Two Cincinnati Public School unions issued votes of confidence in Superintendent Shauna Murphy on Oct. 14, days after Murphy saw a decline in her overall score from the Board of Education in its annual evaluation.
The Cincinnati Federation of Teachers and Cincinnati Federation of Office Professionals said in a letter shared with The Enquirer they are "deeply disappointed" in the evaluation, saying it "does not adequately recognize the district’s academic growth, the challenges she inherited, or her unwavering commitment to putting students first."
At its Oct. 12 meeting, the school board voted to approve Murphy's evaluation, in which she earned a 3.3. on a scale of 1 to 5, down from the 4.6 she earned last year.
The school board used the recently
released school report card data from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce to determine whether Murphy improved student outcomes on a list of predetermined goals. Of those markers, Murphy fell short on meeting targets for third grade reading proficiency, algebra I proficiency and closing reading gaps between economically disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged students.
School board president Brandon Craig told The Enquirer he is reviewing the unions' letter and is withholding comment for now.
What the unions' letter says
Since her tenure started in 2024, the superintendent has excelled in improving student outcomes despite significant financial and administrative challenges, the unions said.
"Superintendent Murphy has worked tirelessly to move Cincinnati Public Schools forward while confronting extraordinary financial challenges, difficult budget decisions, and longstanding problems she inherited upon assuming leadership of the district," the unions' letter stated.
Murphy, a longtime CPS staffer, was unexpectedly tapped to assume the role in a November 2024 board vote after six months serving as interim superintendent. She replaced Iranetta Wright, who resigned in spring 2024 after six district unions voted no confidence in her.
Under Murphy's leadership, the district saw major gains in its most recent state report card, the unions said. This year, CPS earned its first-ever 3-star score on Ohio's report card, up from the 2.5-star score it's earned the last two years.
"These accomplishments are especially significant given the years of financial uncertainty, reductions in staffing and services, and difficult decisions necessary to stabilize the district," the letter stated.
"Those of us who work in Cincinnati Public Schools see firsthand what cannot always be captured in an evaluation document," it added.
At the Oct. 12 meeting, teachers union president Julie Sellers said during public comment that having several superintendents for the district in the last decade can lead to instability.
“Stability is not achieved by constantly replacing leadership. It is achieved by supporting competent leaders, holding everyone accountable – including the Board itself – and allowing the district the time and consistency necessary to succeed,” Sellers said.
Murphy is slated to serve as superintendent through July 31, 2027, according to her contract obtained in a public records request. Per Ohio Revised Code, the school board has until May 1, 2027, to extend her contract.
Breaking down Shauna Murphy's 2025-26 evaluation
The majority, 60%, of the superintendent's evaluation is determined by whether the five student performance goals below were met, per data from the 2025-26 school year.
- Increasing third grade reading proficiency from 55.7% to 59.7% by September 2026 (Actual = 58.9%).
- Raising algebra I proficiency for first-time test-takers from 47.1% to 51.1% by September 2026 (Actual = 48.9%).
- Closing the sixth grade reading gap between economically disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged students from 50.7% to 47.7% by September 2026 (Actual = 48.5%).
- Add two new industry-recognized credential options valued at 7 points or higher by September 2026 (Actual = six credentials).
- Creating a new three-year Strategic and Financial Plan by Aug. 3, 2026 (Plan was formally proposed at the Sept. 14, 2026 meeting).
These five goals were finalized by the board in a vote at Murphy's last evaluation, in October 2025.
The last two pieces of the superintendent's evaluation are a board survey of Murphy's ability to meet Ohio's five superintendent standards and Murphy's preparation for and participation in a midpoint check-in with the board. The survey accounts for 30% of the overall score and the check-in accounts for 10%.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Public unions issue vote of confidence in superintendent
