Jennifer Merritt

30TH

ANNUAL OHIO ESC ASSOCIATION CAPITAL CONFERENCE AWARDS

November 9, 2015 Award Recipients

Hilton Downtown Columbus 401 North High Street Columbus, Ohio 43215 (614) 384-8600

Ohio ESC Association Capital Conference Awards

AWAR D RECIPIENTS

WELCOME

The Ohio ESC Association’s Capital Conference Awards & Recognition Program symbolizes the very heart and essence of Ohio’s Educational Service Centers—pooling exemplary leaders, community resources, business, industry, and government together to better serve Ohio school districts and Ohio’s youth, who are the future of this great state.

Over the past 30 years, OESCA has recognized nearly 1,100 board members, educators and community leaders during this event. Today, we gratefully add 39 new honorees to that distinguished list.

We thank all of the recipients for their ongoing support of, and commitment to, ESCs and public education in Ohio.

Page 1 Ohio ESC Association Capital Conference Awards

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

The Distinguished Service Award recognizes 20 years of service as an ESC board member.

JOHN BURKEY Nominated by John Ritchie, Superintendent of the Tri-County ESC

John Burkey was a Holmes County Board of Education Member for 3 years prior to the merger of Ashland, Holmes and Wayne Counties to form Tri-County ESC. He was instrumental in working for a successful merger. Mr. Burkey has continued to serve on the ESC Board and has been elected President of the Board numerous times throughout the last 18 years.

Mr. John Burkey is a dedicated public servant worthy of this recognition for his dedication and commitment to the ESC and the community at-large.

WILLIAM LOLLINI Nominated by Dr. George Ash, Superintendent of the Jefferson County ESC

Mr. Lollini has been part of the Jefferson County ESC Governing Board for the past 16 years, where he has helped make vital decisions to enhance the ESC's operations and better serve the school districts under its umbrella. The JCESC works with seven districts in three counties, including Buckeye Local, Indian Creek, the Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Jefferson County Joint Vocational School, Steubenville City Schools, and Toronto City Schools in Jefferson County, Harrison Hills City Schools in Harrison County, and Southern Local Schools in Columbiana County. He said the most important facet was that the JCESC continually innovates, fine tunes, and improves services that it provides to local schools. Mr. Lollini cited the development of the Virtual Learning Academy and growth of the Jefferson Health Plan among its greatest successes.

In addition to his work with the JCESC, Mr. Lollini has also served the Buckeye Local School Board for eight years, during which time he saw construction of Buckeye Local High School and renovations to the present West and South Elementary Schools in Adena and Tiltonsville. The district also worked its way out of the state loan fund and gained stable financial footing. He has also been on the Jefferson County JVS Board for four years, where he has helped make decisions to enhance vocational education for students so they could find successful careers in industry.

Page 2 Ohio ESC Association Capital Conference Awards

Mr. Lollini said it is always nice to be recognized for a service that you have performed, but the truth is that the ESC is blessed with an excellent staff that makes their position as board members a pleasure.

LAURIE ANN MONTGOMERY Nominated by Dr. Nelson McCray, Superintendent of the Licking County ESC

Laurie Montgomery has been a dedicated Board member for the Licking County ESC since 1995. She has supported many changes over the years which has resulted in the growth of Licking County’s services to our participating districts: lease and renovation of a facility for our Flying Colors Public Preschool; lease and renovation of facilities for the Licking County K-12 Emotional Disturbance Programs at the Citadel and now at Phoenix Central. Of the 20-year period of coverage of Licking County programs Laurie has served 12 of those years as Vice President.

Laurie has also served in the role as a Board member to the Licking County Vocational school at C-TEC for 11 years.

Laurie is a dedicated member of the First United Methodist Church in Newark, Ohio and she spends a lot of time with her 7 grandchildren.

RICHARD WINGERTER Nominated by Joe Chaddock, Superintendent of the Stark County ESC

Richard Wingerter was elected in 1993 and re-elected in 1997; 2001; 2005; 2009; 2013 to the Governing Board of the Stark County Educational Service Center. During Mr. Wingerter's 22 years on the Governing Board, he never missed a meeting. In fact one year, while hospitalized, he left the hospital for four hours to attend a board meeting. Had he not attended the meeting, there would not have been a quorum.

Mr. Richard Wingerter is a dedicated public servant worthy of this recognition for his dedication and commitment to the Stark County ESC and the schools and community at-large.

Page 3 Ohio ESC Association Capital Conference Awards SPECIAL DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

The Special Distinguished Service Award recognizes 30 years of service as an ESC board member.

JANICE GRIM Nominated by John Ritchie, Superintendent of the Tri-County ESC

Janice Grim has served as a Board Member on the Tri-County ESC Governing Board for 30 years. During her tenure, she has helped to facilitate the merger of three county board offices into Tri-County ESC. She has served as an ESC representative on the Wayne County Schools Career Center Board of Education for many years and was elected president of both boards numerous times.

Mrs. Janice Grim is a dedicated public servant worthy of this recognition for her dedication and commitment to the ESC and the community at-large.

ROGER WEST Nominated by Tony Long, Superintendent of the Southern Ohio ESC

Roger West is a board member of the Southern Ohio Educational Service Center. During the 2015-16 school year, Mr. West will complete his 30th year of service.

Mr. West served on the Highland County Board of Education from 1985 until 1997 when the Highland County Board of Education merged with the Clinton and Fayette County Boards of Education. He has continued to serve on the Southern Ohio ESC Governing Board since 1997.

He has served in many roles on the board including finance committee chair, legislative liaison, vice-president, and president.

In addition, Mr. West began his service on the Southern Hills Career and Technical Center Board of Education in January of 1986. He completed his service to the Southern Hills Career and Technical Center Board in December 2011, serving a total of 25 years. During his tenure on the board he served as President and Vice President.

Mr. West is currently serving on the Bright Local Schools Parent Advisory Council.

Page 4 Ohio ESC Association Capital Conference Awards

OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AWARD

The Outstanding Leadership Award recognizes ESC Governing board members whose contributions have had county-wide significance.

BETTY BURWINKEL Nominated by James Frazier, Superintendent of the Brown County ESC

Mrs. Betty Burwinkel is a dedicated public servant worthy of this recognition for her dedication and commitment to the Brown County ESC and the greater Brown County community at-large. She has served in the following capacities:  January 2006 – Present, served as Vice President (10 years)  2010 – Southern Hills Joint Vocational School Board (1 year)  1988 – 2003 – Fayetteville Perry Board of Education (16 years) (Served several years as President and Vice President)

Mrs. Betty Burwinkel is deserving of the Outstanding Leadership Award which recognizes ESC Governing board members whose contributions have had county-wide significance.

LARRY GEORGE Nominated by Dr. George Ash, Superintendent of the Jefferson County ESC

Mr. George went beyond the call to assist the Jefferson County ESC with the acquisition of property for the Professional Development Center expansion project. He went door-to-door to speak to adjacent property owners during the initial phase of the project. Moreover, Mr. George was instrumental in bringing together the communities to employ a Truancy and Family Liaison. During his tenure with the JCESC Governing Board, he has also seen the establishment of the Virtual Learning Academy, Jefferson Health Plan, disbursement of mini-grants to assist local schools, and the development of the Utica Shale Academy, among others.

He has been active with the JCESC Governing Board for the past 28 years, beginning as a mid-term appointment to the office. In addition, he has served the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School Board for 27 years and is currently its president. Additionally, he is a past member of the Wintersville Chamber of Commerce, past president of the Triangle Professional Photographers Association, and a member of the Professional Photographers of America.

Page 5 Ohio ESC Association Capital Conference Awards

BARBARA KLINGENSMITH Nominated by John Rubesich, Superintendent, Ashtabula County ESC

Mrs. Barbara Klingensmith has been the Executive Director of the Country Neighbor Program for 28 years and has served on the Ashtabula County Educational Service Center Governing Board for 13 years. Country Neighbor is a multipurpose Community Center providing services to help residents help themselves by enhancing life skills and supporting families as they strive for a dignified, independent lifestyle.

Country Neighbor operates a food bank which supplies non-profit daycares and shelters onsite meals in Ashtabula County. Country Neighbor facilitates a youth services program called STRIVE (Students Together Reinforcing the Importance of Valuable Education). This program identifies county-wide students in grades 1-8 who lack educational preparation. Students attend the program four days a week, two hours per day. Students break into small study groups to do homework, securing help from volunteers. Students also work on problem solving skills, proper etiquette, and skills to use when left home alone.

Mrs. Klingensmith was instrumental in securing a grant to supply a weekend food program for Building Bridges in Ashtabula County operated by the Ashtabula County Educational Service Center. Building Bridges is a county-wide school for emotionally disturbed students. There are approximately 65 students in grades K- 12 attending the school. This backpack program is now in its second year.

Barb Klingensmith lives and breathes community service. She is the epitome of a person who puts others before herself. It is an honor to recommend Mrs. Barbara Klingensmith for the OESCA "Outstanding Leadership Award".

Page 6 Ohio ESC Association Capital Conference Awards

OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARD

The Outstanding Community Leadership Award recognizes individuals or companies who have rendered services that have significantly benefited the school districts in their county or region.

JUDGE THERESA DELLICK Nominated by Dr. Ron Iarussi, Superintendent of the Mahoning County ESC

The Honorable Judge Theresa Dellick, Mahoning County Juvenile Court Judge and Jennifer Merritt, Superintendent, Mahoning County High School were invited to the White House to attend a national convening and conversation on improving school discipline policies and practices on July 22, 2015 by the United States Department of Education and the United States Department of Justice for their work. This select group of educational leaders, advocates, researchers, and state and community officials were chosen due to their success working to reduce school disciplinary incidents and fostering safe and supportive school climates. The policies and positive climate that are the foundation of the school have become models for similar initiatives. They also were chosen to attend the first cohort of the Georgetown University School-Justice Partnership Certificate Program for their work.

The Honorable Judge Dellick has been the Mahoning County Juvenile Court Judge since 2001. She has served as a member and or volunteer for over 50 civic and professional organizations including Youngstown Junior League, Turning Point Counseling Center, Mahoning County Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Board, United Way, Volunteer Services Agency, East Seals Board and many others.

DR. BARBARA HANSEN Nominated by David Branch, Superintendent of the Muskingum Valley ESC and Christopher Keylor, Superintendent of the Ohio Valley ESC

Dr. Hansen plays a lead role in one of the first multi-county Appalachian Ohio P- 20 Council (AOP-20) in SE Ohio.

Dr. Hansen has been an education leader, teacher, mentor, and coach to many educators in Ohio for over 35 years. Dr. Hansen is being recognized this morning

Page 7 Ohio ESC Association Capital Conference Awards for her community service and the leadership shown that resulted in creating one of the first multi-county P-20 Councils, serving 9 counties in southeast Ohio. The Council has been named the Appalachian Ohio P-20 Council. This council benefits students and teachers in 27 school districts served by Muskingum Valley and Ohio Valley ESCs. She is nominated for this Community Service Award by David N. Branch, Superintendent of Muskingum Valley ESC and Christopher Keylor, Superintendent of Ohio Valley ESC.

Her energy and focused effort in helping to create the AOP-20 Council began three years ago when she convened ESC leaders to discuss ways to foster collaborations among business, education, government, philanthropy, and manufacturing for a common purpose of inspiring a regional commitment to student success to help support rural prosperity, which is the vision of AOP-20. Council meetings and focus groups discussions were held and ultimately, the first AOP-20 Council meeting convened on September 19, 2014. Without her tenacity and intentionality surrounding the importance of this collaborative work, the AOP-20 Council would not have come to fruition. Today, the Council includes over 125 leaders who regularly attend meetings. Council members serve on teams, who are dedicated to accomplishing the goals of the first strategic plan, which was written in spring 2015.

Barbara Hansen serves the community in other ways by:  Being active in the John and Annie Glenn Museum, located in New Concord, OH,  Serving as a Muskingum Valley ESC Board Member,  Serving as a Foundation for Appalachian Ohio Board Member, and  Serving as the lead planner for the annual National Rural Education Forum.  Dr. Hansen is a church deacon and has been active in her church’s restoration after a fire in 2014.  After serving as Superintendent in East Muskingum Schools, she has remained active in the East Muskingum Endowment Fund.

This past September, she received the SE Ohio OSBA President’s Award by President Gail Requardt for her service to education.

It is with great pleasure that we recognize Dr. Barbara Hansen with OESCA’s 2015 Community Service Award.

Page 8 Ohio ESC Association Capital Conference Awards

STACEY LOGWOOD Nominated by Dr. Dan Kaffenbarger, Superintendent of the Madison-Champaign ESC

As the community champion for the Drug Free Youth Coalition, Stacey worked tirelessly to secure the ultra-competitive Drug Free Communities Federal Grant. Under her leadership the coalition has reduced youth access to alcohol from retailers by 45% and reduced 30 days past use of alcohol in 8th graders by 5% since 2011. She has been instrumental in building evidence-based substance abuse & violence prevention program in all of the school districts in Champaign County.  Graduate of Mechanicsburg High School  BA Capital University, currently a graduate student at Wright State  Employed by Champaign County Family & Children First since 2006, Director 2009  Instructor in Bridges Out of Poverty curriculum, 40 Developmental Assets Trainer  Stacey is married to Shawn, they have four children  Urbana resident & the best collaborator in the area!

JENNIFER MERRITT Nominated by Dr. Ron Iarussi, Superintendent of the Mahoning County ESC

Jennifer Merritt, Mahoning County ESC Director of Alternative Programs, has been the Superintendent of the Mahoning County High School since 2009. Prior to that, she served as a program coordinator for the Virginia Department of Education through Radford University and Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. She also served as a special education classroom teacher in the first fully-inclusive school district in Virginia and has worked as a social services coordinator and with the

Page 9 Ohio ESC Association Capital Conference Awards Columbiana County Juvenile services intake/diversion program.

BETH RUPERT-WARREN Nominated by Dr. George Ash, Superintendent of the Jefferson County ESC

Ms. Rupert-Warren has made it her mission to unite the community and benefit everyone in Jefferson County. The United Way of Jefferson County includes 19 service agencies and 22 programs, plus it facilitates three community impact programs. She began the Community Partners program to connect all aspects of the community. A group of 80-100 people attend regular gatherings and network to build a stronger, safer, healthier community. In addition, she has worked with area school superintendents the ESC serves on comprehensive school safety plans and offered to assist those beyond Jefferson County. She exemplifies hard work, dedication and commitment to serving.

VIRGENE WEBB PETERSON Nominated by Tony Long, Superintendent of the Southern Ohio ESC

Virgene Webb quietly began making her mark on public education in a small school in western Clinton County.

Miss Webb started teaching in the basement of Kingman School, which is now part of the Clinton-Massie School District in Chester Township. She still has that first Kingman grade book — and all the other grade books from her 50-year career teaching third, fourth and fifth grades at Kingman, Smith Place and Denver Place schools.

She still has the kind smile, easy laugh and deeply held belief that education can be fun. Her once-tireless energy has slowed slightly as she deals with some recent health issues, but her enthusiasm for teaching has not once waned. With 70 years of classroom experience Mrs. Peterson, 91 years old, could very well be the longest-teaching educator in Ohio’s schools and maybe nationwide. She was a substitute teacher for area school districts until a year ago when her health started to fail, yet, she continues to volunteer at Denver Place Elementary School.

At a time when individuals hold an average of 11 jobs from ages 18 to 46, simply keeping the same job for 70 years is an unrivaled feat. Loving that job the entire time is rarer still, though the ability seems to have been passed down to Mrs. Peterson’s daughter, Bunny Bradshaw, who retired from Clinton-Massie Local Schools after teaching for 35 years, and to her grandson, Curt Bradshaw, who is in his seventh year of education. The three generations have taught for a total of 110 years in Clinton County.

Page 10 Ohio ESC Association Capital Conference Awards

OUTSTANDING LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP AWARD

The Outstanding Legislative Leadership Award recognizes legislators and legislative staff for outstanding public service and legislative support for Educational Service Centers and public education in the state of Ohio.

THE HONORABLE TROY BALDERSON, OHIO SENATE Nominated by David Branch, Superintendent of the Muskingum Valley ESC and Christopher Keylor, Superintendent of the Ohio Valley ESC

Senator Balderson's leadership on the Senate Education Committee and Education Finance Subcommittee gives school districts and educational service centers in the 20th Senate District a voice when it comes to education policy and funding. He has been our voice in the Ohio Senate. He routinely attends regional superintendent and area community meetings. As a result, he understands the strengths, needs and challenges facing rural southeastern Ohio. He understands the importance of connecting business and industry and education to address the changing economic environment. He is an ardent supporter of Education who has given his time, industry, and support to students in our region.

Senator Troy Balderson is currently serving in the Ohio Senate, representing the 20th District, which encompasses all of Fairfield, Guernsey, Hocking, Morgan, and Muskingum Counties, as well as portions of Athens and Pickaway Counties. He is currently the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Utilities. With the great influx of attention being directed to Ohio's energy industry, Senator Balderson oversees policy initiatives for one of the fastest growing sectors of our economy. In addition to his committee leadership responsibilities, Senator Balderson serves as a member of the Government Oversight and Reform Committee, Insurance Committee, Education Committee, and the Finance Education Subcommittee. He is also a member of the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review, and a co-chair of the Energy Mandates Study Committee. Born and raised in southeastern Ohio, Senator Balderson graduated from Zanesville High School in 1980 and attended both Muskingum College and The Ohio State University. In the spring of 2015, he was inducted into the Zanesville City Schools Hall of Fame and received an honorary degree from Zane State College.

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THE HONORABLE JACK CERA, OHIO HOUSE Nominated by Dr. George Ash, Superintendent of the Jefferson County ESC

Sen. Lou Gentile, Rep. Jack Cera, Rep. Tim Ginter, Sen. William Seitz, Sen. Bill Coley, Sen. John Eklund, Sen. Tom Patton, and Sen. Frank LaRose have staunchly advocated education throughout the state, most recently supporting amendments to House Bill 64 that would allow ESC's to serve as fiscal agents so they can create an infrastructure bank and school districts could borrow funds for improvements, such as textbooks, buses, or technology. Meanwhile, the second amendment provides clarification within the language to allow Jefferson Health Plan to go outside state lines and create a national health care self-insurance program. The Jefferson Health Plan presently includes 300 member entities, more than 19,000 members and at least 60,000 lives covered under that system. Because of these accomplishments and their ongoing support, the JCESC believes the legislators deserve recognition.

Rep. Cera (D-96th District) is from Bellaire and has been a legislator for 18 years. He first served with the Ohio General Assembly from 1983-1996 and represented the 99th District, which encompassed Belmont, Monroe, Noble, and the northern part of Washington counties. He returned to the legislature in 2011 following an appointment as state representative of the 95th District, but restructuring occurred a year later. Since then, he has served District 96, which includes Jefferson and Monroe counties and portions of Belmont County. He presently serves on the Agriculture and Natural Resources, Energy and Natural Resources, Finance, and Ways and Means committees plus the Finance Subcommittee on Agriculture, Development and Natural Resources.

THE HONORABLE BILL COLEY, OHIO SENATE Nominated by Dr. George Ash, Superintendent of the Jefferson County ESC

Page 12 Ohio ESC Association Capital Conference Awards Sen. Bill Coley (R-4th District) was born in Chicago, Ill., but grew up in Beverly, Ohio. He is serving his first full term in the Ohio Senate, representing the majority of Butler County. Prior to his appointment to the Senate, he was elected to four terms in the Ohio House of Representatives from 2005 to 2011. He presently serves on the Civil Justice, Finance, Education, Finance- Education Subcommittee, Government Oversight and Reform, Medicaid, and Rules and Reference committees.

THE HONORABLE ROBERT CUPP, OHIO HOUSE Nominated by the Ohio Educational Service Center Association

Representative Bob Cupp has served as an elected official in all three branches of government and at both the local and state levels: as an Allen County Commissioner, a four-term State Senator, a Court-of-Appeals Judge, and a Justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio. He also served as a city prosecutor, and, most recently, Chief Legal Counsel to Ohio Auditor of State, Dave Yost.

As State Senator, Bob Cupp was one of the primary architects of the state’s school funding system. A strong proponent of public education, Bob Cupp worked collaboratively with education stakeholders and policymakers to craft common sense solutions to complex funding and policy challenges.

This collaborative style and approach has carried over into his work now in the Ohio House where as Chairman of the Primary and Secondary Education Subcommittee of Finance, Representative Cupp helped craft a sensible, rational and stable funding methodology for Ohio’s schools. He also worked collaboratively with OESCA, recognizing the value of ESCs, to restore funding cuts that would have undermined the effective and efficient delivery of services to Ohio’s districts, schools and students.

THE HONORABLE JOHN EKLUND, OHIO SENATE Nominated by Dr. George Ash, Superintendent of the Jefferson County ESC and Dr. Brian Bontempo, Superintendent of the Lake County ESC

Page 13 Ohio ESC Association Capital Conference Awards program. The Jefferson Health Plan presently includes 300 member entities, more than 19,000 members and at least 60,000 lives covered under that system. Because of these accomplishments and their ongoing support, the JCESC believes the legislators deserve recognition.

Sen. John Eklund (R-18th District) hails from Long Island, N.Y., but came to Ohio following his graduation from law school and worked as an attorney in Cleveland. He was elected to the state senate in 2011, and represents Portage County and part of Geauga and Lake Counties. He is active on the Civil Justice, Criminal Justice, Financial Institutions, Public Utilities, Transportation, Commerce and Labor, and Ways and Means committees and the Finance General Government Subcommittee.

Senator John Eklund provided support and leadership to support the Lake County STEM and Fab Lab initiatives in Lake County high schools and Lakeland Community College as well as Lake and Geauga middle school Robotics in partnership with the Alliance for Working Together (a local business organization that promotes careers in manufacturing). This is a unique project and partnership and we are thankful to all of our leaders for their support.

THE HONORABLE LOU GENTILE, OHIO SENATE Nominated by Dr. George Ash, Superintendent of the Jefferson County ESC and Christopher Keylor, Superintendent of the Ohio Valley ESC

Page 14 Ohio ESC Association Capital Conference Awards Sen. Gentile (D-30th District) hails from Steubenville and has served as a State Senator since 2011. Prior to that he was a State Representative from 2010-2011. He is currently the Assistant Minority Whip. Among the areas he serves are Belmont, Carroll, Harrison, Jefferson, Meigs, Monroe, Noble, Washington, and parts of Athens and Vinton counties. He currently serves on the Agriculture, Energy and Natural Resources, Financial Institutions, Public Utilities, Rules and Reference, and Transportation, Commerce and Labor committees and the Finance General Government Subcommittee.

Senator Lou Gentile truly represents the constituents of the 30th Senate District, and has always voted for, or against legislation in order to protect rural school districts and educational service centers. Senator Gentile is a routine participant during regional superintendent meetings. As a result, Senator Gentile understands the strengths, needs and challenges of rural eastern and southeastern Ohio. Senator Gentile understands the vital role, and value of services provided by Ohio Valley Educational Service Center to its partner school districts.

The son of a retired schoolteacher and social worker, Senator Gentile's parents instilled in him at a very early age the importance of giving back to the community. He carries these values with him to the Ohio Senate and works to build strong communities, where all families have access to good paying jobs and high quality education.

THE HONORABLE TIM GINTER, OHIO HOUSE Nominated by Dr. George Ash, Superintendent of the Jefferson County ESC

Rep. Tim Ginter (R-5th District) is a Salem resident who is currently in his first term with the Ohio House. He represents Columbiana County and serves on the

Page 15 Ohio ESC Association Capital Conference Awards Community and Family Advancement, Health and Aging, and Public Utilities committees.

THE HONORABLE BRIAN HILL, OHIO HOUSE Nominated by Christopher Keylor, Superintendent of the Ohio Valley ESC

Representative Brian Hill has been a friend and supporter of Muskingum Valley and Ohio Valley Educational Service Centers. He regularly participates in regional superintendent and community meetings in Guernsey and Muskingum counties. He listens and understands the unique connection and service link our rural ESCs provide to partner school districts. Representative Hill has been a strong supporter of local school districts and educational service centers while serving in the Ohio House of Representatives.

State Representative Brian D. Hill is currently serving his second term as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, after being appointed to serve for the duration of the 129th General Assembly. He represents the 97th House District, which includes Guernsey County and most of Muskingum County. Prior to joining the Ohio House, Representative Hill served as a Muskingum County commissioner for more than six years. His service to the public also includes work as a board member for the Guernsey-Muskingum Electric Cooperative, where he not only interacts with legislators at various levels of government, but meets with community members to discuss electric service and deregulation.

Before his work as county commissioner, Representative Hill worked at ADM Alliance Nutrition in Zanesville, where he assisted farmers in a six-county region on the production and nutrition of livestock. A two-time graduate of The Ohio State University, he has his associate degree in applied science and his bachelor’s degree in animal science. Additionally, he is a member of the Muskingum County Farm Bureau and Muskingum County Cattleman’s Association.

Representative Hill raises beef cattle and grows crops at the family farm he co- owns and has helped to manage with his father since 1980. He lives with his wife and three children outside of Zanesville.

THE HONORABLE CLIFF HITE, OHIO SENATE Nominated by the Ohio Educational Service Center Association

Senator Cliff Hite is currently serving in his third General Assembly as a member of the Ohio Senate, representing the 1st Senate District, which encompasses an 11 county region of Northwest Ohio including all or part of Auglaize, Defiance, Fulton, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Logan, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert, and Williams

Page 16 Ohio ESC Association Capital Conference Awards Counties. Prior to his appointment to the Senate, Hite served two terms in the Ohio House of Representatives.

Prior to entering public service in Columbus, Senator Hite spent three decades teaching high school history and coaching football. He puts his passion for teaching and student success to use as the Vice-Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Education. He also serves as Chairman of the Finance Subcommittee on Education. His experience in the classroom makes Hite a leader in education policy in the Buckeye State.

In this capacity, Senator Hite has been the lead champion in the Senate Republican Caucus for ESCs. Recognizing the value that ESCs provide through an efficient, effective, shared services delivery model, Senator Hite led the effort to restore ESC funding and maintain the market-based, customer-driven, student- centered delivery system.

A regular attendee at regional superintendent meetings, Senator Hite believes in listening to his constituents and working collaboratively to reach common sense solutions. As a result, he is a leading, respected voice for public education in Ohio.

THE HONORABLE FRANK LA ROSE, OHIO SENATE Nominated by Dr. George Ash, Superintendent of the Jefferson County ESC

Sen. Frank LaRose (R-27th District) is a decorated Army veteran and calls Copley his hometown. He is currently serving his second term in the Ohio Senate and represents Wayne County and portions of Stark and Summit counties. Sen. LaRose was named Chairman of the State and Local Government Committee and is a member of the Finance Committee, Government Oversight and Reform Committee, Insurance Committee, Agriculture Committee, Financial Institutions Committee, Transportation, Commerce and Labor Committee, and the Finance

Page 17 Ohio ESC Association Capital Conference Awards Workforce Subcommittee. In addition, he serves on the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review, which is comprised of members of both the Senate and House and is responsible for reviewing administrative rules proposed by state agencies, departments, boards, and commissions.

THE HONORABLE GAYLE MANNING, OHIO SENATE Nominated by Greg Ring, Superintendent of the ESC of Lorain County

In the Senate, Gayle Manning has the opportunity to give back by lending the state her lifetime of experience as an educator, as well as her understanding of local governments and small businesses. This knowledge base guides her decisions to support statewide policies that grow stable businesses, expand job opportunities, and encourage strong workforce training in order to strengthen Ohio's economy.

Senator Manning has been dedicated to fighting the ongoing drug epidemic among youth in Northeast Ohio. Last year, her legislation launched the Narcan pilot project, which enabled emergency personnel to administer Narcan to those suffering from a drug overdose. Because of this, 18 lives have been saved in a few short months.

State Senator Gayle Manning is serving her second term in the Ohio Senate representing the 13th District, which encompasses Huron and Lorain counties. Prior to running for the Senate in 2010, Senator Manning spent 37 years as an elementary school teacher. She also served as a member of the North Ridgeville Planning Commission and on the North Ridgeville City Council from 2006-07 where she was appointed Finance Chairwoman and Council President Pro Tempore.

As a political outsider, Senator Manning has dedicated her life to elementary education as a teacher in the North Olmsted City School System. She has been the recipient of numerous awards and citations for her accomplishments and contributions, including being named Educator of the Year by the North Olmsted PTA Council and the Teacher in America Enterprise Award from the Ohio Council on Economic Education. She also was recently named Legislator of the Year by the Ohio County Engineers and the Ohio Nursery and Landscaping Association.

Senator Gayle Manning Education Accomplishments: As a Teacher  Awarded "Educator of the Year'' by the North Olmsted PTA Council  Awarded "Teacher in America Enterprise Award" from the Ohio Council on Economic Education

Page 18 Ohio ESC Association Capital Conference Awards  37 years of equipping students with skills to last a lifetime, supporting them in their goals, and helping them develop as children As a Senator  S.B. 42, which allowed school districts to use money raised through a levy for school security  H.B. 59, which included a $717 million increase in state education funding  Helped secure $12 million in grants to create the School Security Grant program  Helped secure nearly $5 million for renovations and expansions of Lorain County Community College  Awarded the "Educational Service Award" by Horizon Science Academy in Lorain  Recognized by the Afterschool Alliance as an "Afterschool Champion" o Facilitated conversations with afterschool providers and the Ohio Department of Education that resulted in preserving significant 21st Century Community Learning Center funds for afterschool and summer programs o "Senator Manning has continually been a champion for raising the quality of afterschool programs and played a central role in helping to shape policy and funding decisions for the state of Ohio," (Liz Nusken, Ohio Afterschool Network Director)

THE HONORABLE TOM PATTON, OHIO SENATE Nominated by Dr. George Ash, Superintendent of the Jefferson County ESC

Sen. Tom Patton (R-24th District) is from Strongsville. He is the current majority leader of the Ohio Senate and has represented his district, which includes part of Cuyahoga County, since 2008. He also served in the Ohio House of Representatives from 2003 to 2008. Sen. Patton has served in the Senate since 2008 and currently also serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Senate Transportation,

Page 19 Ohio ESC Association Capital Conference Awards Commerce and Labor Committee, plus he is a member of multiple other committees. In addition to his standing committees, Senator Patton also serves as co-chair of the Ohio Senate Autism Caucus, and as a member of the Ohio Athletic Commission, the ODOT Transportation Futures Steering Committee, and the Legislative Service Commission.

THE HONORABLE TOM SAWYER, OHIO SENATE Nominated by the Ohio Educational Service Center Association

Senator Tom Sawyer is currently an Ohio Senator representing Akron and portions of Summit County in Northeast Ohio.

Senator Sawyer began his public career in 1976 in the Ohio House of Representatives. Drawing on his experience as an educator, he served as Chair of Ohio's House Education Committee.

After his tenure in the Ohio House of Representatives, Senator Sawyer was elected Mayor of Akron in 1983. He was then elected to the US Congress where he served for 16 years. In Congress, Senator Sawyer maintained his focus on education, serving on the Education Committee and authoring the National Literacy Act and the Eisenhower Mathematics and Science Improvement Act.

Senator Sawyer served a brief tenure on the State Board of Education before filling the 28th District vacancy in the Ohio Senate in 2007. Senator Sawyer serves as Ranking Minority Member on the Senate Finance and Education committees, and as a member on the Senate Public Utilities and Criminal Justice committees and Finance Sub-Committee on Education.

In this capacity, Senator Sawyer has been the lead champion in the Senate Democrat Caucus for ESCs. Recognizing the value that ESCs provide through an efficient, effective, shared services delivery model, Senator Sawyer has consistently supported and advocated for ESCs, both leading and supporting efforts to restore ESC funding, maintain the market-based, customer-driven, student-centered delivery system, and leverage the knowledge and expertise of ESCs to improve outcomes for all schools and all students regardless of where they are located.

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THE HONORABLE WILLIAM SEITZ, OHIO SENATE Nominated by Dr. George Ash, Superintendent of the Jefferson County ESC

Sen. William Seitz (R-8th District) is from Cincinnati and has represented the state in both the House and Senate. He served as a state representative from 2001-2007, where he was Majority Whip and Assistant Majority Whip and Chair of the Civil and Commercial Law Committee. He became a senator in 2007 and serves part of Hamilton County. Sen. Seitz is currently Chairman of the Public Utilities Committee and Vice-Chairman of the Government Oversight and Reform Committee, plus he was named to the Criminal Justice Committee, Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Civil Justice Committee, State and Local Government Committee, and the Finance Corrections Subcommittee.

THE HONORABLE RYAN SMITH, OHIO HOUSE Nominated by the Ohio Educational Service Center Association

State Representative Ryan Smith serves the 93rd House District, which includes Jackson and Gallia counties, as well as portions of Lawrence and Vinton counties.

Representative Smith also maintains an active role in his community though civic involvement. In the past, he has served as president of the Gallia County Chamber of Commerce and the Gallia County Community Improvement Corporation. Representative Smith is a former member of the Gallipolis School Board of Education and is active in his local church.

Currently serving his second term in the Ohio House of Representatives, Representative Smith is the Chairman of the House Finance Committee. In this capacity, Representative Smith has worked collaboratively with OESCA and

Page 21 Ohio ESC Association Capital Conference Awards Ohio’s ESCs during state budget deliberations to understand Ohio’s often complex system of regional education service delivery and to arrive at common sense solutions that support improved outcomes for Ohio’s districts, schools and students.

Meeting regularly with superintendents and other school district representatives, Representative Smith is widely regarded as a reasonable, rationale, and thoughtful legislator who is willing to work with fellow legislators, special interests and constituents to arrive at common sense solutions that are in the best interest of Ohioans.

THE HONORABLE RON YOUNG, OHIO HOUSE Nominated by Dr. Brian Bontempo, Superintendent of the Lake County ESC

State Representative Ron Young is serving in his third consecutive term at the Ohio House of Representatives, having previously served from 1997 through 2004. He represents the 61st House District in eastern portions of Lake County. Representative Ron Young provided support and leadership to support the Lake County STEM and Fab Lab initiatives in Lake County high schools and Lakeland Community College as well as Lake and Geauga middle school Robotics in partnership with the Alliance for Working Together (a local business organization that promotes careers in manufacturing).

This is a unique project and partnership and the Lake County ESC and its partners are thankful to all of their leaders for their continued support.

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OESCA TEAMWORK AWARD

The OESCA Teamwork Award recognizes individuals and/or organizations who have made significant contributions promoting unity and teamwork within the Ohio Educational Service Center Association and among Ohio’s 52 Educational Service Centers.

SUPERINTENDENT TONY LONG, SOUTHERN OHIO ESC Nominated by the Ohio Educational Service Center Association

Superintendent Tony Long has served the Southern Ohio ESC in various roles since 1998. Tony has led the ESC as superintendent since 2010. In this capacity, Tony exemplifies the Southern Ohio ESC’s stated mission to “… foster an educational environment that ensures excellence in performance through shared expertise, collaborative partnerships, and continuous learning.”

Under his leadership, more than115 employees of the Southern Ohio Service Center dedicate themselves to serving their member school districts so that they may better assist students in increasing student achievement.

As an active member of OESCA, Tony has served on the association’s Executive Committee, Membership Engagement Committee and PR & Marketing Committee. In these roles, Tony has actively sought out opportunities to work collaboratively with OESCA leadership and his ESC colleagues to support policies and practices that support all ESCs: urban, suburban and rural.

Tony has led by example meeting with legislators and other state policymakers on behalf of OESCA and his fellow ESCs. Through these efforts, Tony Long has worked to advance the interests of the statewide system of ESCs, knowing and believing that the whole network of ESCs is greater than the sum of its parts.

More simply stated, in an era of competition, Tony Long has intentionally sought out opportunities to advocate for all ESCs not just his own. Tony frequently contacts the association to share information and to ask how he can assist in advancing the policy goals of the membership.

OESCA is pleased to honor Superintendent Tony Long with the OESCA Teamwork Award, which recognizes individuals or organizations who have made significant contributions promoting unity and teamwork within the Ohio Educational Service Center Association and among Ohio’s 52 Educational Service Centers.

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OESCA TORCH AWARD

The OESCA Torch Award (or Friend of ESCs Award) was established to recognize individuals and/or organizations who have rendered outstanding service or who have made significant contributions to OESCA or ESCs as a whole.

GRETCHEN HOLDGREVE, ALLEN COUNTY ESC Nominated by the Ohio Educational Service Center Association

OESCA is pleased to recognize Gretchen Holdgreve for her support of, and service to, the Ohio ESC Association. Gretchen serves as Administrative Assistant at the Allen County ESC in Lima, Ohio. Starting under former superintendent Brian Rockhold, Gretchen has committed her time, energy and expertise at each of OESCA’s two annual conferences to ensure the best membership experience for our members.

This support has continued under the leadership of current superintendent Dr. Dean Wittwer. Gretchen approaches her work on behalf of the association and the Allen County ESC in the utmost professional manner. OESCA is proud to have her as a member of our member engagement support team and are grateful for the outstanding service she has offered to our membership.

It is with great pleasure that OESCA recognizes Gretchen Holdgreve with the OESCA Torch Award, which recognizes individuals or organizations who have rendered outstanding service and who have made significant contributions to OESCA or ESCs as a whole.

TAMMY ROBINSON, NORTH POINT ESC Nominated by the Ohio Educational Service Center Association

OESCA is pleased to recognize Tammy Robinson with the North Point ESC for her support of, and service to, the Ohio ESC Association. Tammy serves as Executive Assistant to the Superintendent at the North Point ESC in Sandusky, Ohio. Starting under former Superintendent Bill Lally and continuing under current Superintendent Doug Crooks, Tammy has volunteered her time and expertise to organizing, administering and implementing the annual Franklin B. Walter All Scholastic Awards Program.

The Franklin B. Walter All-Scholastic Award Program was established by the Ohio Educational Service Center Association (OESCA) to promote and recognize

Page 24 Ohio ESC Association Capital Conference Awards outstanding academic achievement. One senior from each county in Ohio receives this annual honor. North Point ESC has supported this event for the past 10 years.

Tammy approaches her work on behalf of the association with precision and creativity both of which are critical to the success of this event. With her leadership, guidance and support, OESCA has recognized hundreds of the top students in our state.

OESCA is proud to recognize Tammy Robinson with the OESCA Torch Award for outstanding service and her contributions to OESCA and the ESCs in Ohio.

JOSEPH WEITZ, ESC OF CENTRAL OHIO Nominated by the Ohio Educational Service Center Association

OESCA is pleased to recognize Joseph Weitz with the ESC of Central Ohio for his support of, and service to, the Ohio ESC Association.

Joe currently serves as senior policy consultant at the ESC. With direct experience in providing in-depth policy research and analysis, Joe Weitz spends considerable time and energy monitoring local, state and national education policy and practice and sharing his insights with the educational leadership in Central Ohio.

In addition, Joe closely monitors education-related policy at the state level including attending meetings and analyzing reports from the Ohio Department of Higher Education, Ohio Department of Education and State Board, the Office of the Governor, the Ohio General Assembly and more.

As an active member of the OESCA Critical Issues Committee, Joe is always willing to share his knowledge and insights with OESCA leadership and his ESC colleagues from around the state. These insights have informed association policy positions on shared services, governance, funding, service delivery, performance measures and much more.

His collaborative leadership style exemplifies the qualities of what OESCA seeks in its membership and are directly aligned to the criteria for the OESCA Torch Award, which was established to recognize individuals or organizations who have rendered outstanding service or who have made significant contributions to OESCA or ESCs as a whole.

OESCA is grateful for Joe Weitz’s contributions to OESCA and the statewide network of ESCs.

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OESCA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

The OESCA Lifetime Achievement Award is the association’s highest award, recognizing individuals that embody the goals and philosophies of educational service centers for their outstanding accomplishments and innovative practices.

BRUCE HAWKINS Nominated by the Ohio Educational Service Center Association

Bruce Hawkins has been a long-time advocate and supporter of public education in Ohio, most recently serving as Executive Director for the Management Council of the Ohio Education Computer Network or MCOECN. The Management Council implements the programs within the Ohio Education Computer Network (OECN) in collaboration with 21 Information Technology Centers (ITCs) and the Ohio Department of Education. In this role, Bruce worked tirelessly on behalf of all members

Prior to serving as Executive Director of MCOECN, Bruce was an elementary supervisor, director of instruction and Assistant County Superintendent prior to becoming the Danville Local Superintendent in 1983. He then led the Knox County ESC for 12 years as its superintendent, leaving that position in 1998. Bruce led the MCOECN and the state’s network of ITCs for 17 years from 1998- 2015. In this capacity, Bruce championed many successful efforts to leverage the collective knowledge, capacity and expertise of the state’s ITCs. He did so before the Ohio SchoolNet Commission, e-Tech Ohio, and the Ohio General Assembly. He also advocated successfully on behalf of the ITCs through several regionalization efforts including the Ohio Schools Technology Implementation Task Forces, the CELT Study of Ohio’s Regional Technology Service Providers, the State Regional Alliance Advisory Board, the Ohio School Funding Advisory Group, the Beyond Boundaries Shared Services study and report, and more. Bruce worked tirelessly to be an advocate for technology innovation and continuous improvement, to support statewide educational technology programs and services, and to implement partnership arrangements and purchasing agreements that improved services and drove down costs for districts and schools.

Bruce truly embodied the Management Council’s mission, “to create and deliver efficient, effective and secure technology services that enable student learning in a 21st Century society that demands global competitiveness.” Ultimately, Bruce will have left a legacy that will positively impact how 21st century students in Ohio access and analyze information, how districts deliver instruction

Page 26 Ohio ESC Association Capital Conference Awards and collect and transmit student data, and how the state of Ohio delivers programs and services for generations to come.

It is with great pleasure that OESCA recognizes Bruce Hawkins with the OESCA Lifetime Achievement Award, the association’s highest honor.

LOWELL HOWARD Nominated by Sandy Mers, Superintendent of the South Central Ohio ESC

When describing an Educational Service Center to anyone the word service is paramount in the description. In Scioto County the word service describes Lowell Howard. Lowell continually serves the districts within the SCOESC even in retirement. With over 40 years in education, Lowell has always been the “go to person” for any question, problem, or advice. He never hesitates to help and serve in any situation but especially with educational issues.

As an ESC Superintendent, Lowell created a collaborative environment in which districts benefit from innovative practices. He helped establish and maintain a cooperative unit for the county districts’ special education needs. He created an environment that extends service to different counties. For example, the curriculum team that has traveled to different counties helping train other districts in needed topics such as OTES/OPES, SLOs, etc. He was also the lead in establishing an insurance consortium creating a Board of Trustees and saving the local districts not only money but also providing the guidance in the field of insurance.

Lowell Howard is the epitome of educational service. Even after retiring, he spends countless hours helping and serving others. He is truly dedicated to our youth and completely supports education regardless of the area. I am honored to make this recommendation and equally honored to include letters of support for this nomination from all of our current superintendents. The volume of support speaks to Lowell’s ability to support us in the educational realm. Lowell deserves recognition as a Lifetime Achievement Award winner.

Lowell began his educational career as a high school Social Studies teacher at New Boston High School in 1970. He then moved from a teacher at New Boston to the High School Principal and then became the District Superintendent. In 2001 he retired from New Boston but was soon answering calls for interim work. He worked at Eastern Local, Rock Hill Local, and Manchester Local. In 2007, Lowell decided to come out of retirement and became the South Central Ohio Educational Service Center Superintendent. He retired for the second time July 31, 2015.

Page 27 Ohio ESC Association Capital Conference Awards It is with great pleasure that OESCA recognizes Lowell Howard with the OESCA Lifetime Achievement Award, the association’s highest honor.

CAROLE KUNS Nominated by Doug Crooks, Superintendent of the North Point ESC

It is with great respect that North Point ESC recognizes and honors Mrs. Carole Kuns with the OESCA Lifetime Achievement Award for service and leadership as Governing Board President of North Point Educational Service Center.

Carole Kuns was first elected to the Erie County Board of Education in 1980. After being re-elected for a second term she was selected by her fellow board members to serve as President of the County Board. As Erie County merged with Ottawa County in 1997 Mrs. Kuns would be selected by the new board to serve as president. In 1999, Huron County merged with the Erie-Ottawa Board of Education to form the Erie-Huron-Ottawa Educational Service Center. Again, as the board grew in numbers Mrs. Kuns was selected by her colleagues to serve as President of the Governing Board. Mrs. Kuns will continue to serve as President of the Governing Board during continued growth that included Sandusky, Seneca, and Lucas County Districts. In January of this year (2015) Mrs. Kuns started her thirty first (31st) year as board president.

Under Mrs. Carole Kuns’ leadership as president of the board, the service center has grown to an organization that serves thirty-four thousand students in twenty- four school districts, employing approximately 300 employees. Carole’s significant guidance and leadership over those 31 years has been a major factor in not only North Point’s growth but also its excellent repetition within the communities it serves.

Carole’s leadership, support, passion and dedication to students and community goes beyond her commitment to the Service Center Board. Mrs. Kuns sits on numerous community and foundation boards. She also is a member of the EHOVE Career Center Board, serving as the Vice President.

It is with great pleasure that OESCA recognizes Carole Kuns with the OESCA Lifetime Achievement Award, the association’s highest honor.

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KENNETH SIMERAL Nominated by Dr. George Ash, Superintendent of the Jefferson County ESC

Mr. Simeral has served the Jefferson County ESC for nearly 31 years, and during that time has seen the inception of such programs as Jefferson Health Plan, Virtual Learning Academy, Utica Shale Academy, shared services programs for legal services and public relations, and OMERESA, to name a few. He has staunchly supported the mission, vision, and goals of the Jefferson County ESC and helped it achieve accreditation through AdvancED, making it one of eight entities in the state to do so.

Mr. Simeral joined the ESC following his appointment to fill another board member's unexpired term and said he's proudest of providing support and assistance to local school districts in a cost-efficient manner through shared services. He said the primary goal is to provide services that are more cost- effective on a multi-district level. Among them are group purchasing for schools, OME-RESA computer services, the Jefferson Health Plan, Virtual Learning Academy, and legal services.

He is a graduate of the former Mount Pleasant High School, which is part of the Buckeye Local School District, and obtained his bachelor's degree in agricultural economics from The Ohio State University with a master's degree from OSU in agricultural education. He served the OSU Extension for more than 40 years, working in Jefferson, Harrison, Columbiana, and Noble counties. During his tenure, he held the title of associate professor at OSU and upon his retirement became an associate professor emeritus.

In addition, he has served on the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School Board for about 30 years and is currently its Vice President. Mr. Simeral has also been a member of the National County Agents Association through OSU, the Jefferson County Farm Service Agency Board, and Jefferson County Agricultural Society Board, plus he is a past officer of the Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District.

It is with great pleasure that OESCA recognizes Kenneth Simeral with the OESCA Lifetime Achievement Award, the association’s highest honor.

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ABOUT OESCA

MISSION OESCA and its members provide leadership and services that enable school districts to increase student achievement and improve Ohio’s educational system.

VISION OESCA will be recognized and valued at local, state and national levels for educational leadership and superior member services.

OESCA’S CORE POLICY PRINCIPLES & GOALS OESCA believes that public education is the cornerstone of our democracy. Educational service centers provide (1) leadership to help all education professionals and students reach high standards of performance and (2) cost-efficient regional services. Therefore, OESCA and its members:  Advocate for the well-being of children as the basis of education policy decision making.  Support safe learning environments and academic success for all students.  Provide access to a thorough and efficient education to all Ohio children regardless of where they live.  Build school district academic, operational and fiscal capacity.  Facilitate the effectiveness, professionalism, and capacity of all school personnel.  Increase the State’s capacity to effectively and efficiently serve Ohio’s schools.  Achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of educational and professional services to schools, both academically and financially.

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Innovate. Educate. Advocate.

Ohio Educational Service Center Association 8050 North High Street, Suite 150 Columbus, Ohio 43235 P (614) 846-3855 F (614) 846-4081 E [email protected] W oesca.org

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