Dr. Antoinette Miranda has embarked on a new chapter in her extensive career in education by joining the Columbus Board of Education. With over 40 years of experience in the field, Miranda's commitment to improving academic achievement and ensuring educational policies deliver tangible benefits is now poised to influence the strategies of Columbus City Schools (CCS). According to CCS's announcement, she emphasized the paramount importance of academic performance during her campaign, stating, "To me, that should be front and center."
Miranda couples her professional acumen with personal insight, having been a mother to two CCS graduates and the spouse of a public school teacher. A vocal advocate for students with disabilities, her journey began in the New York Public Schools as a school psychologist. She later served at The Ohio State University, teaching in the College of Education and Human Ecology for two decades. "My research is in urban education, and I have taught the Urban Issues and Education class for well over 20 years," Miranda told CCS's news release.
Having worked across educational systems in New York, Kentucky, and Ohio, Miranda's expertise includes a tenure as chair of the Department of Teaching and Learning at OSU. Her experience here allowed her to impact educational practices and policy. Hoping to effect an even greater change, Miranda previously served on the Ohio Board of Education as the District 6 representative, advocating for schools within Franklin, Delaware, and Knox counties, where she voiced her concerns about policies adversely impacting urban schools.
Miranda's accolades include the William H. and Laceryjette V. Casto Professorship award and the Outstanding Trainer of the Year Award by the Trainers of School Psychologists in 2014. Most recently, she received the Columbus Education Association (CEA) Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award in 2025 for her commitment to justice and advancement in public education. Despite retiring from OSU, Miranda's dedication to education spurred her run for the Columbus Board of Education. "I honestly did not think I would run for any office again," Miranda recalled in the conversation with CCS. "I was encouraged to run. I knew I was going to be retiring, and wanted to do something related to education, so I thought maybe this could be the perfect opportunity."
Looking to the future, Miranda identifies the challenges facing the CCS, such as budget constraints, as opportunities to sharpen the district's focus on strategies that boost student learning. A key goal for her is improving the CCS's rating on the Ohio Department of Education Report Card from two to three stars. "If you look at Ohio’s eight urban school districts, it’s hard to get there," Miranda noted to CCS. "But, I believe we can if we focus on effective education strategies and refocus our attention on student outcomes and education goals, even as we manage budget cuts."
