Madak Left Lasting Lakewood Legacy
The world recently lost a fine man and one of Lakewood City Schools’ most impactful superintendents in Dr. P. Joseph Madak. The District’s financial stability and state-of-the-art school buildings can be traced directly to the exceptional leadership of Dr. Madak.
Dr. Madak served as the Superintendent of Lakewood City Schools from 1995 – 2004 and 2009-2011. During his tenure in Lakewood, Dr. Madak won the Ohio PTA’s State Superintendent of the Year award, the Buckeye Association of School Administrator’s Superintendent Exemplary Leadership Award and was also named a Fulbright Scholar.
Chas Geiger was a member of the Board of Education when Dr. Madak was hired. He recalls that when Dr. Madak, a relative outsider, came to Lakewood in 1995, it was shortly after the community passed an operating levy ending a streak of failed attempts.
“Within a short time, Dr. Madak was able to bring faculty and community together, stabilize the financial health of the district, build a strong management team, and in time present a vision of educational excellence for Lakewood’s families and residents,” Geiger said. “That vision included the launch of a district-wide rebuilding and renovation of Lakewood’s school buildings that would complement and enhance the teaching and learning of our faculty and students. As Board of Education members, we all learned from him. He was clearly the right leader at the right time for Lakewood.”
Paula Reed, who served on numerous levy, bond and other school committees echoes Geiger’s thoughts: “Joe Madak was hired as superintendent at a low point in the school district's history... Many people had lost faith in the direction of the district. Dr. Madak came in with a plan to re-establish trust and confidence, soliciting community input and engaging citizen participation in the process... The direction he set for the district solidified the quality of Lakewood schools, which contributed dramatically to the desirability of living in Lakewood.”
It was Dr. Madak who put the plan in motion for the now nearly complete Facilities Master Plan by bringing together a group of dedicated volunteers made up of parents, teachers, community members and administrators to form the Lakewood Schools – Designing the Next 50 Years Committee.
“I was taken by Joe’s clear vision and the process he laid out to get everyone involved,” said Tom Einhouse, chairman of the 50 Years Committee and current Board of Education member.
“I was so impressed with the way that 50 or more community members worked together in a cooperative manner, which led to citywide consensus on what ended up to be a $270 million rebuilding of the entire school facilities. Dr. Madak made that happen.”
“Dr. Madak was a true visionary and brilliant administrator who cared deeply for and about Lakewood, its students and its families,” said Lakewood Schools parent Jay Foran, who served on the 50 Years Committee and many levy and bond issue committees through the years. “He helped put Lakewood Schools on both a 'teaching & learning' and 'financial' path that has led to the wonderful school district we know today.”
Staff members remember a man who was deeply committed to the District, its staff and its students and would often stop by a classroom to offer a word of encouragement. One former staff member recalled on social media that she didn’t think he even knew who she was until he walked up to her and greeted her by name.
Prior to serving as Lakewood’s fifteenth Superintendent, Dr. Madak also served as Superintendent of Schools in Clear Fork Local, Olmsted Falls City and Kettering City. Due to his excellent leadership and strategic skills, he also was selected to serve as Interim Superintendent in Mansfield City, Revere Local and Brecksville-Broadview Heights. In each case, his leadership in the districts led to higher test scores and academic achievement and improved financial footing during his tenure. While leading these districts, Madak spearheaded 10 successful operating levies and passed an additional levy with Lakewood in 2010.
Even in retirement, Dr. Madak continued to remain ever the educator, serving as an online instructor for college courses.
Said Geiger: “He was a remarkable man, an educator’s educator. His legacy will prevail for generations to come.”