Former superintendent, two elected officials to be inducted into Elyria Hall of Fame Saturday

The Elyria Schools and Friends Alumni Association will induct three into its Hall of Fame on Saturday — two elected officials who graduated from Elyria High School and a beloved former superintendent. In a release sent last week, the association announced that it would induct former Elyria Schools Superintendent Tom Jama, former City Councilman Jack Baird and Elyria Law Director Amanda Deery as its 2025 Hall of Fame Class. The induction ceremony will take place at 6:30 p.m. Saturday in the Elyria High School Performing Arts Center. Jama spent more than 20 years working as a teacher and principal before serving as superintendent of Elyria Schools from 2015 to 2019. Jama was superintendent when the district passed a bond issue to build new middle and elementary schools in 2016. "I had the privilege of working closely with Tom during his tenure with the Elyria City School District where he consistently demonstrated leadership, commitment and an unwavering dedication to the students, staff and families of the Elyria community," retired EHS principal Tim Brown wrote in support of Jama's nomination. "Tom built a remarkable career that has had a profound and lasting impact in the lives of countless students, parents, families and staff members alike." Deery is the law director for the city, having won her second full term in the office in 2023. She graduated from Elyria High School in 1996, and also attended Spring Valley Elementary and Northwood Junior High. Deery received her juris doctorate degree from Boston College in 2003. After starting with the Elyria Law Department in 2012, Deery became Chief of Staff in 2016 and was appointed Law Director when Scott Serazin retired. She won reelection to the post in both 2019 and 2023 and is the first woman to ever be elected law director in the city. Baird graduated from Elyria High School in 1966 and he was originally appointed to serve as Elyria's 3rd Ward Councilman before being reelected twice. After that, Baird decided to run as a Council-at-large representative and he would be elected to the position 16 times, totaling 37 years of service on Council. "(Baird's) 37 years of service remains the most of anyone in the history of the city. In one word, Jack 'loved' the city of Elyria," the release said. Today Baird is still a precinct committee member for the Lorain County Republican Party. Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 329-7123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com.