Principal

Principal Antwan Lewis

Antwan D. Lewis was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. He attended Baldwin Wallace College, where he earned his degree in History and Education. During his time at Baldwin Wallace, Mr. Lewis was a member of the football team and actively served in several student leadership roles, experiences that helped shape his passion for teamwork, service, and leadership.

In 2009, Mr. Lewis relocated to Cincinnati and began his career with Cincinnati Public Schools as a paraprofessional at Pleasant Hill Academy. The following year, he accepted a position as a 9th-grade Social Studies teacher at Aiken High School. He later joined Hughes STEM High School, where he continued to grow professionally while serving in multiple leadership roles, including Social Studies Department Chair, 8th Grade Team Leader, and ELL Coordinator. His experiences at Hughes strengthened his leadership skills and inspired him to pursue a career in school administration.

After earning his Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Cincinnati, Mr. Lewis served for two years as Assistant Principal at Mt. Airy Elementary. In 2016, he was named Principal of Hartwell, a role he describes as a perfect match. He embraces the philosophy of “All Hands on Deck,” emphasizing the importance of staff, families, students, and community members working together to move the school forward.

During his tenure at Hartwell, Mr. Lewis has led several major accomplishments:

• Earned the highest rating in recent years of 3.5 stars on the 2024 report card
• Worked with a group of teacher leaders to create a schoolwide intervention program
• Expanded extracurricular opportunities from 9 to more than 30 offerings
• Increased community partnerships and family engagement
• Led the transformation to rebranding into a Middle School
• Achieved Top 5 district growth for English Language Learners
• Developed a STEAM curriculum and lab accessible to all students
• Named the OABSE 2022 Principal of the Year

Mr. Lewis has intentionally worked to build a strong culture at Hartwell, guided by the motto “Little School, Big Heart.” He is known for building meaningful relationships with students and staff, often seen in the hallways sharing jokes, encouragement, and support. He also enjoys showing appreciation to his team by cooking for staff, whether it is breakfast, barbecue, or a favorite baked potato bar.

Outside of school, Mr. Lewis enjoys spending time with his children. He loves cooking and grilling, watching football (Go Buckeyes and Go Browns), traveling, and playing the piano. His ultimate goal is to ensure that every student experiences academic success and creates lasting memories in a supportive and engaging school environment.