The Early Years: Finding His Way Back to Education

Dr. William Zelei’s career in education began in the classroom. From 1971 to 1974, he taught Language Arts at the middle and high school levels, an experience that gave him an early understanding of the day-to-day work of educating students.

His career soon expanded beyond the classroom. From 1975 to 1983, Zelei served first as assistant director and then Director of Personnel for the Ohio Lottery Commission before moving into the private sector as Director of Business operations for the Voinovich Group.

But education remained a constant thread.



In 1983, Zelei was elected to the Brunswick City Schools Board of Education, serving from 1984 to 1987. His experience as a board member renewed his interest in school leadership and brought him back into education. In 1986, he became Business Manager at Laurel School in Shaker Heights. A year later, he returned to Brunswick City Schools as Business Manager, eventually becoming Assistant Superintendent and serving in that role from 1987 to 1994.

Leading Change at South Euclid-Lyndhurst

In 1994, Dr. Zelei became Business Manager for the South Euclid-Lyndhurst City School District. Four years later, he was named Superintendent, beginning a 13-year tenure that would become one of the most consequential chapters of his career.

As Superintendent, Dr. Zelei helped guide the district through significant changes in both its academic performance and student demographics. South Euclid-Lyndhurst moved from a “Continuous Improvement” rating in 1998 to an “Effective” rating in 2011, even as the district’s student population changed substantially during that period.

For Dr. Zelei, the report card was an important measure of progress but improving schools also meant looking beyond the numbers to create opportunities for students and build systems that supported their success.

Under his leadership, the district introduced a college-readiness program that eventually began as early as fourth grade and culminated in high school visits to college campuses throughout Ohio. The district expanded Advanced Placement, Global Language and Career Tech opportunities and developed a rigorous alternative high school program.

Student life expanded as well, with more clubs and opportunities for students and teachers to connect outside the classroom. Those efforts helped lead to the creation of the MAC (Minority Achievement Council) Scholar Program, which was designed to support academic excellence, positive behavior and leadership among students of color.

The work earned national attention. In 2005, the Schott Foundation for Public Education recognized Brush High School as one of three Ohio high schools for its success in closing the achievement gap for African American male students. In 2007, the foundation again recognized Brush High School, this time as one of three high schools nationally for the same achievement.

During his tenure as superintendent, he served as the Chair of the BASA Report Card Committee, Cuyahoga County Special Education Resource Center, LNOCA ITC, NCC ITC, SMART Consortium, GCSSA Governing Board, OSC Governing Board, was a member of the Ideastream Board of Trustees and founding member of the First Ring Superintendents Collaborative.

Since 2012, Dr. Zelei has served as Executive Director of the Ohio Schools Council (OSC)and Assistant Executive Director of the Greater Cleveland School Superintendents’ Association (GCSSA), working alongside Dr. Dennis Allen.

During his tenure, OSC has grown from approximately 152 members in 2012 to more than 350 members in 2026. The organization now offers more than 200 programs and services designed to help schools operate more efficiently, collaborate and stretch their resources further. Over the past two years alone, member districts have saved more than $52 million.

At GCSSA, Dr. Zelei has helped expand professional learning and leadership opportunities through partnerships with organizations including Cleveland State University’s Center for Leadership, the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation, Ashland University and the region’s 16 Educational Service Centers.

The work reflects a theme that has followed Dr. Zelei throughout his career: finding ways to turn information, collaboration and shared resources into practical tools for schools.

A Career of Impact

Along the way, his work has earned recognition from colleagues and organizations across Ohio. He received the Business Manager of the Year Award at the 1993 OASBO Conference, the Martha Holden Jennings Ohio Superintendent of the Year Award in 2006, the Key to the City of South Euclid in 2011 and BASA’s Exemplary Leadership Award in 2005.

Each honor marks a different chapter of his career. Together, they tell a larger story about a career built around service, problem-solving and a commitment to improving opportunities for students and the schools that serve them.