Marc Gray, Jr. knew from an early age he wanted to become a teacher. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education at Cleveland State University, a Master of Arts Degree in Educational Administration from Kent State University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Akron. He taught for 12 years before entering education administration in the same school district where he had been a teacher. He held numerous positions in the Central Office, became a building principal and then superintendent. Later he served as a building principal of a charter school in Northeast Ohio and a K-8 school in a large urban school district.