FHSD Board Selects Suzanna Davis as the District’s Next Superintendent

The Board of Education is thrilled to announce that it has selected Suzanna Davis to serve as the next superintendent of Forest Hills School District. The superintendent search was rooted in intentional, focused community input at every stage, and the Board Members appreciate the collaborative process that helped them make this critical decision with the best interests of students, staff and the entire community in mind.

Suzanna Davis stood out among a strong field of candidates at each step in the rigorous interview process. It quickly became clear that she possesses the specific skillsets and critical leadership qualities the FHSD community helped to identify, and the Board believes she will be able to step into this role and help the district move forward with confidence and excitement for the future.

“I am honored and excited to serve as the new superintendent of Forest Hills School District,” said Mrs. Davis. “Throughout the process, I’ve been inspired by the pride and commitment I’ve seen from teachers, staff, families and the community. I look forward to building on the strong foundation and working together to ensure every student is supported, challenged and prepared for what comes next.”

The Board started contract negotiations and has reached a tentative agreement with Mrs. Davis, which the Board will vote to approve at its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 5, at 4:30 p.m. at Mercer Elementary School. The community is encouraged to attend this meeting for an opportunity to meet FHSD’s future superintendent and welcome her to Forest Hills! There will be an informal meet-and-greet opportunity at 4:45 p.m. in the Mercer cafeteria. 

Suzanna Davis is a student-centered educational leader with more than 20 years of experience leading high-performing school systems through growth and change. She is known for building trust, aligning teams and systems, and maintaining a clear, disciplined focus on student outcomes.

Mrs. Davis currently serves as Senior Director of Student Services for Middletown City Schools. As a member of the superintendent’s cabinet, she leads district-wide efforts across student services, staffing and professional learning. Her leadership has strengthened organizational coherence, aligned resources to strategic priorities and improved student engagement, including a reduction in chronic absenteeism.

Previously, she served as an administrator for Grant Us Hope and led the regional expansion of a student mental health and suicide prevention program, working with school systems and agencies across multiple states. Prior to that, she led Lakota East High School as principal, where she increased graduation rates, expanded future-ready learning opportunities and fostered a culture grounded in visibility, relationships and shared leadership, while unifying the school, the district and the community around a shared vision.

Mrs. Davis holds a superintendent license from Miami University, a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Cincinnati, and a bachelor’s degree in education from Miami University.

“The entire Board is confident that Mrs. Davis will serve as an excellent leader for our school district,” said Dr. Wendy Strickler, Board President. “Her passion for public education, commitment to student learning and well-being, and established ability to cultivate collaborative relationships provide a strong foundation to help our district maintain a high level of academic excellence and continue to improve and grow in key areas.”

The Board would like to thank the dedicated team at the Hamilton County Educational Service Center for their commitment to ensuring this search included extensive opportunities for community input, reached a broad range of highly qualified candidates for the position, and resulted in a fantastic new superintendent to lead our school district. Thank you, as well, to each of the candidates who participated in this process and to the community for being involved every step of the way.

Mrs. Davis will officially begin serving as superintendent on August 1, 2026, and she will have opportunities to meet with community members, staff and other stakeholders during several scheduled transition days in June and July.

For further updates and to view a more detailed breakdown of the full superintendent search process, please visit the FHSD Superintendent Search webpage.