Joseph Ciesielski is a Buffalo native and graduate of SUNY Buffalo State University with an undergraduate degree in Social Studies Education (7-12). After completing this degree, he joined Teach For America and relocated to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Once in Oklahoma, he obtained additional training and subsequent certifications in high school Science (7-12) and Special Education (K-12). This led to a position within Oklahoma City Public School (OKCPS) as an Intervention Specialist at U.S Grant High School on the southside of Oklahoma City. During this time, he was part of the leadership team that helped improve students' (overall) academic achievement. This is evidenced by the school’s state report card grade improving from an F to a B+.

After 3 years at U.S Grant, he transitioned out of the classroom because he was promoted to the OKCPS district office. Joseph served in a dual-role capacity as a Title 1 Academic Interventions Coordinator and Secondary Team Leader of Recruitment. In these roles, he supported the district in developing the first Oklahoma City Public Schools Summer Institute in partnership with Teach for America Oklahoma and closed the teacher vacancy gap to below 1%. The Summer Institute served as a summer learning program for OKCPS scholars while supporting the development of incoming Teach for America corps members and new leaders.

During his tenure with OKCPS, Joseph obtained a graduate degree in Educational Administration, Curriculum, and Supervision from The University of Oklahoma. After completing his degree, he was given the opportunity to join the Aspiring Principals program as part of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District in Cleveland, Ohio. This program was designed through the Teachers College, Columbia University, to increase the preparedness of urban school leaders. Joseph served as an Assistant Principal for 5 years for CMSD at John Marshall School of Civic and Business Leadership. In this role, he helped raise the graduation rate from 61% to 92% while facing a global pandemic.

In his last year as a member of CMSD, Joseph was the founding principal of the Cleveland Metropolitan K-12 Remote School. He successfully built the foundation of the new CMSD option impacting the lives of over 1,200 students and their families. Joseph returned to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to join Santa Fe South Schools. This return was supported through a Launch Fellowship in partnership with Teach For America. In this position, Joseph evaluated the district's academic, operational, diversity, equity, and inclusion practices. During this process, he provided feedback, supported school leaders through a collaboration with the district academic team, and obtained $4.2 million in grant funding. This caused an expansion and development of three new school options for the district, increasing overall enrollment from 3,600 to 4,600 students in the 2023-2024 school year. After completing the Launch Fellowship he returned to Buffalo as the school leader of Elmwood Village Charter School.  He was able to help support the final expansion of the school system and stabilize student achievement and enrollment. During this journey, he realized that Cleveland was truly home.  

Joseph is beyond excited to rejoin the CMSD community and begin this next chapter of his life. In this next chapter, he brings his wife, Krystle Ciesielski, a fellow educator and lifelong Clevelander, and their beloved dog. Joseph can’t wait to engulf himself in the community and learn side by side with the families and staff of Sunbeam to help contribute to the success of our children.