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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

POLARIS CAREER CENTER WELCOMES BEN HODGE AS NEW ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT
Veteran educator brings nearly three decades of leadership experience to Polaris

May 6, 2025

Middleburg Heights, OH – Polaris Career Center is proud to announce the appointment of Ben Hodge as its new Assistant Superintendent, effective August 1, 2025. With 27 years of experience in education and administration, Hodge brings a proven track record of student-focused leadership and program innovation to the Polaris administrative team.

Hodge’s educational journey has been rooted in Northeast Ohio. He began his career as a teacher at Bessie Kinsner Elementary in the Strongsville City School District before transitioning into several key administrative roles. These included Assistant Principal/Teacher at Lee Burneson Middle School (Westlake), Assistant Principal at Big Creek Elementary (Middleburg Heights), and Principal positions at both Parknoll (Berea) and Bassett Elementary (Westlake) Schools.

In 2014, he joined the ranks of district-level leadership as Curriculum Director for the Avon Local School District, where he later served as Assistant Superintendent and, most recently, as Superintendent since 2021.

Hodge holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Baldwin Wallace University and a Master of Education Administration from Cleveland State University. He also earned the Aspiring Superintendent National Certification from AASA, The School Superintendents Association - a reflection of his commitment to continuous professional growth.

Polaris Superintendent Diane Xander shared her enthusiasm about Hodge’s appointment, “With a solid background in educational leadership, Ben demonstrates a people-first approach that aligns perfectly with our district’s core values. Ben brings a strong commitment to student-centered decision-making and a passion for fostering growth and relationships among students and staff. We are thrilled to welcome him to our leadership team!”

In his new role, Hodge will oversee human resources, strategic partnerships and other key district initiatives. Hodge expressed his excitement about joining Polaris, “I’m thrilled to join the administrative team at Polaris Career Center. Career-technical education opens the door to countless opportunities for student success, and I’m proud to be part of an organization that leads with innovation, purpose and a deep commitment to student achievement. I look forward to embracing the exciting challenges and rewards of working in the dynamic world of CTE.”

For more information, please contact Doug Miller at 440.891.7609 or dmiller@polaris.edu.

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