Leading with Purpose, Passion, and Proven Results

Dr. Todd A. Walker is a visionary educational leader dedicated to elevating public education through clarity, collaboration, and meaningful outcomes. With decades of experience—and a deep belief in the power of education to change lives—he leads systems, inspires teams, and builds cultures rooted in connection, excellence, and success for ALL students.

Currently serving as Chief Curriculum and Instruction Officer for Columbus City Schools, Dr. Walker is prepared to bring his leadership to a school district ready to move boldly toward its next chapter.

  • “Dr. Todd Walker is a dynamic leader with a rare ability to thrive across roles—from the classroom to the boardroom. He has driven district-wide gains in literacy, led policy reform, and built systems that strengthen instruction and governance. Todd leads with adaptability, vision, and a steady commitment to student success.”

    Michael D. Cole, MBA, MASCL, President
    Board of Education
    Columbus City Schools

  • “Dr. Todd Walker brings a rare blend of academic insight and financial strategy to educational leadership. He helped lead a shift to outcomes-based budgeting in Columbus City Schools, saving millions while prioritizing student achievement. Todd’s integrity, vision, and student-first mindset consistently guide meaningful, lasting impact.”

    Ryan W. Cook, Treasurer/CFO
    Columbus City Schools

  • “Dr. Todd Walker is a data-driven, student-first leader who delivers real results for ALL students, staff, and communities. His work improving math outcomes, strengthening Career-Technical Education, and advocating for high-quality instruction has had measurable district-wide impact. Todd leads with clarity, compassion, and a deep commitment to continuous improvement.”

    Dr. Angela Chapman, Superintendent/CEO
    Columbus City Schools

  • “Dr. Todd Walker is a visionary leader who blends academic excellence, policy expertise, and a deep commitment to success for ALL. His work advancing STEM access, particularly for underserved students, has impacted thousands across Central Ohio. Todd is respected, well-liked, and leads with intelligence, humility, and purpose—truly a leader’s leader.”

    Frederic M. N. Bertley, Ph.D., CEO
    COSI - Center of Science and Industry

  • “Dr. Todd Walker is a results-driven leader with a deep commitment to student success. He expanded career-connected learning across Columbus City Schools, increasing student engagement by over 6,000 in two years. Todd leads with excellence, clear vision, and compassion—and consistently delivers on what matters most.”

    Mike Davis, President
    Junior Achievement of Central Ohio

  • “Dr. Todd Walker is a visionary leader who listens, builds trust, and delivers real results. His work with parent leaders led to an inclusive honors pathway in Columbus City Schools, expanding access to academic rigor. He combines research-based thinking with practical action and leads with integrity and accountability.”

    Dr. Sara Watson, President
    Parents for Academic Challenge and Enrichment (PACE)

  • “Dr. Todd Walker is a strategic, student-centered leader who unites schools, city agencies, and nonprofits to expand opportunity. His leadership doubled afterschool programming access across Columbus City Schools and helped raise graduation rates and academic outcomes district-wide. Todd leads with clarity, integrity, and an unwavering focus on what’s best for ALL students.”

    Dr. Jermaine Kennedy, Chief Program Officer
    Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Ohio

  • “Dr. Todd Walker is a transformational leader who disrupts the status quo with clarity, collaboration, and vision. He launched student-focused coaching, reimagined school improvement, and led district-wide gains in literacy and math. Todd is a respected educator and lifelong learner who leads by listening, empowering, and removing barriers to student success.”

    Roni A. Becht, District Instructional Coaching Lead
    Columbus City Schools

  • “Dr. Todd Walker is a collaborative, student-centered leader with a proven track record of district-wide improvement. He led the redesign of Columbus City Schools’ instructional framework and math strategy, resulting in measurable gains across all student groups. Todd builds trust, drives systems change, and keeps student success at the heart of every decision.”

    Sandra Santos, Principal
    World Language Middle School

  • “Dr. Todd Walker is a systems-level leader who drives collaboration, coherence, and results. He led cross-departmental efforts that improved leadership structures, refined instructional priorities, and raised student achievement in literacy and math. Todd brings clarity, decisiveness, and a deep commitment to students, staff, and school improvement.”

    Corey D. Grubbs, Chief of Transformation and Leadership
    Columbus City Schools

  • “Dr. Todd Walker is a proven instructional leader and systems thinker. He led a cross-departmental collaboration that dismantled silos and strengthened alignment across the organization, directly contributing to significant system-wide academic gains in literacy and math. Todd is a strategic problem solver who brings vision, courage, and a methodical approach to addressing complex problems.”

    Diane L. Agnes, Transformation & Leadership Area
    Superintendent Region V
    Columbus City Schools

Transformational Leader. Champion for ALL Students. Advocate for Every Learner.

  • “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”
    – Benjamin Franklin

    • Integrity – Leading with honesty, consistency, and principle

    • Clarity – Making the complex understandable and actionable

    • Accessibility – Being visible, available, and present for all stakeholders

    • Excellence – Holding high standards with grace and accountability

    • Collaboration – Believing in shared leadership and collective progress

  • Dr. Walker brings a systems-level mindset with a people-first heart. He believes leadership “wins” happen when we:

    • Build quality relationships

    • Offer tailored responsiveness

    • Design innovative solutions

    “The problems we face today can’t be solved at the level they were created.”
    – Albert Einstein

  • “We are caught in an inescapable web of mutuality… what affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
    – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

    • Clarity guides coherence and confidence

    • Best practices must scale to meet real needs

    • Storytelling connects people to purpose

    • Execution turns vision into results

    • Focus ensures we stay true to what matters most

A Legacy of Service. A Future of Impact.

Todd’s leadership journey is rooted in his personal story—shaped by a family legacy of service, education, and perseverance. From his grandparents’ military service and his parents’ commitment to community, to his grandmother's work in a school cafeteria until age 80, to raising children of his own, Dr. Walker understands the deep value of leadership at every level.

Leadership Philosophy

“Effective leadership occurs when involvement, collaboration, and clarity come together to guide meaningful outcomes.”

– Todd A. Walker

Dr. Walker believes the best leaders start with why, inspire with how, and deliver with what. He is committed to:

  • Building inclusive systems that empower educators and students

  • Creating integration through shared purpose and focus

  • Fostering trust through transparency and engagement

A vision is a comprehensive detailed picture of the future that includes everyone.

Using a leadership system is the key to sustainable success across all areas of the district.

Involvement creates commitment; commitment creates ownership.

The Results of Leadership That Works

Real Change.
Measurable Impact.
Sustainable Progress.

Dr. Todd A. Walker doesn't just talk about transformation—he delivers it. His leadership has led to breakthrough results across academics, operations, culture, and strategic alignment. Whether improving literacy outcomes or optimizing budgets to reinvest in student success, Dr. Walker builds systems that serve students today and strengthen districts for tomorrow.

Below are just a few examples of the outcomes guided by his leadership.

  • Improved Third Grade Literacy by 7%
    Working alongside teachers, principals, and instructional leaders, Dr. Walker helped raise third grade literacy rates by 7% from 2022 to 2024.

    Gains in Math Proficiency Across All Groups
    In the 2023–24 school year, proficiency rates in math improved by 1.2 percentage points for grades 3–8. Performance gains were experienced across all student groups.

  • Districtwide School Consolidation with Purpose
    Led a Board-approved consolidation of 3 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school. This created capacity for projected growth and allowed for redistribution of staff to optimize student-teacher ratios.

    Zero Special Education Teacher Vacancies
    Following staff realignment, special education vacancies dropped from 50+ in June 2024 to zero by December 2024.

  • State Rating Improved from 3.5 to 4.5
    Under Dr. Walker’s leadership, the Career Technical Planning District improved its state report card rating from 3.5 to 4.5, exceeding Ohio’s standards.

    Program Growth and Access Expanded
    The program added a new honors course and grew from 15 to 90 teachers within one year, significantly expanding student access.

    Career Pathways Operationalized
    Four high schools are now set to launch six career pathways beginning in the 2025–26 school year, following the launch of the “Career Tech Forward” conference and a district-wide STEM learning day for over 500 students.

  • $10M Saved Through Capital Improvements
    A 30% reduction in capital expenses saved the district over $10M in FY24.

    $5M Reallocated to Strategic Priorities
    Restructuring of the Curriculum & Instruction budget enabled $5M to be repurposed to advance key district goals for FY25.

  • Pre-K Expansion and Advocacy Success
    Secured funding to support Pre-K programming and influenced two administrative policy changes that eased district burdens.

    100% Expansion in Alternative Programming Sites
    Increased program reach from 4 sites in 2022 to 8 sites in 2025, serving 125+ students with specialized programming.

  • Increased Student Engagement by 62%
    Student engagement events grew from 8,000 in 2022–23 to over 13,000 in 2024–25.

    Marked Gains in Climate and Coaching Culture
    Between Fall 2021 and Fall 2024:

    • +16% in Well-being

    • +21% in Climate

    • +23% in Feedback & Coaching

    Smarter Security for Safer Schools
    Restructured reporting hours of security staff to enhance visibility and coverage, leading to a 21% climate improvement score.

  • 100+ Positions Repurposed to Address Vacancies
    Proactively adjusted staffing to reduce vacancies and strengthen early literacy and math support.

    Streamlined Platform Approval Processes
    Developed a centralized status web page, prioritized approval lists, and built a flowchart to eliminate bottlenecks in digital platform approvals.

    Policy Leadership on Instructional Materials
    Guided the board in adopting updated policies for textbook selection, instructional resources, and complaint procedures—ensuring transparency and accountability.

    Statewide Influence on Math Education Policy
    Led development of a statewide math framework for Ohio Urban 8 Superintendents, ultimately resulting in the withdrawal of an unfavorable external proposal.

Leadership That Leaves Systems Better Than It Found Them

These aren’t just stats—they’re stories of lives impacted, systems transformed, and futures unlocked. This is the kind of leadership that doesn’t just aim for improvement—it builds momentum that lasts.