Over 35 years of working with and for children as a medical social worker, Girl Scout leader, Cub Scout Pack and Den leader, Sunday school teacher, PTA worker and leader, and school, community, and county volunteer, have prepared me for Ohio State Board of Education leadership

Member, Ohio State Board of Education
District 10, representing the following counties: Adams , Brown, Clark , Clermont, Clinton , Fayette, Gallia , Greene, Highland , Jackson , Lawrence , Madison , Pickaway (western ½), Pike, Ross, Scioto , and Vinton.

Personal Background

• Born, raised and graduated from public schools in Dayton , Ohio
• BS in Nursing, University of Cincinnati
• Post-graduate Education courses from Miami and Xavier Universities
• Substitute teacher for 14 years
• School volunteer for 20 years
• Kids Voting Volunteer Coordinator - Clermont Co. for 6 years
• PTA school and council leadership for 22years
• County civic activities:
  • League of Women Voters for 35 years
  • LWV/Bar Association Civics Education Program for 12th Grade Government Classes, Coordinator and Presenter, 15 years
  • Clermont 20/20 leadership graduate
  • Education Task force for 4 years
  • Eastern Area YWCA Circle of Women Committee

Community Recognition

• 1992 – Milford Jaycees' Education Volunteer Award
• 1998 & 2001 - LWVCC Orpha Gatch Citizenship Award Nominee
• 2001 – Clermont 2001 Award for Civic Engagement
• 2001 – SW Ohio Kids Voting Educator of the Year Award

State Board Work

• District Work is my first priority as the representative on board.
• I visit school district superintendents regularly (1 -2 times /yr.) at their regular ESC meetings.
• I have visited 11 of the Career Technical Centers in my district over the last 3 years.
• I have had the pleasure of presenting Excellent Banners to all Excellent School Districts in my Bd. District each year.
• I continue to visit individual districts and schools throughout my district, as I am invited and time allows.
• I have been available to speak to civic organizations throughout my district whenever asked, and have spoken to Lions, Rotary, and Kiwanis Clubs, Chambers of Commerce, Professional organizations, the League of Women Voters, and others in many of my counties.
• I have tried to connect with all constituents by writing quarterly articles on education and distributing them to all newspapers in the district. They are archived on this site here.

State Board Responsibilities

• The board meets 2 days each month (Monday, Tuesday of the 2nd week) except August. Additional work is completed through committees.
• Capacity Committee: I serve as co-chair of one of the two major committees.
  • All elements and resources needed to educate K-12 students, including educator standards, training, and evaluation, safety, school support staff, transportation and more. I have served on this committee since 2005 and am now co-chair.
• Quality Middle School , High School Subcommittee, 2005 - present.
• Appointments Subcommittee, 2006 - present.
• Achieve Report Response Temporary Committee, 2007.
• New Board Member Orientation Committee, 2006 & 2007.
• The Superintendent's Parent Advisory Council - State Board Representative, 2007 - present.
• 2010-11 Budget Subcommittee, 2008

Education Conferences attended

• Nat'l Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform, 2005
• Midwest New Teacher Induction Forum, 2005
• Knowledgeworks' Ohio Small Schools Meeting, 2006
• Ohio Summit of Nat'l Board Certified Teachers , 2007 Panel member.
• Career Technical Conferences for Ohio Schools, 2005, 2007, 2008.
• NASBE Study Group on School Restructuring, 2007
• National Association of State Boards of Education
  • New Board Member Institute, 2005
  • Annual Conference, 2006,2007
  • Legislative Conference, 2007
• Wallace Foundation Leadership Conference, 2007
• NASBE Study Group on Middle Schools, 2008
• Governor's Institute for Creativity & Innovation, June, 2008
• Governor's Conversation on Education regional meeting, Ross County – August, 2008