequivocal presence and visibility at school and community events show that my ACE work was never a distraction from my work as superintendent.”

Additionally, Clark gave a presentation to Otterbein University on Feb. 19, using a slide in PowerPoint that included the Westerville school logo and a photo of a book he wrote, “If The Dance Floor Is Empty, Change The Song.”

Last fall, after he was hired, Clark used the Westerville superintendent’s social media page to promote the book, which the district called “his private business,” calling the post an ethics violation.

“He took the posting down, but, as is evident from his presentation on February 19, 2024, he did not stop coupling his position as Superintendent for Westerville City Schools with marketing his book,” the report states.

In his statement, Clark did admit that he included the district in his presentation, but contested the claim that he used it as a marketing piece.

“I never used my position as a school superintendent to promote my book,” Clark said. “The presentation I gave was voluntary, unpaid, and done on the February 19 Presidents Day holiday. The introductory slide of my presentation contained pictures of the Westerville Schools logo, a PhD cap, and a picture of my book. It was an introductory slide created to tell the audience of future teachers about myself. I did not promote my book or ask the audience to buy it.”

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When confronted about his behavior and told he would be facing discipline from the school board, Clark instead tended his resignation, which the board accepted on Feb. 26.

On Tuesday, Clark did not answer specific questions regarding the report, saying he intended to release a statement Wednesday.

Clark was previously a superintendent at Nordonia Hills City School since 2009 and before that was an assistant superintendent for Barberton City Schools and a high school English teacher for Springfield Local Schools.

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His contract was slated to run through July 31, 2026, with a salary of $230,000 per year and a 3-percent pay hike every year of the contract.

Angela Hamberg, currently serving as a High Quality Instructional Materials Specialist and Certified Executive Leadership Coach for the Educational Service Center of Central Ohio, will be stepping into the Westerville City Schools’ interim superintendent role.

The search conducted by the district through the firm Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates to find Clark cost the district $39,598, a district spokesperson said.

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