Marlon Models Jr. is a tech-savvy superintendent and the 1st Black educator to direct the Middletown Metropolis colleges in Ohio.

Now beginning his sixth year as superintendent of the 6,200-student district, Styles has been regarded nationally for the get the job done he has carried out for underserved students and the important ways in which technology has aided in that do the job.

Models was honored in 2017 as a single of the Heart for Electronic Education’s Leading 30 Technologists, Transformers and Trailblazers for increasing training by means of the use of electronic tools. Beneath his leadership, his college district gained the 2019 ISTE Distinguished District Award for making certain equitable, available, and acceptable technological know-how use for all pupils. And he was identified as the 2020 K-12 Dive Superintendent of the Year for his thrust to close equity gaps.

He also testified in front of the Dwelling Training and Labor Committee in 2020 about the require to close the disparities in obtain to high-velocity world-wide-web and related products between teams of students.

Currently being the initially Black superintendent of Middletown City schools, Types has also designed it his duty to be a purpose model for other Black gentlemen who are intrigued in instructing and to open up doorways for extra Black males to appear into the occupation.

Here’s what he experienced to say in a Zoom dialogue with Education and learning Week about remaining a Black male educator, his philosophy for know-how use in the classroom, and his best priorities for a school district exactly where 20 per cent of the learners are Black, 15 p.c are Hispanic/Latino, and 100 per cent qualify for absolutely free and decreased-price foods.

The pursuing job interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

What has it been like becoming the 1st Black superintendent in your district?

For me, it’s been additional of a profession of that. You see pretty couple individuals of coloration in the career. You see even fewer Black males in education and learning. Even prior to my existing job, I pretty rarely saw Black males like me in the classroom. I extremely rarely noticed Black males like me in leadership positions at the setting up stage, main the making.