Lisa Farmer Cole, Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Chief External Affairs Officer

Lisa Farmer Cole is the Chief External Affairs Officer at the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD).

In this role, she leads the Communications, Institutional Advancement, Governmental Affairs, and Family and Community Engagement departments. Lisa is a visionary systems leader who explores how community engagement, public trust, and strategic communication can accelerate progress in public education and create more equitable outcomes for students and families.

Lisa Farmer Cole is an experienced and mission-driven public education leader with more than 25 years of service across suburban and urban school systems. She currently serves as the Chief External Affairs Officer for CMSD, where she collaborates with the Chief Executive Officer and other executive leaders to implement the Cleveland Plan, legislation aimed at transforming public education in Cleveland. Under her leadership, CMSD has achieved notable milestones, including earning a historic 3-Star rating on the State Report Card for the first time and securing passage of the District’s most recent levy with the highest approval rate since 1983.

Previously, Lisa served in a variety of roles in public education, including Chief of Schools, Assistant Superintendent, and an adjunct professor at Cleveland State University. Her work is grounded in building strong systems, elevating community voice, and advocating for policy solutions that benefit students.

Lisa is also deeply engaged in civic life. She is a 2023–2024 graduate of Leadership Cleveland and was recently named one of 25 Honorees by Facing History and Ourselves in celebration of their 25th year in Cleveland, honoring her commitment to equity and justice. She currently serves on the boards of the Positive Education Program (PEP) Cleveland and Daily Dose of Reading and is a member of both the Academic Assembly Council and the Midwest Regional Council of the College Board.

A proud alumna of Spelman College, Lisa earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education and Child Development and holds a Master of Education in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education.