The May 29 West Geauga Schools Board of Education began with a message from two candidates for a different board.
The May 29 West Geauga Schools Board of Education began with a message from two candidates for a different board.
Chris Yaecker, part of the “It’s Time” committee that backed Newbury Schools Board of Education candidates who favored a merger with West G, spoke on behalf of two candidates — former Geauga County Administrator David Lair and Teresa “Terri” Rice — who both officially announced their candidacy at a picnic June 1.
“I’m just up here as a kind of a representative for two people who will be running for Newbury school board in November. And I think you already met them,” Yaecker said.
Yaecker read a statement from each candidate.
Rice, who is the wife of Geauga County Director of Developmental Disabilities Don Rice — said she seeks to assure a smooth transition for Newbury students and their families, with a focus on listening to their concerns and advocating for their needs with West Geauga Schools personnel.
Lair’s statement said he wants to help ensure Newbury youth have the very best education possible, delivered in the most cost-effective way possible.
Later, Nancy Benincasa, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction at West G, introduced the board to four new instructors for the 2019-20 school year.
“We had an extensive search process for our elementary teaching positions,” Benincasa said. “We had over 183 applicants, and we’ve spent at least five full days of work looking at candidates in person and reading through resumes to offer an exemplary slate of candidates to you.”
Benincasa first introduced Katherine Hess, currently a fifth-grade teacher in Newbury, telling the board she sat in on Hess’s classroom earlier this year.
“I got to see, in person, just her wonderful demeanor and kindness to students and so we’re very excited to have Kate join us,” Benincasa said.
Hess will join West G as a reading tutor in both Westwood and Lindsey elementary schools, and Benincasa said she will also help the district grow literacy programming.
Lauren Cantini worked in the district this year as a long-term substitute, but has previously worked as a reading tutor in Euclid and Kirtland Schools. Cantini will teach at Westwood Elementary School.
Megan Connor comes to Lindsey Elementary School from Fostoria Schools, and Benincasa said she brings great literacy experience.
“(Connor) graduated with honors from (the University of) Toledo where she spent two years as the captain of the women’s soccer team,” Benincasa said, adding Connor is highly competitive, which means she will serve students well.
Jay Bishop, principal of West G high school, introduced the board to math teacher Erin Gray.
“We had an extensive search with over 70 applicants interested in the high school mathematics position, and as we went through the search, clearly Erin stood out,” Bishop said.
Gray graduated from Penn State University with a degree in secondary math education and from The Ohio State University with a Master’s of Mathematical Sciences degree.
“While she was at OSU, she taught Calculus I, College Algebra, College Algebra with Business Applications and Mathematics for Elementary School Teachers,” Bishop added.
During the interview process, Bishop discovered Gray was a second-grade student of West G Superintendent Richard Markwardt’s wife and friends with his daughter at that same age.
“I had no knowledge of any of this until we went into the interview,” Markwardt said to laughter.
“Jay (Bishop) and I were high-fiving each other, like, obviously we have the perfect candidate,” Benincasa added.
Music teacher Taylor Uveges told the board 102 out of 125 students have signed up for fifth-grade band, which she called a dramatic increase in enrollment.
The high school band currently has 144 members, but will grow to about 160 next year, she said, adding the band program has 100 percent retention between seventh and eighth grades.
