Meet James Hardy
James Joseph Hardy was born at Akron City Hospital on July 11, 1984 to proud parents James and Connie Hardy. James' late father, Dr. James T. Hardy, worked for the Akron Public Schools as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum under then Superintendent Conrad Ott. Later, Dr. Hardy became Interim Superintendent of Akron Public before leaving for a position at the University of Akron's College of Education. James' mother, Connie Hardy, taught English and History at both East and Buchtel High Schools in Akron Public before leaving to become Principal of Our Lady of the Elms High School in Akron. She is currently Principal of Ellet High School in Akron Public.
James enrolled in the Akron Public Schools for 1st grade at King Elementary, and never looked back. He attended Litchfield Middle School and graduated from Firestone High School in the spring of 2002. He began to show leadership at a very early age, arguing in the 3rd grade on behalf of then Gov. Bill Clinton's candidacy for President during a class project. We should have known he was destined for something when the Clinton/Gore ticket won a clear majority of votes from the students at King Elementary.
He then was accepted at the University of Akron and was directly admitted into the Political Science Department. He graduated from the University of Akron in 2006 with a B.S. in Political Science and Criminal Justice. He is currently employed as a Regional Liaison for Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner. His region includes Summit, Stark, Medina, Geauga, and Portage Counties.
James has had a lifetime of experience in Education. From the very beginning, he was brought into a home generated by a commitment to community and to education. "For me, it all comes back to the family dinners when I was a kid. Listening to and learning the value of an education and the special duty a citizen has to give back to his or her community." James understands, better than anyone, just what it takes to be a successful Akron Public School student for one simple fact: because he was one. As a student, James took advantage of all the opportunities APS had to offer. The skills and values learned in the Akron Public School District continue to serve him well.
As a School Board Member, James is working hard to solve the districts problems and promote its successes. He has pledged to foster better communication with the citizens of Akron, as well as within the district. As Chairman of the Finance and Budget Committee, James is focused on working to deliver a balanced and responsible budget. "I work for the citizens of Akron and the children. My job is to ensure that every child in our district gets what they need. Every child is precious, every child can succeed."
If you would like to contact James, please click on Contact in the menu above!