Nearly 160 superintendents, principals and other administrators from 19 area school districts spent Tuesday learning about educational trends, new initiatives and recent legislative changes.
Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center’s annual Administrative Leadership Conference held August 4 featured nationally recognized educational experts, Dr. Matthew Deevers and Dr. Joyce Juntune. Tom Ash, Director of Government Relations for the Buckeye Association of School Administrators, also updated attendees on the state budget and legislative changes.
Mid-Ohio ESC Superintendent Linda T. Keller welcomed the group and gave details about this month’s opening of the Mid-Ohio Learning Center. The renovated space on the Mid-Ohio ESC campus includes the Mid-Ohio Preschool and Futures, an alternative public school for students who require a smaller, more structured classroom environment.
Conference participants chose from three of 18 breakout sessions ranging from technology updates to personalized learning to communication strategies in multi-generational workplaces. Jeff DeVito and Skip Malaska of the Talent Development Group discussed a new initiative to provide career coaches to Mid-Ohio ESC client districts at a reduced cost.
A new online curriculum featuring video gaming technology called Zulama was introduced. Mid-Ohio ESC is a Zulama training and service provider.
Attendees included administrators from Mid-Ohio ESC’s 16 client districts and Pioneer Career and Technology Center, as well as others from Mt. Vernon, Centerburg, Clear Fork Valley and Mapleton. Teams from Mid-Ohio ESC’s newest client districts, Crestline Exempted Village Schools and Tiffin City Schools, also took part.
Crestline Superintendent Noreen Mullens says, “I enjoy Mid-Ohio’s services and administrative staff. They pay attention to detail and address our administration’s needs. They have already made a difference.”
Tiffin Superintendent Dr. Vicki Wheatley brought her administrative team of 15 to the conference. “I wanted them to see what I’ve seen at Mid-Ohio ESC and meet the people they will meet at networking sessions all year long,” she explains.
Tiffin’s Director of Curriculum/Personnel Michelle Tuite says, “We are very excited to have this partnership with Mid-Ohio. We have been treated so wonderfully and are making great strides in an economically, efficient way.”
Kevin Kimmel, Superintendent of Bucyrus City Schools, says, “This day gives our administrative team the opportunity to get together and have dialogue about what they’ve heard and learned to add value to our district.”
Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center, located at 890 W. Fourth St. in Mansfield, provides high quality, cost-effective, specialized academic/ therapy support services and professional development for school districts in the Central Ohio Region. These include offering alternative educational options, preschool education and printing services, as well as conference center facilities.
