Superintendent Dr. Bob Hardis announced via an email sent Nov. 21 that the Beachwood Board of Education approved Paul Chase as the district’s next director of curriculum and instruction.

Chase’s administrative experience in Beachwood has included positions as assistant principal at the high school for seven years, middle school principal for six years and high school principal for seven years. 

Hardis noted that Chase’s extensive experience in Beachwood schools will serve him well in this new position.

“Having familiarity with the district, I think, is going to be a real key advantage to Mr. Chase,” he said. “He knows where we’ve been, and he knows what direction we’re working towards.” 

Chase’s appointment arrives as Dr. Linda LoGalbo prepares to retire after 20 years with the district, including 11 years as Director of Curriculum and Instruction. 

LoGalbo is proud of the work she has done establishing structured curricular procedures, expanding course offerings and strengthening teaching techniques at all grade levels over the last two decades.

“I think my greatest curriculum accomplishment is establishing that protocol and process,” LoGalbo said. “At the high school level, with my help and direction, we have expanded our course offerings.” 

“I’m really proud that we’re now offering AP African American History for the first time,” she added.

LoGalbo said one of her most difficult, yet proudest accomplishments was establishing how curriculum is developed and approved across the district.

“We were able to develop curriculum and courses of study for every single course that we’re teaching in Beachwood schools. That was a huge undertaking,” LoGalbo said. “And now we’ve established a process where at the beginning of the year, our board approves our courses of study, and I think our teachers really appreciate it now, because our district is formally standing by our teachers and courses.”

Hardis has worked closely with Chase over the past 20 years and acknowledged his administrative skills. 

“Mr. Chase is an incredibly hard worker, and a very thoughtful school leader,” Hardis said. “I think one of the reasons he’s earned so many people’s trust and respect is because he’s honest, and he follows through when he says he’s going to do something.” 

In his new role as director of curriculum and instruction, Chase will manage the district’s curriculum and course offerings while working with teachers and principals to ensure students receive a high-quality education.

The transition process has already started to take place. Hardis explained that Chase has begun to shadow LoGalbo, attending meetings and conferences with her and devoting time each week to better grasp the role’s “behind-the-scenes” tasks. 

Chase officially takes over this position when the school year begins in late August.

One of his proudest moments was when he was principal in 2019, BMS was awarded the National Blue Ribbon School Award by the U.S. Dept. of Education, a prestigious award that honors schools for academic excellence.

“As part of that staff, for us to have that accomplishment, it’s an incredible [achievement to have],” Chase said. “Most districts don’t even receive one [National Blue Ribbon Award] …Beachwood has received several.”

While Chase is looking forward to this opportunity, he admits that leaving the high school will not be easy, acknowledging that his daily schedule will look different compared to spending his days with students and staff.

“I’ll definitely miss the students, that’s who I’ll miss the most, but I am a little bit nervous,” Chase said. “It’s a little bit more of an office job versus the pace and the interactions I have here.”

Chase already has plans for his new role as director of curriculum and instruction. These include formulating new programs, growing the BHS engineering and design program, and implementing an early reading program for grades K-12.

Chase is not afraid to admit that there will be challenges as he moves to his new position.

“The hardest thing is predicting the future and how to adjust education for the changes in the future,” Chase said. 

Hardis described this role as one that stretches across all grade levels and subject areas.

“[The director of curriculum and instruction] oversees all things curriculum-related, everything from our curriculum-related purchasing and selection process to working with others,” Hardis said. “[This includes] our principals as well as our teachers, and the courses that we will offer in schools.” 

That oversight includes Advanced Placement courses, specialized electives and alternate math courses, many of which were created or expanded under LoGalbo’s leadership.

While curriculum decisions determine what is taught, instruction affects how it is taught; Dr. Hardis hopes that Chase will invest significant energy in that area.

“I would really like to see Mr. Chase spend a lot of his time, energy and resources in this position paying close attention to the instruction side of this work,” he said.

Hardis noted that Beachwood classrooms have a diverse range of students, each with unique needs and learning styles.

“We know that we always have a wide range of learners [in every classroom], in terms of how they learn best,” Hardis said. “And so to best meet the needs of this diverse group of learners in any given classroom, a lot of attention has to be paid to instructional strategies.”

Chase credits years of classroom observations, which he estimates to total over 1,400, which have prepared him to approach that work with experience.

“The more you see instruction, the more advice you can give to somebody to improve instruction,” Chase said. “If you see it, you can give advice and learn more.”

Chase emphasizes that leadership for him has always been about community growth inside the buildings he has worked in.

“There are many instructional successes that I have been involved with,” Chase said. “It’s not my success, it’s the staff’s success. We’re a team. I’ve had the opportunity to lead a great staff and work with them on protocols and initiatives.”

That collaborative approach defined his high school and middle school instructional years. Rather than portraying himself as the sole source of change, Chase has constantly described improvement as the outcome of teamwork between administrators and teachers.

Todd Butler, a long-time BHS English teacher who serves as building representative for the Beachwood Federation of Teachers, believes Chase demonstrates the importance of teacher feedback.

“I think he wants his staff to be their best,” Butler said. “I think he understands that a motivated staff is a better staff.”

Butler added that Chase’s leadership approach contributes to teacher confidence and professional trust. He feels that Chase created a climate in which teachers felt encouraged to improve their teaching abilities through open communication, classroom observations and regularly following through.

When asked what attributes the future high school principal should have, Butler stressed the culture Chase helped create.

“Trust that your staff members are professional,” Butler said. “And that they are going to do everything in their power to make the classroom a safe and challenging learning environment.”

Hardis has received positive feedback from the community about Chase’s promotion.

“People are sorry to see him leave the high school because they enjoyed working with him,” Hardis said.  “But they’re happy that he’s staying in Beachwood because they know they’ll continue to work with him, albeit in a different position.”

As Chase’s time as BHS principal comes to an end, the Beachwood Board of Education approved Rebekah Sharpe to be the new principal at the board meeting on Feb. 9. 

Hardis hopes that the Beachwood community will give the same support to help welcome Sharpe to Beachwood as Chase has received. 

“We’ll have a new person in his role as high school principal,” Hardis said. “We just ask everyone to give them some grace and patience as they get used to their new role.” 

As BHS enters a new chapter, district leaders believe that students should be optimistic about the prospect of a new principal.

 “I think it’s time for him; [Chase has] done his job here for a long time,” Butler said. “Principals don’t typically last seven years, but we’re excited that he has a new opportunity.” 

Though his office location may change, Chase says his objective stays the same: to support teachers, improve curriculum and guarantee that every Beachwood student has the skills needed to succeed.