Articles - Sharon L. Kennedy

Justice Sharon L. Kennedy recently presided over the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed state superintendent of the Ohio Department of Education.

Justice Kennedy administered the oath to Dr. Richard A. Ross, Ohio's 37th superintendent of public instruction at the department and then gave the keynote remarks at the group's April 8 board meeting. The State Board of Education selected Dr. Ross in March.

Dr. Ross was most recently the director of 21st Century Education for two years under Gov. John Kasich's administration. He has also previously been the superintendent at three Ohio school districts: Reynoldsburg City Schools, Bryan City Schools, and Ottawa-Glandorf Local Schools.

During her remarks, Justice Kennedy congratulated Dr. Ross and noted how they both had teachers in their childhood who helped inspire them to achieve greatness.

"Teachers have the ability to inspire and help children dream and succeed.  For me it was a high school teacher who believed in me and dared me to dream beyond the limitations I set for myself.  He inspired me to believe that I could become a lawyer and eventually a judge," Justice Kennedy said. "Across Ohio every day a dream is born in a classroom of public education."

Justice Kennedy said Dr. Ross will continue to motivate thousands of Ohio students with his new position.

Justice Kennedy is serving her first term on the Supreme Court of Ohio. Prior to joining the Supreme Court, Justice Kennedy served at the Butler County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division since 1999. Justice Kennedy served as the administrative judge there from 2005 until December 2012. Justice Kennedy began her career in the justice system as a police officer in Hamilton, Ohio. She received her law degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law.