Get to know the newest BBHCSD principals

by Laura Straub

As Brecksville-Broadview Heights students return to their classrooms, the district is welcoming two new administrators to the school halls. Beginning this school year, Tina McCauley is serving as principal at Chippewa Elementary School and Kevin Jakub fills the principal role at the high school.

McCauley said her goal is to provide guidance to the teachers and staff that focus on doing what is best for all children. “This school year, I want to create a caring and nurturing environment where teachers, staff, students and families enjoy the last year at Chippewa before we move onto the new building,” she said.

Although she had not always planned to become a principal, McCauley knew she wanted to work with children since she was in high school.

“At 16-years-old, I was teaching children three to five-years-old how to swim,” she said. “I was fascinated by how curious they were and how they wanted to learn everything they could.”

McCauley herself is a passionate learner. She has two undergraduate degrees from Kent State University, one in leisure service management and one in physical education. She also earned a master’s degree in education administration from John Carroll University and a reading endorsement from Ashland University.

She worked at Shaker City Schools for 19 years and was an assistant principal at the K-4 building for the last six years.

At the beginning of her career, McCauley’s focus was on teaching. When her principal encouraged her to pursue a master’s degree, however, she realized the wide-reaching positive changes she could make by becoming an administrator.

“As I became more involved with curriculum planning and assisting teachers, I could see the impact I was having and pursued being a principal,” she said.

Outside of the classroom, McCauley enjoys spending time with her two brothers and parents, who live near Canton.

“Even though it’s crazy at times to be with family, it brings me peace, happiness and of course laughter,” McCauley said.

In addition to quality time with her family, McCauley enjoys spending time on the lake and barefoot water skiing.

High school principal

At Brecksville Broadview Heights High School, Kevin Jakub plans to cultivate an environment where there are ample opportunities for students to find and develop their passions.

“We live in an ever-changing society and I want to make sure our students continue to develop the skills necessary to be successful in whatever journey they chose to embark upon post-graduation,” he said. We have all experienced a very challenging 18 months as a result of the pandemic. I want us to be able to enjoy our opportunity to get to work and attend one of the premier K-12 educational institutions in Ohio.”

During a time when traditional events and even attending school in-person are not a given, Jakub says he will prioritize fostering a culture that embraces great opportunities.

Jakub has been part of the district’s staff for three years. An Ohio University alumnus, he began his career in the Parma City School District at Normandy High School, teaching advanced placement economics and United States government. He eventually joined the administrative staff at Normandy and later worked in the Bay Village, Independence and Buckeye school districts.

“I did not always want to be a principal. I started out planning to teach a few years to help pay for law school. However, I really fell in love with teaching and quickly decided that I would be an educator for my career,” Jakub said.

“I was fortunate to work for some great administrators early in my career who invested in me and gave me many outstanding opportunities to grow professionally. They helped shape my career path and inspired me to pursue administration. I am forever grateful that they believed in me enough to open those doors for me.”

When the final bell rings, Jakub heads home to his wife and two children in Brunswick.

“When I am outside of work I love to spend time with my kids and watch my kids pursue their interests. I really enjoy watching my son play baseball and soccer and my daughter compete in swimming,” Jakub said. “I also very much enjoy cooking, playing golf, watching Cleveland sports teams and the Buckeyes.”  ∞