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Mentor Schools Chief Financial Officer Bill Wade Announces Departure

August 27, 2026

Mentor Schools Chief Financial Officer Bill Wade shared with the Board of Education this evening that he will be leaving the district after accepting another professional position, effective September 30, 2026.

Mr. Wade has dedicated 11 years to Mentor Schools in several leadership roles throughout his career. He returned to the district in 2020 as Director of Business Operations before becoming CFO in 2021. Earlier in his career, he also spent five years as principal of Mentor High School.

During his time as CFO, Mr. Wade has helped lead the district through a period of significant financial planning and change, with a continued focus on responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars while supporting the high-quality educational experience Mentor Schools provides for students.

“Bill has been a valued member of our leadership team, and we are grateful for the time he has dedicated to Mentor Schools,” Board of Education President Maggie Cook said. “Bill brought a unique perspective to this role through his experience as both an educator and a school finance leader. He has approached this work with thoughtfulness and helped guide our district through some complex financial decisions. Through it all, Bill has never lost sight of why this work matters — making the best use of our resources so we can continue providing our students with the opportunities and educational experience our community expects.”

During Mr. Wade’s tenure as CFO, the district continued to strengthen its financial operations, improve processes and identify opportunities to reduce costs and increase revenues. He worked collaboratively with district leadership and employee associations to negotiate fair and responsible collective bargaining agreements while generating millions of dollars in savings for the district.

Mr. Wade has also placed a strong emphasis on transparency and making complex financial information more accessible to staff, the Board of Education and community. That work has included expanded financial communications and continued collaboration with the district’s Citizens Financial Advisory Committee.

“My 11 years at Mentor have been tremendously rewarding, both personally and professionally. I am thankful for the opportunities I have been given, the relationships I’ve developed, and the trust that has been placed in me to serve this district and community,” Mr. Wade shared. “Mentor Schools will always be an important part of my professional career and my life.”

The district’s financial reporting has earned recognition through independent review as well. Mentor Schools has received recognition from the Government Finance Officers Association for four consecutive years, and the district’s financial statements received clean audit opinions for fiscal years 2022 through 2025.

“Bill’s contributions to Mentor Schools extend well beyond the financial work,” Mrs. Cook said. “He cares deeply about this district, our students, our community and public education. While we are certainly sad to see him go, we are thankful for all he has given to Mentor Schools and wish him the very best.”

The Board of Education will determine next steps for the CFO position in the coming weeks. The district remains committed to maintaining strong financial leadership and responsible fiscal management throughout this transition, while continuing to focus its resources on providing a high-quality education for Mentor students. Additional information about the process will be shared as it becomes available.

Kristen Estes

Director of Community Relations

Mentor Public Schools