Robert M. Heard Sr. is the immediate past chairman, and current member, of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District's Board of Education. He is retired from State Farm Insurance Company where he served as a bodily injury adjuster and fraud investigator for twenty years.

Robert earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Cleveland State University. He earned the title of Fellow from the Broad Institute and has completed the Executive Leadership Program for Educators at Harvard University.

Robert has been an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. since 1970.

Robert resides in the Historic Wade Park District of Cleveland with his wife Gennorris and daughters Diondra and Dairian.