Meet Eric Forman, Principal of Onaway Elementary School
Interview by Jennifer Proe
Who: Eric Forman
Where: Fernway resident
Job: Principal of Onaway Elementary School since 2016. The building serves Shaker students in grades K-4 from the Onaway, Ludlow, and Malvern neighborhoods, and also houses the early childhood education program for the entire Shaker Heights City School District.
Mission: I’m a big believer in holistic education, and the District’s International Baccalaureate program matches that philosophy. One of the things I truly love about IB is that a student’s social/emotional health and academics are equally important. The attitudes and attributes of the IB learner profile match our community values in Shaker – caring, empathy, the idea that we can have impact on our space. We don’t want children to learn in isolation; we want them to achieve their best academically and as community-oriented citizens.
At Onaway, we have a vision statement that predates me: Every person matters, every moment counts. What that means is that all of the interactions we have with one another throughout the day are equally important, between teachers and students, between administrators and staff, and student to student. That’s the culture we’re building all the time here, and that’s how I want my own children to interact with others.
What I Love About My Work: First and foremost, I love the kids. Their spirit and positivity are infectious. They believe in fairness, in right and wrong, and that everyone doesn’t always have to agree, but we have to come together to solve problems. During the pandemic, they understood the need to wear masks. We didn’t have to teach it to them as a rule, they just got that this is how we keep one another safe.
The staff we have here is incredibly creative, passionate, committed, and student-centered, so any opportunities I have to work with them directly on lessons or ways to support our students are the highlights of my day. I also really love to talk to people about school in Shaker. The passion people feel for our schools is an asset that the majority of school districts in this country do not have. I think that’s what really separates Shaker from other places; people move here and want to be invested in their children’s learning. When I have the opportunity to give tours to prospective residents or work with people in the City or at our libraries, and talk about the work we’re doing, I enjoy that immensely. I honestly believe that the complexity and diversity in this community give us opportunities to achieve things that other places don’t have. That’s what makes me excited to get up in the morning.
Personal Background: We moved here from Brooklyn, New York in 2014 and bought our home in Fernway before I got this job. We chose Shaker because we wanted to find a school district with a social/emotional focus, and a creative, inquisitive learning environment.
I grew up in University Heights, where my mother was a school librarian. My father was a high school administrator in East Cleveland and Cleveland Heights. I went to Ohio State where I completed a master’s in education degree, and then taught for a few years at Franklin D. Roosevelt School in Cleveland. I then taught middle school math and later became assistant principal at Tompkins Square Middle School in Brooklyn, where I met my wife, Ellie Leahy, who was teaching English. [Eleanor is from the Washington D.C. area and now works in educational policy in the non-profit sector.]
Once I knew I had an interest in school leadership, I went to Bank Street College of Education in New York City and completed a second master’s degree in leadership in education. After our first daughter was born, we wanted to be closer to family. We knew we wanted to be in a community where you were connected with your neighbors and close to the city, but most important to us was to find the school district that matched our philosophy. Our oldest daughter is now a third grader at Fernway, and our younger daughter will start kindergarten there next year. My parents live nearby in Mayfield, and they have been our built-in infrastructure from the beginning.
On Working and Living in Shaker Heights: We love that this is a community where we see our neighbors, go to block parties, and can walk to parks and playgrounds. Coming from New York, that was important to us. In New York, you’re always around people and we didn’t want to give that up. We spend a fair amount of time on family walks in the Metroparks, and we’ve hiked all the trails around the Nature Center and Lower Lake.
We love to walk up to the Van Aken District, where the girls can get ice cream, or we can get a cup of coffee, and see people we know. That part of living and working in the same community is really great. Sometimes it might take me longer to get through the grocery store, but I want to have those moments. When my daughter saw her teacher getting pastries at Van Aken, that was a great moment for her.
During normal times, we love being able to go to the theatre at Playhouse Square. I also have a hobby/stress reliever/side hustle buying and selling all sorts of sports memorabilia. I’m a huge Ohio State, Browns, Cavs, and now Guardians fan – basically, I’m an all-around cheerleader for the region.
I just really believe in the impact of what connected schools and communities can do together. When I think about equitable outcomes and inclusive spaces for all our students, it’s going to require an entire community effort. The Forward Together initiative is a good example of this type of community effort. That stated desire has always existed here: “A Community is Known by the Schools it Keeps.” We’re still a place that wants to create those connections.
