Jean McCleary, Ed.D.
Visiting Assistant Professor, Education
Contact Information
- Office: 711 Academic Hall
- Email: jean.mccleary@pointpark.edu
Education
- Ed.D., Educational Leadership, Point Park University
- M.Ed., Curriculum and Instruction, Gannon University
- B.S., Health and Physical Education, Slippery Rock University
- Superintendent's Letter of Eligibility, Westminster College
- Pennsylvania Principal Certification K–12, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Profesional Certifications
- Pennsylvania Superintendent Letter of Eligibility
- Pennsylvania Assistant Superintendent Letter of Eligibility
- Pennsylvania Career and Technical Administrative Director Certification, 7-12
- Pennsylvania Principal Certification, K-12
- Pennsylvania Health and Physical Education Certification, K-12
- Pennsylvania Driver Education Certification
Courses Taught
- Special Education and Inclusive Practices
- Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports
- Art and Science of Quality/Capacity Leadership
- Emerging Teacher Leadership
Background
Jean M. McCleary, Ed.D., is a visiting assistant professor in the School of Education at Point Park University. She brings more than 30 years of experience in K-12 education, educational leadership, curriculum and program development, career and technical education, federal programs and state-level educational policy to her work preparing future educators and school leaders.
Prior to joining Point Park's full-time faculty, McCleary served with the Pennsylvania Department of Education's Bureau of Career and Technical Education, where she provided statewide leadership and technical assistance to secondary and postsecondary career and technical education administrators, principals and educators. Her work included implementation and oversight of federal Perkins V requirements, Comprehensive Local Needs Assessments, career and technical education planning, federal compliance monitoring and the effective use of federal resources to strengthen CTE programs across Pennsylvania. She also served as the Pennsylvania Department of Education's point of contact for the Congress-Bundestag Vocational Exchange Program and the Technical Assistance Program (TAP) for 100 secondary and postsecondary CTE schools.
Before joining the Pennsylvania Department of Education, McCleary spent more than two decades as a teacher and school administrator. She served as superintendent of the Union School District from 2012 to 2019 and previously served the district as an elementary principal and federal programs coordinator earning the status of a Distinguished Title I school. Her leadership responsibilities included curriculum and program development, strategic and comprehensive planning, school safety, personnel supervision and evaluation, budgeting, grant writing, federal programs, collective bargaining and community engagement.
McCleary began her career as a health and physical education teacher and coach in the Brookville Area School District, where she taught for 13 years and served multiple terms as department chair. Her career progression from classroom teacher to principal, superintendent and state-level education advisor provides her with a broad practitioner perspective on teaching, learning, educational leadership and policy.
McCleary's scholarly interests include educational leadership, career and technical education, equity and access, rural education, family advocacy and the transition from pediatric to adult systems for families and youth with complex health care needs. Her doctoral research at Point Park University examined the barriers experienced by families in rural Western Pennsylvania as youth with complex health care needs age out of pediatric services and transition into adult systems of care.
In addition to her university work, McCleary is the founder and chief executive officer of Lifetime Learning LLC, an educational consulting organization focused on outreach, facilitation, advocacy and consulting. She remains committed to strengthening educational systems, supporting educators and administrators, and advocating for vulnerable populations.
Professional & Organizational Affiliations
- Pennsylvania Association of Career and Technical Administrators (PACTA)
- Southern Regional Education Board (SREB)
- STEM Equity Initiative
- International Society for Educational Technology (ISET)
- NACEL Open Door (NOD) Student Exchange programs
Previous professional involvement includes the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators, Pennsylvania Association for Rural and Small Schools, Pennsylvania Association of Federal Programs Coordinators, and Riverview Intermediate Unit Superintendent's Advisory Council.
Selected Presentations & Professional Leadership
- Presenter, Pennsylvania Association of Career and Technical Administrators (PACTA) Summer Leadership Conference
- Presenter, Pennsylvania Association of Career and Technical Administrators (PACTA) Leadership Symposium
- Presenter, Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) / Standards Aligned System (SAS) Institute Conference
- Presenter, Regional Workshops for PDE/Bureau of Career and Technical Education (BCTE)
- Pennsylvania Department of Education Congress-Bundestag Vocational Exchange Program
- Director of Union International Outreach Program (UIOP) for FI Visa international students
- International Field Representative, Exchange Service International agency
- Presenter, Pennsylvania Homeless Education Conference
- Presenter/Panelist, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Teacher Preparation
- Presenter, Clarion University of Pennsylvania Honor Society — Interviews and Portfolio Development
- Coordinator, Professional Development/Act 48 Committee
- Strategic and Comprehensive Planning Steering Committee Chair
- Coordinator, Wellness Committee
- Autism Team Leader
Community Engagement
- Make-A-Wish Volunteer
- Former Board Director, Clarion County YMCA
- Former Clarion Rotary Member and Scholarship/RYLA Committee Member
- Former Volunteer, Veterans Museum/Park
Selected Honors
- Pennsylvania Department of Education/Bureau of Career and Technical Education,
- Above and Beyond Award, 2020, 2021 and 2022
- Pennsylvania Department of Education, Five-Year Service Recognition, 2026
- Pi Lambda Theta Education Honor Society
- West Forest Distinguished Alumna and Commencement Speaker, 2015
- Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, multiple years
- Point Park Alumni Association