Olympia Della Flora
Olympia A. Della Flora, MEd, is a two-time alumnus of The Ohio State University. She holds a bachelor’s in biology (1999) and a 2001 MEd from the Elementary Education K-8 program in the college. She also completed the Accelerated Licensure Programs for Principals and for Superintendents in the college.
Della Flora began her educational career in Columbus City Schools as a teacher and continued to take on more progressively challenging roles. She has found ways to collectively engage multiple stakeholders including students, staff, families and community members to find creative solutions versus focusing on problems. As a school principal, she successfully led efforts to move one of the lowest performing elementary schools in Ohio out of failing status.
Della Flora strongly believes that schools should continuously seek ways to support the whole child when it comes to learning, addressing not only academics but social emotional outcomes as well. She has received numerous awards and recognitions for her contributions to education. Della Flora obtained the highest certification a teacher can earn, National Board Certification in early childhood education, and was named an Emerging Leader by ASCD.
Della Flora was featured in an educational article for The Atlantic, which highlighted positive ways teachers can reach students who have encountered adverse childhood experiences and environments. One of her most humbling achievements includes delivering a TED Talk in 2019 titled “Creative Ways To Get Kids To Thrive in School,” which received over 2.5 million views.
AASA, the national school superintendents association, selected her to visit schools and collaborate with educators on best practices in China in 2018. AASA also awarded Della Flora a full fellowship to participate in the 2020-21 AASA Urban Superintendents Academy through Howard University.
She is currently in the Leadership in Education program to earn a Doctor of Education Degree (EdD) at the University of Dayton’s School of Education and Health Sciences. Della Flora is currently the assistant superintendent of Marion City Schools. She has served as the associate superintendent for School Development for the past four years in Stamford, Connecticut. In her role, she continues her life’s work to inspire us all to educate, cultivate, thrive and flourish.
