| As the only child of Ann and Joseph growing up in Youngstown in the mid 1950's, I found through their
love and support that family, church, school, and friends were the essential elements of a wonderful
life. My parents stressed the importance of a well-rounded education by actively and positively
supporting my activities at Strouss' Music Center, at the Youngstown Youth Symphony Orchestra, and
at numerous school sponsored curricular and extra-curricular activities. Above all, my parents
stressed genuine love and caring for family and friends. All of these experiences added several
sturdy "blocks" to building my foundation.
After completing a very positive kindergarten experience at Lincoln Elementary School, I attended
Sacred Heart School, a multicultural parochial school on the east side of Youngstown. There the
wonderful lay teachers and Ursuline sisters reinforced the value of education, faith, and the importance
of doing one's best. Wonderful and dedicated lay teachers such as Mrs. Maron, Mrs. Stafford,
Miss Fitzgerald, and Mrs. Sandy and numerous talented Ursuline sisters encouraged, facilitated,
and at times, through "direct supervision" led me to do my best as an active learner. After spending
four truly productive and formative years of learning, playing, acting, discovering, and debating at
Ursuline High School, I graduated with the intent of attending a Catholic seminary to both teach and
administer the sacraments. My plans changed as a result of my father's death a month before graduating
from Ursuline and I registered for the fall quarter at Youngstown State University. Another "block" of
experience added to the foundation.
As one of two individuals on campus in the dual major of Comprehensive Humanities inclusive of a
major in English, I also worked toward completing minors in education and philosophy. I vividly remember
the challenging courses offered on campus by Dr. James Henke, Dr. Joseph Lucas, and Dr. H. Thomas
McCracken. After applying for and being selected to participate in the Teacher Education
Center (Federal Title III Collaborative Grant) at Canfield High School, I began to realize the value of
an on-site learning lab. As a part of this two-quarter T.E.C experience, YSU professors would conduct classes at Canfield High and then allow time for assistant and associate teachers to observe, assist, and engage in classroom instructional activities with Canfield High staff serving as mentors. This progressive and intensive professional development experience for pre-service teachers remains the highlight of my educational experiences. Dr. Pietro Pascale introduced statistics, assessment techniques, and the technology available at that time. Both Dr. Louis Hill and Dr. Edgar Cobett facilitated research and methodology courses that reinforced best practices in secondary education. As part of the T.E.C.,
student teachers would prepare mini-lessons that would be taken from the learning lab to the classroom
and immediately analyzed for quality of preparations, student engagement, and design of assessment.
My mentors in this two-quarter T.E.C. experience included talented professionals such as, Joyce
Brooks, Jim Hall, Lois Rayburn, and Bill Kay. Upon graduating from YSU in August 1976, I was
hired to replace Mr. Jim Hall who was to serve as Canfield's first Assistant to the Superintendent.
These rich and life-long learning experiences, provided by terrific mentors, added many strong "blocks"
to the foundation of my professional and personal development.
Throughout my eleven years as an instructor at Canfield High School, I continued to learn
from my colleagues, my students, my supervisors, and my graduate classes. One of the most
challenging (and most rewarding) writing assignments came from Dr. Peter Baldino who asked that we
develop, explain, and reflect on our philosophy of education and reduce it into a sentence or
two. I clearly remember what I wrote in 1978-" It is important that my students understand the
subject matter; however, it is more important that I continuously work to understand my
students." As an instructor, I was offered the opportunity to participate in the research based
Project Arete (ECAP Writing Project) led by Dr. Gratia Murphy and Dr. Gary Salvner, I was
fortunate to interact with teachers from Youngstown, Warren, Trumbull and Mahoning school districts
who shared best practices. Throughout my tenure at Canfield High, I engaged in several
successful grant writing opportunities, collaborative professional development activities, and
a rigorous supervisory-administrative internship at the Mahoning County Office of Education. While
at the "county office" under the mentorship of Dr. Shreve, Ron Kendall, Jean Pascale, and Ro Eckman,
I learned to multi-task, be more flexible, and appreciate the interaction of all the dynamic parts of
the educational organization. Again, these talented human resources added dimension and strength to
the "blocks" of my foundation.
As I accepted the position of principal of Canfield Middle School, I found that the concept of
theory versus practice was to be tested. Through the strong mentorship of middle school advocates such
as Dr. Nancie Shillington and David Claypoole, I was able to continue the vivacious, child-centered
educational programs at Canfield Middle School. Serving as an executive board member on the Ohio
Middle School Association and Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators, I was able
to observe best practices at the middle level. Many Canfield Middle School teachers, students, and
staff added value to my professional growth. Working with school psychologists Dr. Betty Tucker
and John Vitto significantly impacted my understanding of children, adults and human interactions.
Again, the foundation was reinforced with quality building "blocks" that had both strength and beauty.
Finally, as Superintendent of Canfield Schools, it is my challenge to build upon the sturdy foundation
that professors, mentors, and family members have constructed for me throughout these fifty-one years.
As an educational leader, I find that each day presents opportunities, challenges, and great
rewards. I must delicately balance the concerns of human needs, state mandates, student achievement,
laws and regulations, public opinion, and school finance while doing what is best for students
as life-long learners. I am truly blessed to have had these life's experiences and personal influences
upon which to build this wonderful vocation.
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