1991-97
After Conrad Ott's 25-year-long tenure as superintendent, Akron followed the nationwide trend of educational reform. Terry Grier became superintendent in May 1991. Grier was instrumental in the establishment of many new programs, such as a school for the visual and performing arts and BECOME (a program designed to increase the number of minority teachers in the district).

Grier left the district in May 1994. William Spratt served as interim superintendent until Brian G. Williams was asked to come back to the district to serve as superintendent. Williams, who had retired from Akron Public Schools after working as a teacher and administrator for 30 years, was working as a principal at a Catholic school. Williams was thrilled to come back to Akron in February 1995 and fulfill his long-held dream of becoming superintendent.

With a broad base of support from the community and staff, under Williams' leadership:

• Akron continued its lead role in technology in the classroom. Under the state-funded SchoolNet and SchoolNet Plus programs, each K-4 classroom received approximately five computers; and all classrooms were networked.
• Akron revised its intradistrict open enrollment policy so students could attend any program and school of their choice. In the 1997-98 school year, nearly 3,000 students took advantage of that opportunity.
• Akron increased its commitment to ensuring the safety of its students through programs like "alternative schools."
• With the help of more than 350 staff and community members, Akron developed a new Strategic Plan to help guide the district into the 21st century.
• All-day kindergarten was reinstated at all elementary schools.

In 1847 Akron pioneered the idea of public education for all children and for the good of our community. It is a belief the district still held dear as it celebrated its sesquicentennial 150 years later.

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