Superintendent

A Message from the Superintendent

Welcome to Pickerington Local Schools!

In Pickerington Local Schools, we are striving for Greatness Together.

Those two words represent more than a vision—they reflect our commitment to every student, every family, every staff member, and every resident who calls our community home. Greatness is achieved through strong relationships, high expectations, shared responsibility, and a collective belief that every student can succeed.

Serving more than 12,000 students across 16 schools, Pickerington Local Schools is one of Ohio’s premier public school districts. Families continue to choose Pickerington because of our strong academic programs, outstanding extracurricular opportunities, dedicated educators, and unwavering commitment to student success.

We believe greatness looks different for every student. For some, it may be earning a scholarship to a prestigious university. For others, it may be discovering a passion for music, excelling in athletics, pursuing a skilled trade, serving in the military, becoming an entrepreneur, or entering the workforce prepared for success. Our responsibility is to create opportunities, remove barriers, and support every student in reaching their full potential.

Our students continue to distinguish themselves in remarkable ways. They earn recognition as Gates Scholarship recipients and National Merit Scholars, gain admission to some of the nation’s most respected colleges and universities, earn athletic scholarships, compete in state and national STEM competitions, and achieve success in the arts, music, theater, leadership, and community service. Their accomplishments reflect a culture of excellence that extends across every corner of our District. That commitment is also reflected in our continued strong performance on the Ohio State Report Card, where Pickerington Local Schools has earned 4 out of 5 stars while continuing to expand opportunities for all learners.

Behind every student success story is a team of dedicated educators and staff members committed to helping students thrive. Many of our employees were once Pickerington students themselves. They learned in our classrooms, graduated from our schools, and returned to serve the next generation. Their passion, expertise, and commitment help make Pickerington a special place to learn, work, and grow.

As our community continues to grow, so does the richness of our school community. Families continue to move to Pickerington for the opportunities our schools provide, and we proudly serve students from a wide variety of backgrounds, cultures, and experiences, including a growing population of multilingual learners. This diversity strengthens our schools and prepares students to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.

We also continue to invest in the future of our students. From expanding free all-day kindergarten opportunities to opening the Pickerington Kindergarten Center, we remain focused on providing exceptional educational experiences from a child’s earliest years through graduation.

At the same time, we recognize our responsibility to be responsible stewards of public resources. Even as school districts across Ohio face increasing financial pressures and changing funding realities, Pickerington Local Schools remains committed to fiscal accountability, maximizing resources, and ensuring taxpayer dollars are invested directly in supporting students. We are proud of our long-standing record of financial stewardship and our commitment to operating efficiently while maintaining educational excellence.

I also believe leadership begins with listening. Throughout the year, I strive to engage with families, staff, residents, business leaders, and community organizations wherever they are—at school events, community gatherings, listening sessions, and individual conversations. Those interactions help shape our decisions, strengthen relationships, and ensure our schools remain connected to the community we proudly serve.

Most importantly, we understand that strong schools are built on strong partnerships. The support of our families, staff, Board of Education, alumni, business partners, and community members helps make Pickerington Local Schools a destination district and a source of pride throughout our community.

As Superintendent, I am honored to serve alongside our students, staff, families, and community as we continue creating opportunities, celebrating achievements, and preparing students for successful futures.

Together, we will continue striving for Greatness Together.

Dr. Charles Smialek
Superintendent/Chief Executive Officer
Pickerington Local Schools

 

District Goals: We will…

1. Cultivate Academic Excellence by engaging all students in relevant and rich learning experiences that prepare them for career, college, and life.
2. Provide Modern Facilities that are physically safe and offer diverse opportunities to all students.
3. Ensure Operating Efficiency to be financially accountable to our community, maximize resources, and ensure that we are lean and efficient.

4. Be Pillars of our Community by relentlessly pursuing opportunities to engage with all residents.

Pickerington Local School District is dedicated to working together with families and our community to enhance academic, social, and emotional outcomes for every student in every classroom, every day.
 

Below are the key goals designed to support learning and connection for all students.

These four goals will guide us from 2025 to 2028

​Early Literacy (Kindergarten–3rd Grade)

We’re working to help more of our youngest learners become confident readers and writers. Our goal is to see a 7 percentage point increase in the number of students meeting early literacy expectations on the State Report Card.

Mathematics (7th Grade & Algebra I)

We aim to strengthen students’ math skills by increasing the number of students who score at or above proficiency in 7th Grade Math and Algebra I by 12 percentage points.

​Sense of Belonging (Grades 3–12)

We want every student to feel connected, valued, and included at school. Our goal is to increase the number of students who say they feel like they belong at school by 15 percentage points, based on our district’s Panorama Survey.

English Learners (All Grades)

We’re committed to supporting our English Learners as they grow in language proficiency. Our goal is for at least 75% of our English Learners to reach or exceed their growth targets on the Ohio English Language Proficiency Assessment (OELPA), with dedicated support to strengthen their English reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.