Her Story
About Elizabeth
Elizabeth Curtis brings more than 15 years of experience in educational leadership and administration to her role as Regional Facilitator of School Improvement at the Educational Service Center of Central Ohio. Her career path began as a classroom teacher in Florida working with English as a second language students, progressing through roles as teacher leader, department head, assistant principal, and principal before moving into district-level positions. In her current position she oversees English language learner programs throughout Ohio, manages federal refugee grants, and collaborates with resettlement agencies and community partners to support refugee and immigrant students across 58 school districts. Curtis is a member of Leadership Ohio and created the Multicultural Community Resource Fair four years ago to provide resources to school districts, community partners, and college students. As an immigrant from Nicaragua who arrived as a political asylum seeker and former English learner herself, she attributes her success to the resilience developed through personal and professional challenges, including those faced as a minority woman in Ohio, and she aspires to pursue a superintendency program with the goal of becoming an assistant superintendent and eventually a superintendent.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Elizabeth
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think that the struggles that I've gone through have only made me stronger and more resilient. I learned how to face adversity, and look at it straight in the eye and just keep on going and not letting anything bring me down. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Especially as an immigrant, as a brown person in Ohio, with my background and the challenges that my family went through, and being a minority, and being a woman, all of those are challenges that make you stronger and more resilient.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
The most important thing is building a strong network of leaders and a network of support amongst other women. Building strong networks of support among other women leaders has helped me incredibly. Looking for groups like Inspirational Women or Leadership Ohio helps a lot because we need a sounding board, a mentor, advice, and support from other people. It also helps with different resources and you grow as an individual and professionally.
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