Antoinette Miranda will lead the Columbus City Schools' Board of Education in 2026.
Board members chose Miranda for president at their meeting on Tuesday, at Miranda's first meeting since being elected in November.
Miranda previously served on the Ohio Board of Education and is a former chair of Ohio State University's Dept. of Teaching and Learning, where she was a professor of school psychology.
Miranda called the meeting "a new day for the Columbus City Schools' district," but noted that the district's challenges have not disappeared.
"The truth is our district is navigating difficult waters. The warning signs have been visible for some time. Enrollment shifts, academic outcomes, facilities, finances and public trust have all been flashing signals," Miranda said.
Miranda said that the district has "kicked the can down the road," and postponed hard conversations. She pointed to declining enrollment and called attention to "a lack of sufficient state funding," that has put a strain on the district.
"Some of the decisions this board makes moving forward may not be popular or easy. Some will be uncomfortable. But I believe deeply, if we do not take responsibility for shaping our future, someone else will do it for us," Miranda said. "That is not acceptable for a district this size, this important and one that has the potential to be transformative for Columbus and for Ohio."
Board members chose Sarah Ingles as vice president for the coming year. She was elected to the board in 2023.
In a statement, Ingles said she's excited for the new role and that she looks forward to supporting Miranda.
In addition to Miranda, the meeting was the first for newly-elected board members Patrick Katzenmeyer and Jermaine Kennedy.
