How many years have you been in the school business profession?
This is my 7th year in school administration. I just completed the OASBO Pathway Program in August.
How did you first learn about and then become involved in the school business profession?
My path into school business started in the classroom. I spent years as an agricultural education instructor and FFA advisor before moving into administration and that work made me appreciate how much the operational and financial side of a district shapes what teachers and students can actually accomplish. As an assistant principal at Apollo Career Center, I see that connection up close every day as we prepare students to be Next Ready for the workforce.
The person who really opened the door for me was Maria Rellinger, our treasurer at Apollo and a past OASBO president. Maria took the time to explain what the profession involves and encouraged me to consider it seriously. Her perspective, combined with my growing interest in the systems that keep a school running, led me to pursue treasurer licensure through the OASBO alternative pathway. Learning from someone with her experience made the profession feel accessible in a way it hadn't before.
What is your proudest career accomplishment?
My proudest accomplishment is the success my former students and athletes have found after high school. As an ag instructor, FFA advisor, and coach, I worked with young people at a formative time, and watching where they've gone since means the most to me. I don't take credit for their success. I just hope I helped to facilitate it.
What do you feel is the most important part of your job?
The most important part of my job is keeping every decision anchored to whether it actually helps students. It's easy to get pulled into process and paperwork, and both matter, but they only matter to the extent they improve outcomes for kids. Whatever the role or the title, I try to keep that question in front of me: does this help a student succeed?
What is one thing you feel makes your district unique in the state?
What sets Apollo apart is the quality of the preparation our students receive, the idea behind our Next Ready approach. Our career tech instructors teach real-world skills that translate directly into the workforce, while our academic teachers build the strong foundation students need for a successful start. That combination is what makes the difference. Students leave here ready for what comes next, with both the hands-on ability and the academic base to build on.
What is at the top of your professional bucket list?
At the top of my list is growing into leadership roles with district-wide impact, where I can shape vision, drive real change, and build the capacity of the people and systems around me.
What is something your colleagues would be surprised to learn about you?
Most people would be surprised to learn we own more than 500 board games. I love the strategy, the problem-solving, and getting family and friends around the table together.
If you were an animal, what animal would you be?
I'd have to say a pig. They're a lot smarter than people give them credit for, hardworking, and a little underestimated, which I appreciate. Given my background in agriculture and my kids showing pigs, it also feels like the honest answer.
Favorite TV Show?
The Wire. No show captures how institutions and the people inside them really work quite like it does.
Favorite Movie?
Oppenheimer. I was fascinated by the history: everything it took to pull the people, science, and systems together to make it happen.
Favorite Food?
Lake Erie yellow perch
What is one of your favorite expressions?
"Leadership is not about being in charge. It's about taking care of those in your charge." -Simon Sinek
When someone finds out what you do, what's one of the first questions they always ask you?
People still sometimes ask if career center students are the ones who 'couldn't cut it' in a traditional school. I enjoy correcting that one, because our students are some of the most capable, driven kids I've met.
What has been the best, or your favorite part of being involved in OASBO?
My favorite part has been the sense of community. Every time I walk into the OASBO offices, it feels less like an organization and more like a family, welcoming and genuinely invested in your success. The speakers through the licensure pathway have been a highlight too.
They're true experts in the field, but what stood out was how they connected the material on a personal level and made it real. That combination of expertise and genuine connection is what has made the experience so valuable.