GLENN HODGE

Education: Ohio State Univ 1975, BS

Experience and Training: Previous served as Oberlin City Recreation Director. Training included: conflict resolution, team development, workforce quality, globalization

Current Occupation: Retired

Response to questions:

1. I believe one of the most essential steps for school systems today is assuring the academic readiness of students. If I could start a new initiative it would be for our public schools to better connect with pre-K agencies, families and organizations in order to set consistent learning and entry expectations. In some cases students enter the school system far behind the knowledge and skills of their peers which causes numerous challenges for the teacher and the school system.

2. If we don’t first address incoming Pre-K student standards and expected academic

achievements, IB could separate the learning, knowledge and skills of more students due it is academic rigor. I suspect this will cause an even greater gap between high performers and students who are academically deficient. The Oberlin school system must engage in a holistic approach to change. Student readiness must be addressed for pre-K as well as at all levels of the academic system.

3. As a board member I must commit to creating an environment where certain behaviors are not tolerated. My role is set clear policies and guidelines for the district which promote civility and discussions for settling differences.

STEPHANIE JONES

Education: OHS graduate 1978, BA 1982 in Mass Media Arts from Hampton University

Experience and Training: Title I Asst. 2 yrs. Richmond, VA, Substitute teacher in Oberlin School 1996-2000

Current Occupation: Director of The Bridge – Oberlin’s Community Technology Center 2000 – present

Response to questions:

1.      I would like to see the Oberlin School District hire a social worker for Oberlin High School.  I believe that the students at the high school would benefit from having a trained person onsite that they could go to with their personal issues and problems.  Many students do not have anywhere to turn and teenage years are a difficult time.  We have social workers in the other buildings and I would like to see one at the high school level.

2.     I believe that International Baccalaureate will help to renew the love of learning in many of our students.  The board agreed to the IB programs as long as it was district wide and not just the IB diploma program so that all of the Oberlin students would be able to benefit from the program.  The program brings new teaching methods that I believe will inspire and motivate the students to strive to reach their potential.

3.     The school board has the obligation to let the community speak and address issues that are important to them.  I believe it is our responsibility to listen with an open mind to all discussion whether we agree with them on a personal level or not and decide as a board if it is an issue that we should address.  Everyone has the right to freedom of speech but it must be done in a civil manner.   We as a board need to look at the issue and make decisions based on how it will impact the students and community as a whole and not just a small group.

BETH WEISS

Education:  Bachelor of Music, Eastman School of Music 1986.

Experience and Training:  seeking re-election to Oberlin City Schools.  Served one term.

Occupation:  Associate Director of Conservatory Admissions; Employer: Oberlin College

Family:  Husband Tim Weiss, daughter Abby 16 and son Sam 14.

Response to questions:

1. I would like to increase our focus on wellness and nutrition.  While many things have improved – at the high school soda/pop is out of the machines in the cafeteria, we have been getting produce locally when possible and salads are now an option everyday, there is still more to be done.  I’d like to see more education at the younger grades regarding nutrition.  In addition, we are also going to have an opportunity for some state money to help with new school facilities and we should consider/analyze a one-campus, carbon neutral school district.

2. The International Baccalaureate program will change the Oberlin schools by providing a more rigorous, multicultural curriculum for all the students K-12.  Teacher training has already promoted a renewed excitement among the faculty and this new energy will energized classrooms.  Students will follow an inquiry based learning process, which prompts them to ask “why?” and “what for?” which will promote deeper thinking and foster self-knowledge.  It will prepare a larger population of students to consider college and allow special needs children to grow further as well as encouraging all students to consider the wider world in which we live.

3. The school board meetings offer an opportunity for the public to express their views on many issues.  During my tenure as president, I have presided over contentious meetings during which emotional issues such as uniforms, recitation of the pledge and minority hiring practices have been discussed.  For the most part, we have had civil discussions regarding these issues, allowing the public to express their opinions within a respectful, mannered meeting format.  We will continue to hear the public on these issues and will strive to maintain an atmosphere of civility for their discussion.

IAN YARBER

Education: Oberlin Sr. High school, Oberlin, OH; St. Paul’s College, Lawrenceville, VA. (Elementary Education); Youngstowns State University, Youngstown, OH. (Elementary Education and Sports management)

Experience and Training: : Four (4) years Oberlin Board of Education Member, Therapeutic Crisis Intervention, Understanding Street Gangs, Behavioral Management, Early Intervention, Drug Awareness, Kid’s You’ll Move Mountains and Workplace Violence

Current Occupation: Recreation Coordinator for the City of Oberlin, OH.

Response to questions:

1. I would like to see a laptop computer program for students with learning disabilities. Laptops can be a bridge to literacy for students with learning disabilities. Studies have shown that laptops improve student engagement in the classroom. They help increase quality and quantity of writing and they improve class participation and interaction with other students. Laptops would also help learning disabled students become more personally organized as well as help students who normally need a lot more hands on instruction become more independent learners.

2. I believe one of the ways International Baccalaureate (IB) will change Oberlin schools is in our student’s approach to learning. With IB students become more critical thinkers and relate what is going on in the classroom to what is going on in the world. IB will help Oberlin students respect others and become global learners. I also believe IB will help students develop a love of learning and it will help the schools become more student-centered learning environments.

3. I welcome citizen involvement and look forward to community members attending Board meetings and engaging the Board through dialogue. I also recognize that people don’t always speak uniformly in nice, smooth, monotones and sometimes the passion for the issue they are advocating comes out in their speech. We must have the ability to be conversant with each other on topics that we don’t always agree on and listen to different points of view. Whatever our differences, race, religion or politics, we have to remember that we shape our community by our words and actions each and everyday.