JCESC Blog

Jefferson County ESC Blog

Preschool Training Session at JCESC

Posted 9/29/2023 at 1:38:12 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]

Fifty preschool teachers and paraprofessionals from Jefferson, Harrison and Columbiana counties attended a professional development session at the Jefferson County Educational Service Center’s R. Larry George Training Annex in Steubenville on Wednesday, where they listened to representatives from CHANGE, Inc. about issues affecting their young charges. Two sessions were held on child abuse recognition and prevention and the prevention and recognition of communicable diseases, which were respectively led by Danielle Stroud and Jessica Valesko.

Career Fair Gives Options for Future

Posted 9/25/2023 at 10:18:05 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]

WINTERSVILLE-Area students learned about options for their future during the second-annual County-wide Career and Education Fair on Wednesday.

About 500 students converged upon the St. Florian Event Center in Wintersville for the activity, which was hosted by the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce’s Workforce Training and Education Committee. There they met with about 85 vendors representing colleges and universities, technical schools, military recruiters, safety forces, trade organizations and local businesses to speak with representatives and obtain information on programs and opportunities to carve their career paths, plus they participated in roundtable sessions with experts to discuss subjects from finances to job qualifications.

Chamber President Kate Sedgmer said numbers were up regarding vendor involvement and it provided a wide range of choices for students’ consideration. She noted that the fair was a means to showcase what’s available in the area and hopefully inspire students to build their futures at home in the Ohio Valley.

“We had an exciting day and about 500 students came along with 85 vendors,” Sedgmer added. “There colleges and universities, military recruiters, trades and local employers and there was a roundtable discussion so students have opportunities to sit down with local employers and representatives of trades, finances and entrepreneurships. We’ve grown since last year and would like to see it become a regional event.”

She also thanked the fair’s sponsors for their support, saying they help keep kids working locally in the future.

Jefferson County Educational Service Center Superintendent Dr. Chuck Kokiko, who serves as the workforce training and education committee chairman, said it was another successful venture and would likely continue each year.

“It went well. We’ve got an increase in vendors participating and the program has grown,” Dr. Kokiko commented. “Our goal for next year is to continue growing the program and getting more students to come.”

Several vendors said they enjoyed meeting the teens and sharing opportunities to build their future.

“It went very well,” said Katie Parrish, admissions counselor at Franciscan University of Steubenville. “The kids have been very receptive.”

“It’s been great to see the faces of the kids and see how we as representatives of Franciscan University can interest them in coming to Franciscan,” added fellow admissions counselor Natalia Caraballo.

They said plenty of interest was shown in education, nursing and business administration programs, while similar interest was also found at the Wheeling University table where admissions representative Cameron Gibson was queried about courses.

“It’s been phenomenal,” said Gibson. “We’ve had a couple interested in exercise science and athletic training since those are our most popular fields. A lot of them were definitely interested in those.”

Vinny DiCarlantonio, human resources coordinator for Trinity Health System, was also pleased with the response.

“It’s been really good,” he commented. “They are interested in many of our departments and there were several queries about labor and delivery, radiology and healthcare tech management.”

SSGT E-5 Nicole Baker, a recruiter for the U.S. Air National Guard, also highlighted options to join the military while also paying for schooling.

“I had questions about boot camp and what’s involved and what jobs are available, but a lot of people are shocked that we pay 100 percent of their tuition,” she added.

Teens also had a chance to partake in a scavenger hunt to win iPads and laptops during the event. Students from Bridgeport, Brooke, Buckeye Local, Steubenville Catholic Central, Edison, Harrison Central, Indian Creek, Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities’ School of Bright Promise, Jefferson County Christian School, Jefferson County Joint Vocational School, Steubenville, Toronto and Southern Local were among those in attendance. Many enjoyed the career fair and said they learned a lot about what opportunities are available to them.

“Everyone was very professional and I thought it was very useful,” said Ron Hawthorne, a senior computer networking technology student at Jefferson County JVS and Indian Creek attendant, adding that he was interested in programs at Eastern Gateway Community College.

“I liked the AEP program,” added Kevin Campos, a senior multimedia and design student at the JVS and ICHS. “I found it interesting, and I also liked The Ohio State University and Youngstown State University. They gave options and explained things to me.”

Kyleigh Haines, a junior animal science management pupil at the JVS and Buckeye Local student, said she enjoyed the Hocking College program and the opportunities that were shared with her. Trinity Spencer, a fellow junior animal science student at JVS and Edison attendant, agreed.

“I like that you were able to find out about careers and learn about different colleges,” Spencer said, noting her interest in Kent State University’s vet tech program.

“It was fun,” said Shelley Young, a junior culinary arts student at JVS and ICHS attendant. “I got to see what courses there were to find out what I need.”

Sponsors included Summer’s Enterprise, LLC, Interstate Waste Services, Inc., Eastern Gateway Community College, Timet- Titanium Metals Corp., Trinity Health System, Allegheny County Airport Authority and Hilscher-Clarke Electric Co.

(Photo Caption: About 500 students converged upon St. Florian Event Center Wednesday for the second-annual County-wide Career and Education Fair hosted by the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce’s Workforce Training and Education Committee. There the students meet with 85 vendors representing colleges and universities, technical schools, trade organizations, businesses, safety forces and military recruitment to learn about options for their future.)

JCESC Celebrates First Year of OhioRISE

Posted 7/27/2023 at 1:37:30 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]

STEUBENVILLE-It has been one year since OhioRISE began and the Jefferson County Educational Service Center marked the occasion with a celebration on July 21.

Representatives and supporters simultaneously gathered at the R. Larry George Professional Training Annex in Steubenville and the Canton office at the Key Bank Building for a luncheon to honor OhioRISE (Resilience through Integrated Systems and Excellence), a statewide initiative through Aetna Better Health that works to address children with complex behavioral health and multisystem needs. JCESC is one of 20 regional providers, or care management entities (CMEs), and covers an eight-county area known as Catchment J that includes Jefferson, Belmont, Harrison, Carroll, Columbiana, Tuscarawas, Monroe and Stark.

JCESC became involved with OhioRISE after looking to expand outreach services beyond grades K-12 and address issues schools face today. Officials said they noticed an increasing number of challenges surrounding mental health, substance abuse and developmental disabilities among students which ultimately could impact schools and families. Working with organizations such as the Family and Children First Council, Help Me Grow, Early Intervention and ENGAGE, as well as growing programs including alternative schools, Virtual Learning Academy (VLA) and Jefferson Health Plan, helped prepare for becoming a CME. When Gov. Mike DeWine announced that Aetna would oversee the program, JCESC leaders realized it would create access to knowledge and resources the service had to offer and would enable the regional CMEs to maintain local services for local children and families. Leaders determined that about 2,335 youth ultimately would be served throughout the region with an overall estimate of 60,000 kids statewide.

JCESC obtained a $1.1 million start-up grant to launch the initiative in July of 2022 and has since formed two offices on Lovers Lane in Wintersville and at 100 Central Avenue North in Canton. CME Program Director Linda Trushel said the sites employ 34 care coordinators, in addition to four supervisors plus herself and Assistant Director Lindsay Brandon.

“Right now, we’ve helped 453 children within the eight counties,” Trushel said. “A referral is made by a provider who feels a child has a mental or behavioral health need and we can complete a CANS (Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths) assessment to determine eligibility for the program.”

The care coordinators then find sources to assist the child so they may be successful in the community. Trushel added that aid could range from health care to even pool passes or driving lessons. Community partners include children’s services agencies, county juvenile court systems, community mental health agencies, county Mental Health and Recovery Boards, county Boards of Developmental Disabilities, schools and food banks. She noted that the program has benefitted children and their families in myriad ways.

“The children have a person who is constantly in their lives to talk to, and it has also improved communication between the parents and children,” she said. “It also helps them with community supports and lets them continuously live with their parents. Anything is possible to support the family, and it supports them in ways that Medicaid or local providers can’t. It individualizes the needs of each family.”

Trushel said the process to establish OhioRISE was a major one and she was thrilled to see how far it has come over the past 12 months.

“It has been quite a year and we are blessed to have this party,” she said, thanking everyone for their efforts. “A year ago, we stood here figuring out how we could help families, and in March of 2022 we worked on the program.”

Meanwhile, Brandon led festivities at the Canton location where she and staff members highlighted the occasion.

“It was a great opportunity for our staff to come together to celebrate one year of growth in this program. The staff enjoyed this time together discussing their successes and ways they can continue to grow as the program continues to progress,” she said.

JCESC CEO Dr. George Ash was pleased to not only see the initiative come to fruition, but also to watch it grow.

“I’m excited about what’s to come and am grateful to all of the community partners and supporters that are benefitting communities from Monroe to Stark counties,” he commented, reflecting on how he once worked with social services in the past. “It reminds me of helping with families and it made a difference in their lives. I think about the care coordinators and you are the most important to us and those families. What you’re doing is making such a huge difference.”

JCESC Superintendent Dr. Chuck Kokiko echoed those sentiments and said officials were working behind the scenes to make things better for coordinators.

“I do believe you are the face of the organization and the face of the families,” he said at the Steubenville gathering. “I know you have a tough job. It’s the ones you can reach that helps you keep going. There is a lot to celebrate and this is one way to do it.”

Dr. Kokiko also thanked the JCESC Governing Board for sponsoring the celebration and congratulated everyone involved in the initiative.

The Ohio Department of Medicaid indicated that OhioRISE was the state’s first highly integrated care program for youth with complex behavioral health and multi-system needs. The remaining CMEs provide community mental health and substance abuse, specialty care coordination, hospital and educational services. OhioRISE is available to youth under age 21 who are Medicaid-eligible. For more information on public and partnership opportunities, contact Dr. Kokiko at (740) 283-3347 or [email protected] and Trushel for children’s referrals to the program at [email protected] or (740) 792-4011, ext. 502. More information is also listed at www.jcesc.org/CareManagementEntity. For general inquiries about OhioRISE, contact Jill Tayfel, CME relationship manager for Aetna, at [email protected]. The 24-hour crisis hotline is also available at (740) 792-4012.

(Photo Cutline: The Jefferson County Educational Service Center marked the first anniversary of OhioRISE (Resilience through Integrated Systems and Excellence), a statewide initiative through Aetna Better Health that works to address children with complex behavioral health and multisystem needs. JCESC is one of 20 regional providers, or care management entities (CMEs), and covers an eight-county area known as Catchment J that spans from Monroe to Stark. Representatives and supporters were invited to a celebratory luncheon in Steubenville on July 21 to recognize the initiative that currently assists 458 children and their families.)

Students Honored at ACT Recognition Breakfast

Posted 5/3/2023 at 11:11:19 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]

STEUBENVILLE- Twelve students from four area school districts were honored for their major achievements during the ACT Recognition Breakfast on May 2.

The Jefferson County Educational Service Center touted seniors from Edison, Indian Creek, Steubenville and Steubenville Catholic Central High Schools for scoring 30 or higher on their ACT exams during the event at Froehlich’s Classic Corner in Steubenville. Eleven of the 12 honorees were on hand for the eighth-annual breakfast, which was briefly shelved during the COVID pandemic but restarted this year. JCESC Superintendent Dr. Chuck Kokiko greeted honorees, their family members and school leaders and said the students were in a very select group.

“We are here to honor you, the brightest academic performers in the counties we serve: Columbiana, Jefferson and Harrison,” Dr. Kokiko commented. “To put some perspective on your achievement, you are one of only 12 students from the nine school districts the JCESC represents. Today, we will celebrate your hard work and dedication to reaching this benchmark.”

Referring to the latest figures from 2021, he said nearly 1.3 million students took the ACT test and yielded an average composite score of 20.3 out of 36. A score of 30 or higher placed the honorees in the 93^rd percentile of all test takers and the students’ scores ranged from 30 to 36. Dr. Kokiko added that only 4,055 students achieved the perfect score two years ago. He congratulated the youth and also recognized parents and family members who played key roles in their lives, plus he thanked school district staff and JCESC Governing Board members for their ongoing support.

JCESC Governing Board President Barry Gullen said he was pleased to be a part of the event and lauded students and those who positively influenced them.

“Whatever you do, just make sure you enjoy what you are doing,” he said, advising the students to thank their family, teachers and mentors who helped them attain their success. “Congratulations! You are going to be here and you are going to guide us.”

Jefferson County Assistant Prosecutor Cerryn Marshall was the keynote speaker and offered advice as the students forge their paths to the future. Marshall’s theme was “Life’s a Balancing Act,” and she said they will face ups and downs as they make their way in the world, but they should learn and grow from their experiences.

“This is a major milestone in your life. Now you are moving on and it’s a balancing act. You are going on your first steps to reach your goals and dreams,” she said. “You are learning and growing.”

She advised them to find themselves and take chances, take classes outside of their majors, join clubs and step outside of their comfort zone. Marshall said they will face failure in their lives but should learn from it and move forward; listen with curiosity, speak with honesty and act with integrity; respect others and themselves; and have fun and enjoy this time of their lives.

Marshall also quoted inspirational leaders and closed with words from author Leo Tolstoy, who said: “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.”

Gullen and JCESC Governing Board Vice President William Schaefer then distributed certificates to the recipients, which included Jaycee Blake, Logan Gubanez and Matthew Whitehill of Edison; Santosh Schaefer and Lindsey Zifzal of Indian Creek; Camden Daley, Francis Desany, Kellen Marshall and Franklin Vostatek of Steubenville; and Theresa Kerker, Daniel Macdonald and Leon Zaleski of Steubenville Catholic Central.

Blake, the son of Eric and Michelle Blake of Bergholz, received a 30 on his exam and holds at 4.0 grade point average. He plans to attend The Ohio State University.

Gubanez, the son of Samuel and Betty Gubanez of Toronto, scored a 32 on his ACT test and holds a 4.0 GPA. His future plans are currently undecided.

Whitehill, the son of William Whitehill of Toronto, earned a 30 on his ACT test and holds a 4.0 GPA. He plans to attend Kent State University.

Schaefer, the son of David and Nantha Schaefer of Wintersville, gained a 36 ACT composite score and has an unweighted 3.992 GPA. He plans on attending The Ohio State University and will likely major in computer science.

Zifzal, the daughter of Dwayne of Melissa Zifzal of Wintersville, yielded a 30 on her exam and holds a 3.98 GPA. She plans to attend the University of Cincinnati and major in mechanical engineering with hopes of participating in the ACCEND program, where she would earn both her bachelor and master’s degrees within five years and complete four co-op experiences.

Daley, the son of Steve and Janet Daley of Mingo Junction, scored a 32 on his exam and holds a 4.657 GPA. His future plans are to attend the University of Dayton and major in civil engineering.

Desany, the son of Matthew Desany and Virginia Stauring of Wintersville, received a 33 on his ACT exam and holds a 4.6 GPA. His plans are to study computer engineering at Washington University in St. Louis and one day start his own software company.

Marshall, the son of James and Cerryn Marshall of Steubenville, scored a 30 on his ACT test and holds a 4.72 GPA. He plans to attend the U.S. Naval Academy to further his education and serve our country.

Vostatek, the son of Frank and Melissa Vostatek of Mingo Junction, received a 32 ACT composite score and has an unweighted GPA of 4.0 with a weighted average of 4.81. He will attend Ohio University as a member of the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine Early Assurance Program and intends to become a radiologist.

Kerker, the daughter of Joseph and Alyssa Kerker of Bloomingdale, received a 34 on her ACT test and yielded a 4.746 GPA. She will major in biology at the University of Notre Dame with future plans to study pre-med.

Macdonald, the son of Paul and Suzanne Macdonald of Steubenville, scored a 33 on his exam and holds an unweighted GPA of 3.9 and a weighted grade of 4.425. He plans to attend Franciscan University with a double major in psychology and Spanish.

Zaleski, the son of Robert and Laura Zaleski of Wintersville, earned a 32 on his ACT exam and holds a 3.788 GPA. He plans to study biology at Franciscan University.

(Photo Cutline: The Jefferson County Educational Service Center hosted restarted its annual ACT Recognition Breakfast on May 2 for students who achieved a score of 30 or higher on their ACT exams. Pictured are, front from left, Leon Zaleski, Theresa Kerker, Lindsey Zifzal, Daniel Macdonald and Jaycee Blake. Back: Santosh Schaefer, Francis Desany, Kellen Marshall, Camden Daley, Franklin Vostatek and Matthew Whitehill. Not pictured is Logan Gubanez.)

JCESC Leads Culturally Responsive Practices Training

Posted 3/31/2023 at 11:28:06 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]

JCESC Cuturally Responsive Practices Training

The Jefferson County Educational Service Center led a Culturally Responsive Practices training session with Harrison Hills City Schools’ district team on Wednesday. Amber Fomenko, JCESC director of special education, and Ron Sismondo, JCESC director of curriculum and professional development, were facilitators of the program that includes four courses: Program Introduction, Cultural Responsiveness, Socio-Political Awareness and Academic Achievement. Officials completed the second course, which introduces the importance of understanding the social and political topics that shape the lives of students, families and communities. Educators also consider how to use these topics in their classrooms in ways that are genuine to their students and provide opportunities for students to enact change in their communities. Training has been provided to Indian Creek, Toronto and Harrison with Buckeye Local slated for next year. Interested districts may contact Fomenko or Sismondo at JCESC at (740) 283-3347.

Macdonald Ready to Return to National Spelling Bee

Posted 3/15/2023 at 12:26:44 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]

STEUBENVILLE-Andrew Macdonald is preparing to return to the 2023 National Scripps Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., in May where he will face hundreds of contestants from across the globe.

Macdonald, the son of Paul and Suzanne Macdonald of Steubenville and an eighth-grader at Bishop John King Mussio Jr. High School, was named champion of the Jefferson-Harrison Regional Spelling Bee on March 11 after correctly spelling “reggae” at Buckeye North Elementary School in Brilliant. He was among 49 contestants representing public, parochial and homeschools in the two-county area and said he is already planning to review words for the main event on May 28-June 3. He will have a six-night stay at Gaylord National Resort and National Convention Center and take part in a variety of activities in addition to the competition. More than 200 youth have participated from across the U.S. as well as the Bahamas, Germany, Ghana, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico.

He made his way to the third round of the national bee last year, but his journey ended when he was bested by the word “epiglottis.” Still, he enjoyed the environment, made friends and got to enjoy spending some time with his family during his excursion.

“I’m really excited, probably more than last year because I know all of the experiences I’d get to have there,” Macdonald said. “The competition itself is fun, not just being on stage and participating but also watching it live. I was really hoping to go back and thankfully I’m doing it.”

He counts English as his favorite subject at Bishop John King Mussio, thanks to his teacher, Jamie McGinnis, and said he’s always had an interest in spelling. He prepped for his first national attempt by studying word lists and practicing with his parents, plus he has viewed word apps and sites online.

“My main goal this year was to study for the regionals,” he said. “I’ve started working on the list [for nationals].”

Macdonald, who is the youngest of five children, said his family was proud of his achievement.

Mom Suzanne said she was thrilled for him and he was eager to make his return.

“He came home and said he wanted to go back, and he started studying. Everybody thinks it’s about the competition but its not. It’s a fun and educational time. I’m proud of his hard work and perseverance.”

She added that he also got a chance to meet kids from around the world.

“We’re excited. It’s a great experience and there are kids from all over,” she said. “It has a more international feel and he got to make friends. They had activities and he also attended workshops and field trips in Washington. It was very social and educational.”

Rounding out the Top 10 were Erin Joyce, a sixth-grader at Bishop John King Mussio Elementary as runner-up; Ava Mizak, a seventh-grader at Bishop John King Mussio Jr. High, third place; Jocelyn Saltsman, an eighth-grader at

Jefferson County Christian School, fourth; Susie Safranski, a sixth-grader at Bishop John King Mussio Elementary, fifth; Jonas Eddy, an eighth-grader at Buckeye Local Jr. High School, sixth; Joseph Taylor, an eighth-grader at

Harrison Central Jr./Sr. High School, seventh; Katie Summers, a seventh-grader at Harrison Central Jr./Sr. High School, eighth; Anthony Riley, an eighth-grader at Indian Creek Middle School, ninth; and Sophia Sedgmer, a sixth-grader at Harrison Central Elementary, 10th.

Other participants included Chyanne Crothers, a fifth-grader at Buckeye North; Aubrey Myers, a fifth-grader at John Gregg Elementary; Jocelyn Matthews, a sixth-grader at Buckeye West Elementary; Madelynn Keister, a fifth-grader at John Gregg; Anastasia Mitchell, a fifth-grader at Stanton Elementary; Evan Conn, a fifth-grader at ICMS; Jackson Gibson, an eighth-grader at Toronto Jr./Sr. High School; Melelina Santiago, a fifth-grader at ICMS; Morgan Stock, a sixth-grader at HCES; Trenton Hess, an eighth-grader at Toronto; Mayaunna Mitchell, a sixth-grader at Harding Middle School; Manuella Petrides, a seventh-grader at Harding; Jonathan Viola, a sixth-grader at ICMS; Keeley Johnson, a seventh-grader at ICMS; Madison Taylor, a sixth-grader at HCES; Jack McCumbers, a fifth-grader ICMS; Kyle Beranek, a fifth-grader at Buckeye South Elementary; Jacob Thompson Jr., a seventh-grader at Toronto; Garen Mader, a seventh-grader at Toronto; Emilia Taylor, an eighth-grader at ICMS; Cameron Knight, a sixth-grader at Buckeye West; Janelle Cooper, a sixth-grader at Buckeye South; Lucy Wear, an eighth-grader at Heart of Mary Homeschool; Ryder Tibbs, an eighth-grader at BLJHS; Braeden Record, a sixth-grader at Toronto; Kellen Carte, a sixth-grader at Stanton; Devin Newsom, a seventh-grader at Toronto; Learynn Hanson, a sixth-grader at John Gregg; Jaydin Hilton, an eighth-grader at Harrison Central Jr./Sr. High; Nolan Greiner, a sixth-grader at Harding; Paige Maffitt, a fifth-grader at HCES; Madison Huggins, a fifth-grader at Stanton; Phoebe Goffoli, a sixth-grader at HCES; and Cole Carey, an eighth-grader at Harding.

The Jefferson-Harrison County Regional Spelling Bee was presented by the Steubenville Herald-Star and sponsored by the Jefferson County Educational Service Center, Special Tactics and Rescue Training, Old Glory Embroidery, Ascent Resources, the Mingo Knights of Columbus, PNC Bank, Ohio Lottery and Gary W. Cain and Auctioneers. Serving as co-coordinators were Ron Sismondo, JCESC director of curriculum and professional development; along with Amber Fomenko, JCESC director of special education; Linda Lenzi, JCESC gifted coordinator; and Patty Ferrell, JCESC intervention specialist.

(Photo Caption: Andrew Macdonald, an eighth-grader at Bishop John King Mussio Jr. High School in Steubenville, is ready to make a return to the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee later this spring in Washington, D.C. Macdonald, who won the Jefferson-Harrison Regional Spelling Bee this month in Brilliant, made it to the third round of the national competition but is eager for another chance. He is pictured here with his trophy from the regional event.)

Aetna, OhioRISE Assist East Palestine Families

Posted 2/23/2023 at 11:29:08 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]

STEUBENVILLE-Aetna Better Health of Ohio and the Jefferson County Educational Service Center’s OhioRISE program are reaching out to assist families they serve in East Palestine following the toxic train derailment in that community.

The organizations provided cleaning supplies and other essentials for five families involved with the program that were temporarily displaced by the disaster on Feb. 3. JCESC’s OhioRISE program, which stands for Resilience through Integrated Systems and Excellence, is a specialized Medicaid managed care system for children and youth with complex behavioral health and multisystem needs and Aetna serves as the managed care partner. JCESC is one of 18 care management entities (CME’s) for OhioRISE and represents an eight-county region known as Catchment J that includes Jefferson, Belmont, Harrison, Carroll, Columbiana, Monroe, Tuscarawas and Stark.

CME Program Director Linda Trushel collaborated with Amy Swanson, Aetna OhioRISE contract administrator and state liaison, and Maryalice Surgenavic, CME supervisor for Catchment J in Columbiana and Stark counties, to aid those families so they could resume their lives with some sense of normalcy.

“Aetna reached out to me on Feb. 15,” Trushel said. “Amy Swanson said she had been glued to the news stories on the train derailment. She was so devastated for that area of the state.”

Swanson had wondered about community needs and whether OhioRISE members were struggling. Efforts were soon underway to order supplies including Clorox Multi-Purpose Cleaning Spray System starter kits, Mrs. Meyer’s Kitchen Essentials sets with hand and dish soap and all-purpose cleaner, trash bags and a care package of snacks to help them as they returned home. The items were delivered with a note from Aetna Better Health -- OhioRISE around Feb. 20.

Trushel said it was one small way to further assist those affected by the derailment.

“This is a true random act of kindness,” she continued. “JCESC has been working with Aetna since March 2022 and this shows how much they truly care about all OhioRISE members in Ohio.”

The OhioRISE initiative currently serves 250 families with offices located in Steubenville and Canton. Care management coordinators help complete a Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessment to determine eligibility and offer referrals for counseling, therapy and finding community resources. Assistance is rendered for mental health and substance use while youth with multisystem needs are often involved in community systems such as juvenile justice, child protection, developmental disabilities, education and addiction treatment. Children covered by Medicaid will obtain assistance and those with private insurance can receive a waiver for help. For more information, contact Trushel at (740) 406-0440 or go online at Care Management Entity (jcesc.k12.oh.us). A 24-hour crisis hotline is also available at (740) 792-4012.

VLA Officials to Present at Conference

Posted 2/7/2023 at 1:03:54 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]

STEUBENVILLE-Representatives with the Jefferson County Educational Service Center’s Virtual Learning Academy will be among the speakers during the 2023 Ohio Educational Technology Conference on Feb. 14-16.

VLA Director Mark Masloski and VLA Assistant Director Martariesa Fiala attend with Shawn Hicklin, a science teacher for United Local Schools in Columbiana County, during the venue at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. The OETC, which is presented by the Ohio Department of Education, is one of the premier P-20 state educational technology conferences in the U.S. According to the ODE, it draws more than 4,500 educational technology professionals and enthusiasts to explore the forefront of P-20 learning and innovation in Ohio. It is designed to “cultivate partnerships, promote collaboration, deliver high-quality information and make technology accessible and enjoyable for educators” and attracts teachers, curriculum and technology coordinators, administrators, higher education professors and administrators, and everyone who is interested in learning more about what’s happening in technology today.

Masloski and Hicklin will present on “Online Learning Dashboard: The Unknown Feature of ProgressBook,” during educational sessions Wednesday from 1-2 p.m. while Masloski and Fiala will speak on “Looking to Track Your Students’ Offline Time? We Can Help!” on Thursday from 9:15-10:15 a.m.

Seventy-five percent of school districts statewide utilize ProgressBook but may not be aware of the feature known as the “Online Learning Dashboard.” Masloski said school districts that use ProgressBook and engage students in online learning will gain an understanding about the tool during the session.

“The Online Learning Dashboard in ProgressBook is the landing page for teachers' materials. You can access courses, activities, grading screens, settings screens, the recycle bin, the ProgressBook Library and more from your Dashboard,” he said.

Among some of the important features are courses which can be linked to one or more GradeBook classes and content such as learning activities, quiz assessments and resources that students can use. Custom content may also be created in collaboration with other teachers and curriculum directors and all Online Learning Dashboard features align with state academic standards and enables blended learning. Because it is seamlessly linked to GradeBook, online assignments and grades can be managed in a single location.

“The Online Learning Dashboard will provide everyone in your district with a meaningful student experience. Your school district can regain valuable time from tedious, manual tasks with automated grade reporting—everything from access to real-time data and ease of use to reliable, secure, and compliant processes,” Masloski noted. “Your teachers can create online assignments and quizzes to utilize during the school day, at home and even create assignments in the future. Parents will have access to the right information at the right time. They will easily access grades and course progress, and students will easily engage with online assignments and quizzes.
This also contains amazing features that every teacher will love. This wonderful tool will help educators run an inclusive classroom by allowing teachers to assign multiple versions of the same test. One can also add many of your favorite tools you're already using into the Online Learning Dashboard via the embed feature.

“Using ProgressBook's Online Learning Dashboard will change your life. This is the one tool every educator needs to save time, give feedback and gamify our classes for the next generation.”

Meanwhile, Masloski and Fiala will discuss tracking students’ offline time during remote learning with the Learning Management System (LMS).

“LMS tracks online time when students log into their accounts and complete assignments, which accounts for their seat time. These assignments can include content, engagement activities, and assessments. What about the time students spend working outside the LMS, on a call from the school or at an out-of-school site? Educators can track students' time by adding offline time. The ODE has approved that this offline learning time can be utilized and recorded as part of student seat time,” Masloski commented.

E-schools have learning opportunities that are not tracked by the school's online system and that take place offline or not on a computer. Schools also need to track student offline learning opportunities and have those opportunities checked and approved by teachers. These include non-computer, non-classroom learning opportunities such as reading, research, completing assignments offline, phone calls with students to discuss coursework, field trips and credit-bearing work experience. A teacher can certify these learning experiences so that the time a student spends doing them can be included in their seat time. The Virtual Learning Academy LMS supports students, teachers, and administrators to add the time students work outside the LMS. In addition to the time log, student work, including pdf activities, word documents, pictures, and movies, can be attached as evidence of the offline time.

Per ODE, remote learning can be viewed as a continuum, depending on the unique circumstances of a school, its educational delivery partners, and the connectivity, abilities, disabilities, and ages of students. If possible, remote learning plans should include an array of learning opportunities that are both online and offline to accommodate these unique circumstances. Wherever a school is on this continuum, the Virtual Learning Academy LMS can support you in providing learning opportunities and ensuring that your students receive credit for their time.

“This feature is not exclusive to students. School districts with the 21st or Learning Loss Grants can adapt it for use with adults within their learning community. It can be used by staff and volunteers to log their time or to support their professional development,” Masloski concluded.

(Photo Caption: Jefferson County Educational Service Center Virtual Learning Academy Director Mark Masloski, Assistant Director Martariesa Fiala and United Local School District science teacher Shawn Hicklin will be presenters during the 2023 Ohio Educational Technology Conference at the Greater Columbus Convention Center on Feb. 14-16 and will discuss the little-known “Online Learning Dashboard” feature of the ProgressBook program and tracking students offline time during remote learning. OETC, which is being presented by the Ohio Department of Education, is one of the premier P-20 state educational technology conferences in the U.S. and draws more than 4,500 educational technology professionals and enthusiasts to explore the forefront of learning and innovation in Ohio.)

January is School Board Appreciation Month!

Posted 1/9/2023 at 10:17:44 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]

These past years have been some of the most complicated years in history... now is a perfect time to take a moment to say 'THANK YOU' to our JCESC Governing Board for their selfless service, unwavering commitment, and extraordinary confidence & dedication!

The JCESC staff is truly grateful to have this group of individuals leading our organization...thank you!

Grants Given at Indian Creek

Posted 11/18/2022 at 12:29:04 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]

WINTERSVILLE-Teachers in the Indian Creek Local School District are focusing on many facets of improving students, and they are getting some financial aid to make it happen.

Erin Alloggia, Alyssa Lollini and Emily Gault were lauded during the regular school board meeting at Cross Creek Elementary School on Nov. 17 for gaining Best Practice Grants from the Jefferson County Educational Service Center. Linda Lenzi, JCESC gifted coordinator, congratulated the trio and said they will each receive $660 to put their projects into practice.

Alloggia, a preschool teacher at Hills Elementary, will use her portion to promote her project, “Enhancing Emotional Development of Children” The grant will help purchase valuable resources from Conscious Discipline to benefit more than 195 preschoolers at Cross Creek and Hills. She said teachers and support staff can utilize strategies that could change the course of a student’s life. Conscious Discipline, which was created by Dr. Becky Bailey, teaches skills for children and adults and also focuses on creating a classroom family where optimal development of all members can be achieved.

“Through the grant, my project will impact not only the 75 preschool students at Hills Elementary, but also the 120 preschool students at Cross Creek Elementary,” she said, adding that she has received previous grants and was appreciative to earn another. “I am so thankful and grateful to be a recipient of one of the grants. Through this grant, the preschool teams at both elementary schools will now have the tools to aid the students in learning about feeling, empathy, resilience, impulse control and school family.”

Lollini, a kindergarten and first-grade intervention specialist at Hills Elementary, aims to incorporate “Hands-on Learning for Hardworking Students.” Her plan is to purchase learning resource activities so students can learn new skills that move away from the traditional pencil-and-paper concept. She said students will not only improve upon their academic skills, but also learn how to take turns, wait and work together as partners and team members. Items within the grant range from alphabet recognition materials to math manipulatives and may also be shared with the general education teachers to use in their classroom settings.

“For many of my students, learning new academic skills can be hard and frustrating, which ultimately can impact them wanting to come to school and learn. My hope is that if I can make learning fun, engaging and captivating, students will be excited to learn new skills and build upon their weak areas,” Lollini explained. “This project will allow me to bring in as many hands-on learning items for reading and math as possible to give my students additional opportunities to work on different skills that step away from paper-and-pencil activities. When having activities that make learning fun and engaging, students may be more willing to participate and step out of their comfort zone. When learning is fun, the impact that it may have on students in regards to retaining the information increases because it becomes an enjoyable and memorable experience.”

She added that the project would impact about 30 students throughout the week; however, the items will be available to general education teachers for their classrooms. She is a prior grant recipient and plans to put her latest allotment to good use.

“I am very excited, grateful and thankful to the Jefferson County Educational Service Center for picking me as one of the recipients of this grant. I cannot wait to tell my students and begin using the different materials during my sessions with them.”

Gault, a speech and language pathologist, will assist more than 100 speech and language therapy pupils at both Cross Creek and Hills with her project, “Everyone Deserves a Voice.” Her allocation will fund a one-time purchasing license of Boardmaker 7, which is downloadable onto a maximum of two devices, or one for each therapist to assist students with verbal communication issues.

“Students will now have access to picture communication symbols and books that can be used as an alternative means of communication for those who are non-speaking, highly unintelligible or those who just struggle in certain instances to communicate their wants and needs,” Gault said, adding that it was her first grant award. “I am very thankful and excited to receive this grant. So many students will benefit from this project and I’m excited to implement it for many students.”

JCESC Superintendent Dr. Chuck Kokiko congratulated the recipients and said the Best Practice Grants helped bring grant ideas to fruition for the betterment of student learning.

“There are certain events or occasions that folks look forward to each year. At the JCESC, one of those events is when the board and staff can read the innovative teacher Best Practice Grant applications that have been submitted,” he added. “Our schools have many great teachers with ground-breaking lesson plans and out-of-the-box instructional strategies, and we are happy to be able to fund many of those ideas so they may become reality for the students in the classroom. Congratulations to our winners and we look forward to seeing what unique ideas will be submitted next year.”

This year, JCESC awarded more than 20 Best Practice Grants to teachers at Buckeye Local, Edison, Harrison Hills, Indian Creek, Steubenville, Southern Local, Toronto and the Utica Shale Academy.

(Photo Caption: The Jefferson County Educational Service Center Gifted Coordinator Linda Lenzi presented 2022 Best Practice Grants to three educators at Indian Creek Local School for their innovative projects during the regular ICBOE meeting on Nov. 17. Pictured, from left, are Erin Alloggia and Emily Gault with JCESC Gifted Linda Lenzi while recipient Alyssa Lollini was absent from the photo.)

Southern Local Elementary Teachers Earn Classroom Grants

Posted 11/10/2022 at 1:09:07 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]

SALINEVILLE- Three Southern Local Elementary School teachers will be sharing more than $1,000 in grant funding to provide interesting learning experiences for students.

Holly Davis, Karen Marquis and Tracey Richards each received a $660 Best Practice Grant through the Jefferson County Educational Service Center that will be put towards innovative classroom projects. JCESC Director of Curriculum and Professional Development Ron Sismondo doled out the awards during the monthly Southern Local school board session on Nov. 7 and praised the educators’ creative ideas.

“I am here to deliver three Best Practice Grants to three of your teachers,” he said. “We raised [the amount] by 10 percent to $660, or about $1,980 total. There were 45 applications and five from Southern Local. They were all good and we selected three from your district.”

Davis, who instructs kindergarten, plans to share her “Daily 5 in KC” reading and Language Arts project with other kindergarten classes and provide activities for hands-on, independent learning. She will purchase supplies so teachers can focus on individual student needs while keeping the children engaged. Among the choices are “Read to Self,” “Work on Writing,” “Read to Someone,” “Listen to Reading” and “Word Work,” which she said would help students become independent learners as well as better readers and writers.

“I have 18 students in my classroom,” she said. “I will also share the activities and supplies with the other three kindergarten classes for use in their Daily 5 rotation.”

Davis previously applied for and received another Best Practice Grant and said she was blessed to receive the latest allocation.

“My students will benefit for years to come because of this grant. I am truly thankful for this opportunity. I would like to thank JCESC and Southern Local for the opportunity to apply for such an amazing program to benefit my classroom today and in the years ahead.”

Marquis, who instructs fifth-grade math and science, will utilize her windfall for “Creating Stories in the Sky.” She will purchase a Homestar Flux planetarium project while students work together and use problem-solving skills to construct a 16-foot-by-10.5-foot planetarium. It could be set up in the gym and is large enough for classrooms of 23-25 pupils to view constellations which could only be seen from Earth’s Southern Hemisphere.

“I will have all of my 44 students working to construct a planetarium. All of the elementary students will be invited to use it this spring after it has been constructed,” Marquis said. “I am so excited I received the grant because it will allow me to bring the universe to life for my students. Instead of us going to a planetarium in Pittsburgh, the students can experience a smaller version of it every year by making our own reusable planetarium here at Southern. I want the students to be able to see the universe from different aspects of the Earth. It went with this year’s theme of ‘Build, Build, Build.’”

She added that students also experience math and engineering on a real-life level by using them to form different shapes from triangles and hexagons and create the dome planetarium.

Marquis previously received a Best Practice Grant to purchase eight CUE robots that students can control through coding. The robots are used to construct projects and complete engineering tasks and challenges, while the district helped acquire eight iPads and a cart for storage. She said the iPads are extremely useful in helping students complete coding for the robots.

Richards, who serves as a full-day preschool teacher, plans to implement “Preschool STEM and STEAM” kits in a cross-curriculum method to assist with literacy and engineering skills. Teachers will read stories to students in a group activity, then the pupils will be able to act out the stories using puppets and complete an included STEM challenge.

“I am very excited to have been chosen to receive a Best Practice Grant from the Jefferson County Educational Service Center,” she said. “The goal of the project is to make a multi-dimensional approach in supporting students’ language and literacy skills as well as supporting their creative expression that will allow them to master early engineering.”

The project will benefit about 24 full-day preschoolers annually as well as an additional 32 students each year in half-day classes. She said this was her first such grant application and she was pleased to be chosen as a recipient.

“I am very thankful, excited and honored to receive this grant. I am very excited to be receiving a Best Practice Grant because I believe that it is important to teach STEAM/STEM to my students because it will help them learn skills relevant to the 21st Century, including innovation?and cultural sensitivity. Thank you to the Jefferson County ESC for giving me the opportunity to apply for this grant so I can supply our two preschool classrooms with resources that we would not normally have. I can't wait to start using these resources and improving my class.”

JCESC Superintendent Dr. Chuck Kokiko congratulated the recipients and said the grants helped support education so all students may thrive.

“There are certain events or occasions that folks look forward to each year.? At the JCESC, one of those events is when the board and staff can read the innovative teacher Best Practice Grant applications that have been submitted,” he added. “Our schools have many great teachers with ground-breaking lesson plans and out-of-the-box instructional strategies, and we are happy to be able to fund many of those ideas so they may become reality for the students in the classroom.??Congratulations?to our winners and we look forward to seeing what unique ideas will be submitted next year.”?

(Photo Caption: Three Southern Local Elementary School teachers were recipients of the Jefferson County Educational Service Center’s 2022 Best Practice Grants for ingenuity in classroom education. The grants were awarded during the Southern Local school board’s meeting on Nov. 7 and pictured are, from left, Tracey Richards, Holly Davis and Karen Marquis with JCESC Director of Curriculum and Professional Development Ron Sismondo.)

Harrison Teachers Heralded as Grant Recipients

Posted 11/9/2022 at 2:07:53 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]

CADIZ-Harrison Hills City School teachers earned high marks after they were awarded the Jefferson County Educational Service Center’s 2022 Best Practice Grants.

Harrison Central Elementary School teachers Rebecca Agostini, Misty Barker and Alisha Steele each received $600 grants to further programs which engage students and expound upon their education. JCESC Director of Special Education Amber Fomenko presented the grants during the Oct. 27 regular school board session.

Agostini, a fourth-grade science teacher, will use the funding for “STEM: Incorporating Hands-on Learning and Critical Thinking in the Classroom.” The project will impact 95 students today and even more in the future.

“My goal is to motivate students to ‘think outside the box’ and develop critical thinking skills and incorporate other subjects such as mathematics and reading in my classroom,” she explained. “With the money received from this grant, I am purchasing multiple STEM kits, bins and activities. Students will be able to design and build using different resources.”

Agostini is a past grant recipient and said she was thrilled to receive the funding again.

“I am so excited that my students will get the opportunity to benefit from STEM learning. I am grateful to have this option for students and I want to thank the Jefferson County ESC for this opportunity each year.”

Barker, a fifth-grade language arts teacher, is promoting creativity and inspiring students with “The ‘Write’ Attitude.”

“The goal of my project is to get students excited about writing,” she said. “Creating a non-traditional, yet comfortable work atmosphere is one method to increase student engagement. I will be purchasing surf portable lap desks and dry erase clipboards that will enable students to easily transition in and out of the confines of my traditional classroom setting. I find that this flexibility sparks creativity which in turn creates the right attitude for writing.”

She said the flexible seating will be available for 106 students and multiple students at different grade levels. Barker added this was her first application and grant award.

“I feel extremely fortunate to have been selected for the grant,” she said.

Steele, a fifth-grade intervention specialist, collaborated with sixth-grade intervention specialist Kelly Zeroski and plans to use their grant to help roughly 20 students with reading disabilities each year through her “Let’s Read” initiative. She said the project would place fiction and nonfiction books of varying text difficulty levels into students’ hands as they partner up to read in a fun and functional setting.

“Our targeted student base for this project is students with special needs with a focus on reading disabilities including dyslexia. Students would choose their flexible seating mat which we would label with fun creative titles that would allow students to focus on that topic,” she added. “The project could be used with students benefitting from movement while learning. The grant allows for the purchase of books, activity mats and two subscriptions to learning resources.”

Steele said she has received Best Practice Grants in the past for other reading projects and was excited to receive the latest allocation.

“The students will have the opportunity to learn while having fun. We have a great group of students that are looking forward to all the new resources. I am extremely grateful that the Jefferson County ESC offers this grant for teachers. Mrs. Zeroski and I are very appreciative of the funding and can't wait to begin the project with our students.”

JCESC Superintendent Dr. Chuck Kokiko congratulated the recipients and said the intention of the grant is to support education.

(Three Harrison Hills City School teachers were heralded for their efforts to excite and engage students in education and awarded $600 Best Practice Grants from the Jefferson County Educational Service Center during the Oct. 27 school board meeting. Pictured are, from left, JCESC Director of Special Education Amber Fomenko, teachers Rebecca Agostini, Alisha Steele and Misty Barker and Harrison Hills Superintendent Duran Morgan.)

OhioRISE Staff Undergoes Training

Posted 10/24/2022 at 12:23:32 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]

Jill Tayfel, care management entity (CME) relationship manager for Aetna Better Health of Ohio, led a training session about deescalating behaviors and diagnostic criteria for mental, behavior and addiction disorders with care coordinators for the OhioRISE program, which will serve Jefferson, Harrison, Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Tuscarawas, Monroe and Stark counties. OhioRISE, which stands for Resilience through Integrated Systems and Excellence, is a specialized Medicaid managed care system for children and youth with complex behavioral health and multisystem needs with Aetna serving as the managed care partner. About 16 people attended the session on Friday at the R. Larry George Training Annex at the Jefferson County Educational Service Center in Steubenville and JCESC is one of the regional providers for the program. Another session was set for this Wednesday in Canton, where JCESC also offers OhioRISE services at its Stark County CME facility at 100 Central Plaza North. For more information, contact CME Program Director Linda Trushel at (740) 792-4011, ext. 502, or go online at www.jcesc.org/CareManagementEntity. A 24-hour crisis hotline is also available at (740) 792-4012.

Packer Named Principal of the Year

Posted 10/10/2022 at 12:02:40 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]

STEUBENVILLE-Julie Packer’s guidance at Buckeye South Elementary has not gone unnoticed, earning her the title of 2022 Principal of the Year.

Packer, who was named director of preschool, special education and student services this year in the Buckeye Local School District, was recognized during a Student Success Council meeting in September by the Jefferson County Educational Service Center. Candidates are nominated for the distinction, which is now in its fifth year, and Packer is the third Buckeye Local principal to be honored.

Her roots are firmly planted in the district, being raised in the Adena area and graduating from Buckeye Local High School. She later obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education with a minor in music at Muskingum University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University in Tennessee. Packer has been an educator for the past 18 years and served as both a teacher and principal, spending the past five years at South. Her nomination letter detailed her boundless efforts working with faculty, staff and students, her constant presence throughout the building and her strength in the face of the COVID-related shutdown and flooding that prompted a temporary relocation to the former St. Joseph Catholic School in Tiltonsville.

“Managers accomplish things by using resources. Leaders manage by motivating and setting an example and then supporting people while effectively using all other resources,” the letter stated. “Julie Packer is a dynamic leader, not just a manager! Being out in the building is how she measures needs, compliance and behavior. Julie sets high standards for staff and students. She believes that academic excellence only comes with effort by students and staff.”

JCESC Director of Curriculum and Professional Development Ron Sismondo echoed many of the sentiments, describing Packer as a valuable educator.

“Julie Packer has been recognized for her outstanding school leadership for the 2021-2022 school year. She has demonstrated exemplary contributions of leadership with Buckeye Local Schools and with Buckeye South Elementary in which she held the position of principal,” Sismondo said. “She has demonstrated evidence in the areas of leadership, curriculum, instruction, assessment, school environment and personal excellence.”

Packer noted her excitement for receiving the honor, saying she was grateful to be part of the local school system.

“I am beyond honored to be recognized as Jefferson County Educational Service Center's 2022 Principal of the Year. As Steve Jobs once said, ‘The only way to do great work is to love what you do.’ I definitely love being in education and try each day to be better than I was the day before,” she said. “I pursued my educational career because I knew I wanted to help children and I have never regretted that choice! No two days are alike and some are really crazy and stressful, but I always get up the next day ready to do it all over again. I want to say thank you for the nomination and recognition.”

(Photo Caption: Julie Packer was named the 2022 Principal of the Year by the Jefferson County Educational Service Center for her work leading Buckeye South Elementary in Tiltonsville. The Adena-area resident, who is also a Buckeye Local High School graduate, has spent the past six years working in the district and recently became director of preschool, special education and student services. She is pictured with Ron Sismondo, JCESC director of curriculum and professional development.)

Brock Joins JCESC as Community Liaison

Posted 10/4/2022 at 11:27:11 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]

STEUBENVILLE-The Jefferson County Educational Service Center has added personnel to assist youth amid trying times.

Angel Brock, a licensed professional clinical counselor, was named as one of two community liaisons through a Family and Community Partnership Liaison Grant through the Ohio Department of Education. JCESC has received a total of $270,000 through two two-year grants, the first of which was given during the 2020-21 school year to create a position currently held by Jennifer Agresta, who also serves as assistant principal at Harding Middle School. Brock was added through an allocation for the 2023-24 term and will work with Agresta to provide a network of community resources for youth and families in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. She is based at the Jefferson County Alternative Center in Steubenville and began her role in August.

“The focus of the grant is for children involved in the legal system, not necessarily those in juvenile court but also foster care,” Brock said. “We’ll be working with the court system. The liaison is to help link these services so schools are connected to community resources.”

The program impacts children who face absenteeism to foster care, those who have been affected by the justice system in some form and implements Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requirements for students also experiencing homelessness, adjudication, who are English learners, have parents in the military, have disabilities and who are migrants. Brock and Agresta interact with school districts and such organizations as Children’s Services and the Friendship Room.

Brock received her undergraduate degree from Robert Morris University, earning a bachelor’s in business administration in industrial psychology. She went on to receive her master’s degree in clinical counseling from Franciscan University and obtained her licensure. She served as dean at the Ohio Valley College of Technology for four years and also taught at Eastern Gateway Community College, Grand Canyon University and OVCT before becoming a behavioral health coordinator for Trinity Health System. Brock then went into private practice and also has performed psychological evaluations for people entering nursing facilities.

She now works with youth in a different capacity by helping schools address mental health needs and trains educators on facets of behavioral health, and her task also connects to the new OhioRISE initiative by signing off on safety plans for the children they serve. JCESC was designated as one of 20 regional providers for OhioRISE (Resilience through Integrated Systems and Excellence), a specialized Medicaid managed care system for children and youth with complex behavioral health and multisystem needs and Aetna Better Health of Ohio is the managed care partner for the program. The initiative went live July 1 and JCESC serves an eight-county region including Jefferson, Belmont, Harrison, Carroll, Columbiana, Monroe, Tuscarawas and Stark with facilities in Steubenville and Canton.

So far, Brock said she has been enjoying her new experience.

“I love the people. I’m going to work with people with crisis treatment plans for children through the ESC and will sign off on clinical plans,’ Brock explained. “I do see an extreme need for services for everyone, especially children.”

Meanwhile, Agresta said she and Brock will continue to support youth so they receive the care they deserve.

“We will connect schools, families and youth to community resources and local systems of care. Since its implementation, we have worked with schools to give them resources for students and families returning to school after being placed in the justice system,” she continued. “We give the resources to the school districts, and they use them on an as-needed basis for students. This grant covers all students under the ESC’s umbrella and each ESC in the state has a liaison. I am excited to continue the work with the ESC and Angel. I feel that we are making a difference in students' lives.”

Career, Education Fair Draws Crowd

Posted 9/23/2022 at 9:59:52 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]

JCESC County-Wide Career, Education Fair

STEUBENVILLE-More than 1,000 high school students from Jefferson, Harrison and Columbiana counties converged upon the Fort Steuben Mall on Thursday for the County-wide Career and Education Fair.

Hosted by the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce’s Workforce Training and Education Committee, the fair had an estimated 87 vendors including businesses, trade organizations, colleges and universities, safety forces and military recruiters while students attended from Buckeye Local, Catholic Central, Edison, Harrison Central, Indian Creek, Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities’ School of Bright Promise, Jefferson County Christian School, Jefferson County Joint Vocational School, Steubenville, Toronto and Southern Local.

Chamber President Kate Sedgmer said the fair was successful and everyone was very engaged. She added that the goal was to introduce students to career fields that are available in the area so they stay local to work after high school or return home from college to build their lives.

“We were very fortunate and it went smoothly,” she said. “All of the businesses and colleges that came from near and far have made it successful.”

Among the highlights were vendors’ tables with representatives from the likes of Timet Corp., and Trinity Health System to Wheeling University and the University of Rio Grande, roundtables with business and college officials discussing everything from production and manufacturing and finance to entrepreneurship, trade apprenticeship and healthcare. Other offerings included free food, giveaways, games and interactive displays.

Some students on hand said they enjoyed the career fair because they learned about options for their future.

“It’s pretty nice to just talk to people from colleges,” said Landon Sgalla, a junior computer networking student from Jefferson County JVS and Buckeye Local.

“I think it was very informative and helpful for people who don’t know what they want to do,” added Conner Scott, a junior at BLHS.

“I thought it was a good opportunity,” said Indian Creek student Leyla Greene. “There was a lot for people who don’t want to go to college.”

“It’s been fun,” said Payton Hersman, a senior at Southern Local High School, who said he enjoyed speaking with college officials.

Representatives on hand agreed it was a great venue to share their knowledge and help students determine their path in life.

“It seems like they are very open to learning new things about jobs opportunities,” said Sarah Malecha, supervisor for Softite Community Federal Credit Union of Mingo Junction.

“We had some with questions about jobs and financial information,” added Tammy Pasqualla, supervisor for the Softite Community Federal Credit Union location in Martins Ferry.

“I do interviews and resume building and help students get from school to college or the workforce,” said Jordan Spence regional network coordinator for Building Bridges to Careers (BB2C) of Marietta, adding that he offered guidance to attendants. “My job is getting them career ready.”

Lisa Pearce of Manpower was pleased with the students’ engagement and said she looked forward to taking part in future events, while Jess Kelley of Trinity Health System concurred. Kelley, who serves as community outreach specialist, noted that Trinity was more than a medical facility and provided opportunities for marketing and other skill sets. Pat Maple, environmental engineer for Timet Corp., said his company also had an array of jobs from electrical and welding to mechanical and environmental health and safety engineering.

“We employ a broad scope of degrees and certifications” Maple said.

Jason Welch, an instructor for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers No. 246 of Steubenville, provided a welding simulation and said it provided a hands-on experience for interested youth.

Superintendent Dr. Chuck Kokiko of the Jefferson County Educational Service Center, who led the chamber’s workforce committee, thanked everyone for participating and said he hoped to see the fair continue.

“I appreciate all the people who worked together to make the event happen, as well as the area businesses and colleges that showed up to share information with the students,” Dr. Kokiko commented. “I hope this will be an annual event. We’ll take what we learned this year to make next year’s even better.”

Meanwhile, sponsors included the chamber, JCESC, Village of Wintersville, Trinity Health System, Timet Corp., Steubenville Electrical JATC, Eastern Gateway Community College, American Electric Power, Summer’s Enterprise, Notre Dame College, Ohio College Tech Prep and the Capital Healthcare Network.

(Photo Caption: More than 1,000 high school students from Jefferson, Harrison and Columbiana Counties attended the inaugural County-wide Career and Education Fair at the Fort Steuben Mall. The event was hosted by the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce’s Workforce Education and Training Committee and sponsored by area businesses, colleges and trade organizations. Youth met officials to discuss options for their future and also enjoyed free food, giveaways and interactive experiences.)

County-wide Career Fair Planned for Sept. 22

Posted 9/14/2022 at 1:19:24 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]

STEUBENVILLE-Area high school students are invited to take part in the County-wide Career Fair on Sept. 22.

About 1,000 students from Jefferson, Harrison and Columbiana counties are expected to attend the event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds at Friendship Park in Smithfield. Hosted by the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce’s Workforce Training and Education Committee, the fair will include dozens of businesses, trade organizations, colleges and universities and military recruiters in the commercial building. Chamber President Kate Sedgmer said the purpose is to provide students with options as they forge paths for successful futures.

“The chamber of commerce has a Workforce Training and Education Committee and we talk about ways to get our kids to stay local,” Sedgmer explained. “We want to introduce them to career fields that are available here, and the goal is to get kids to stay here after high school or go to college and return home.”

The committee, which is headed by Jefferson County Educational Service Center Superintendent Dr. Chuck Kokiko, includes 12 members representing school districts and businesses who helped organize the career fair while the districts will transport their pupils. Students have been invited from Buckeye Local, Catholic Central, Edison, Harrison Central, Indian Creek, Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities’ School of Bright Promise, Jefferson County Christian School, Jefferson County Joint Vocational School, Steubenville, Toronto and Southern Local. Times will be staggered for their arrivals and Sedgmer said vendors will have intriguing displays to promote their fields.

“We will have around 90 vendors including educational institutions, businesses, trade organizations and all five military branches and they will give students hands-on experience to see if their field is something the kids are interested in,” she continued. “This is the first time for the career fair and we needed a place that is large enough for all of the students and vendors and a place for semi-trucks and simulation projects. [The fairgrounds have] a beautiful space that should be used more often.”

Sedgmer thanked the committee for their hard work and said the group was also responsible for an event last February at Eastern Gateway Community College that featured business leaders, trade union officials and military representatives informing guidance counselors and career advisors on opportunities in the workforce. She hoped the career fair would become an annual activity and also thanked sponsors, which include the chamber, JCESC, Village of Wintersville, Trinity Health System, Timet Corp., Steubenville Electrical, EGCC, Summers Enterprise, Notre Dame College and the Capital Healthcare Network.

“I’m really excited to see all of the businesses gathering to help students. They have elaborate plans for the students to share what’s here in the county.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Kokiko hoped to see a great turnout for this new and exciting venture.

“There are nearly 100 vendors between the colleges, businesses and trade organizations,” he said. “We are looking forward to having as many as 1,000 students involved.”

There is always room for more vendors and anyone interested may contact the chamber at (740) 282-6226 or go online at www.jeffersoncountychamber.com/careerfair.

Canton CME Now Accepting OhioRISE Participants

Posted 7/29/2022 at 7:43:20 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]

CANTON-The doors are now open for a new Care Management Entity (CME) in downtown Canton to accept participants in the new OhioRISE program.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house were held Friday, July 29 on the lower floor of the Key Bank Building at 100 Central Plaza North and area agencies were invited to mark the occasion, including the Family and Children First Council, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and community officials. The facility is offered through the Jefferson County Educational Service Center in Steubenville, which was designated one of 20 regional providers for OhioRISE (Resilience through Integrated Systems and Excellence). OhioRISE is a specialized Medicaid managed care system for children and youth with complex behavioral health and multisystem needs with Aetna Better Health of Ohio serving as the managed care partner. The initiative went live July 1 with JCESC serving an eight-county region including Jefferson, Belmont, Harrison, Carroll, Columbiana, Monroe, Tuscarawas and Stark.

CME Program Director Linda Trushel said the site includes a total of 22 employees with 15 care management coordinators on hand to aid families in the Stark County area. Trushel said the coordinators help complete a Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessment to determine eligibility and offer referrals for counseling and therapy. Assistance is rendered for mental health and substance use while youth with multisystem needs are often involved in multiple community systems such as juvenile justice, child protection, developmental disabilities, education and addiction.

“OhioRISE is the new generation of Medicaid to serve children with behavioral health needs,” she said. “It’s so exciting. The setting is very conducive for families and we’re located near the other agencies we work with to provide resources.”

Trushel noted that children covered by Medicaid will obtain assistance and those with private insurance can receive a waiver for help. Currently, there are 345 children in the databank within the eight-county area, but OhioRISE would ultimately serve 2,335 youth across the region and an estimated 60,000 statewide. JCESC received an estimated $1.1 million to establish two start-up locations in Stark and Jefferson counties and the Canton facility operates weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a crisis hotline also available 24/7.

“The facility is for families to have a safe place to meet with our care coordinators,” added Assistant CME Program Director Lindsay Brandon. “I think it’s really great because it’s going to let us reach the community and help families in the area. We have a presence in Jefferson County and this will help us in the northern area to serve them the best way we can.”

Meanwhile, Trushel said the program would offer centralized care in one location.

“All of the services will be conducted through Aetna and there is only one stop, so all children in Ohio will have the same benefits for their mental health needs and there will be more respite care providers for the families.”

JCESC Superintendent Dr. Chuck Kokiko was equally delighted to see the facility operating in an effort to support youth, which aligns with the ESC’s mission.

“JCESC has been working to create the tools necessary to support the successful implementation of the OhioRISE program in our catchment area,” Dr. Kokiko said. “The Canton office will be a great resource to both our employees and the children and families we will serve. We are excited about officially opening the office and look forward to working with the community.”

Plans are underway for the Steubenville CME facility, which is eyed to open later this fall.

The remaining CMEs provide community mental health and substance abuse, specialty care coordination, hospital and educational services. They include Unison Health, Harbor, National Youth Advocate Program, Choices Coordinated Care Solutions, CareStar,

Lighthouse Youth and Family Services, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Healvine, Integrated Services for Behavioral Health, The Village Network, The Buckeye Ranch, I Am Boundless, Inc., Wingspan Care Group, Coleman Health Services, OhioGuidestone, Positive

Education Program, Ravenwood Health and Cadence Care Network while some of those organizations are in partnership with the Child and Family Health Collaborative.

For more information on public and partnership opportunities, contact Dr. Kokiko at (740) 283-3347 or [email protected] and Trushel for children’s referrals to the program at [email protected] or (740) 792-4011, ext. 502. More information is also listed at www.jcesc.org/CareManagementEntity. For general inquiries about OhioRISE, contact Jill Tayfel, CME relationship manager for Aetna, at [email protected]. The 24-hour crisis hotline is available at (740) 792-4012.

(Photo Cutline: A new OhioRISE Care Management Entity (CME) is now accepting participants in the Stark County area after a ribbon cutting and open house were held at the Canton location on July 29. OhioRISE (Resilience through Integrated Systems and Excellence) is a specialized Medicaid managed care system for children and youth with complex behavioral health and multisystem needs with Aetna Better Health of Ohio serving as the managed care partner. The Jefferson County Educational Service Center is the regional provider in an eight-county area including Jefferson, Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Monroe, Tuscarawas and Stark. Pictured during the event are, from left, JCESC CEO Dr. George Ash, care management coordinator Celestine Barnes, CME Program Director Linda Trushel, office manager Samantha Clevinger, care management coordinator Renee Wine and JCESC IT Director Patrick Keenan. The site operates weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, contact (740) 792-4011, ext. 502, or go online at www.jcesc.org/CareManagementEntity. A 24-hour crisis hotline is also available at (740) 792-4012.)

JCESC Lauds ACT Honorees

Posted 5/11/2022 at 10:15:58 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]

STEUBENVILLE-The Jefferson County Educational Service Center is honoring local students who gained high marks on their ACT exams.

Fourteen graduating seniors from Edison, Indian Creek, Steubenville Catholic Central, Steubenville and Toronto High Schools are being recognized as 2022 ACT honorees for scoring a 30 or higher on their composite tests. JCESC held an ACT Recognition Breakfast for four years before COVID-19 canceled events, but those soon-to-be-alumni are still being spotlighted for their achievements.

Larry George, president of the JCESC Governing Board, was amazed at the students’ abilities to succeed on the exams and said it was a testament to the encouragement of their families and the educational practices of their schools.

“It’s an amazing accomplishment and I am proud that the ESC sponsors this award,” George added. “It’s a simple token of our appreciation for these students who scored so well on their exams, and I wish them all the success of higher education and in their future.”

JCESC Superintendent Dr. Chuck Kokiko said only 5 percent of an estimated 1.85 million test-takers—or about 92,000 students—attain such high scores and may also apply to 1,382 colleges or universities across the nation with a good chance of being admitted. The State of Ohio tests 75 percent of their graduates with an average composite score of 22, compared to the national average of 60 percent of students tested with an average score of 21.

“Each year, we see students recognized for a variety of accomplishments,” Dr. Kokiko commented. “The JCESC believes, in addition to the many recognitions that take place over the school year, that we take time to recognize those students who excelled academically on the ACT. We would like to congratulate the students, their families and the schools the students attend on this outstanding achievement. Although the test itself is single-day event and represented by a number, we know their success is the result of years of hard work and would like to wish the students continued success in the future endeavors.”

Among Edison’s achievers are Katelin Kowalczyk, Kathryn Maille, Emma Phillips, Tommy Phillips and Mikayla Reed.

Kowalczyk, the daughter of Scott and Lisa Kowalczyk of Bergholz, received a 31 on her exam. She holds a 4.0 grade point average and has been active in volleyball, Beta Club, FFA, Spanish Club and prom committee. She plans to attend The Ohio State University and study environmental science.

Maille, the daughter of Dan and Victoria Maille of Bloomingdale, scored a 30 on her exam and yields a 4.0 GPA. She was a band member during her high school career and plans to study history at Penn State University-Altoona, then hopes to become a librarian.

Emma Phillips, the daughter of James and Jamie Phillips of Amsterdam, earned a 33 and has an unweighted GPA of 4.00. She has been involved in the marching, concert and jazz bands playing clarinet and serving as an officer, plus she co-founded the chess club, is co-captain of the academic competition team and is a member of Spanish and drama clubs, Jefferson County Youth Coalition and the Valley Youth Initiative. Phillips plans to attend Columbia University to study biochemistry and minor in women’s, gender and sexuality studies, but her goal is to attend medical school, complete a surgical residency and become a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at a research hospital.

Tommy Phillips, son of Robert Phillips and Christina Gilday of Steubenville, scored a 33 and has a 3.99 GPA. He has participated in golf, academic team, Valley Youth Initiative, drama club and Spanish Club. Phillips plans to attend either Harvard, OSU or the University of Michigan to pursue a double major in mathematics and political science.

Reed, the daughter of Michael and Tina Reed of Richmond, scored a 30 and holds a 4.0 GPA. Activities include varsity sideline football and basketball cheerleading captain and varsity competition cheerleading, National Sr. Beta Club as president with 350 hours of community service, marching band secretary, concert band, Valley Youth Initiative, Spanish Club, Fall 2020 EGCC Student Ambassador, freshman choir, 2021-22 Homecoming and Prom courts and a lifeguard at Belleview Pool. She plans to attend University of Pittsburgh Honors College and medical school to become a doctor of anesthesiology.

Indian Creek senior Kendall Driscoll, the daughter of David and Dawn Driscoll of Wintersville, scored a 30 and has an unweighted 3.97 GPA. She is a four-year member of Key Club and served as treasurer, academic team co-captain and in the marching band with the mellophone squad and as a section leader. Additionally, she is a three-year member of drama club and has been vice president and a two-year member of the robotics club and the National Honor Society, serving in the latter as president. Driscoll plans to attend OSU and major in biomedical engineering.

Steubenville Catholic Central honorees include Francesca Asci, Jack Blake, Johnny O’Karma and Eleanor Stoutz.

Asci, the daughter of Donald and Michelle Asci of Steubenville, received a 33 on her ACT exam and holds a 4.5 GPA. She has participated in tennis, chess club, academic team, band, National Honor Society, Key Club, International Thespian Society as well as miscellaneous community service projects. She plans to attend Franciscan University of Steubenville.

Blake, the son of Jeff and Julie Blake of Wintersville, scored a 35 on his exam and holds a 4.579 GPA. He has participated in marching band, theater, swimming, the Kairos Retreat, football, tennis, chess club, as a soccer referee, lifeguard and Steubenville Nutcracker Village volunteer. He plans to attend Notre Dame to study computer science.

O’Karma, the son of John and Michelle O’Karma of Weirton, earned a 33 and has a weighted GPA of 4.491. He has earned 10 varsity letters in golf, swimming and tennis as well as three academic letters; received the 2020 All-Ohio Golf Academic Award and was part of the 2020 OVAC Golf Championship team; has volunteered for 262 community service hours of community service; served as a two-time leader for the Lisieux household, two-year class vice president, three-year academic team member, four-year treasurer for the Key Club and an NHS member. He will attend the University of Notre Dame to study aerospace engineering.

Stoutz, the daughter of Eric and Monica Stoutz of Steubenville, received a 32 on her ACT exam and holds a 4.3 GPA. She played clarinet in the CCHS Marching Band, participated in drama club, was inducted into the NHS and International Thespians Society, became a Kairos Leader, attended the annual Kairos Retreat and assisted the Steubenville Dance Committee. Her future plans are to attend an unnamed college and pursue a master’s degree in psychology.

Steubenville seniors who made the grade include Cole Antill, Theo Loot and Caitlin Lukacena.

Antill, the son of Charles and Judy Antill of Steubenville, scored a 30 on his ACT and holds a 4.54 GPA. He has been active in wrestling, golf, tennis, Key Club, Rotary-Interact and NHS. Antill plans to attend Youngstown State University and major in mechanical engineering.

Loot, the son of Brian and Emily Loot of Steubenville, scored a 32 on his ACT composite exam and holds a 4.5 GPA. He played varsity soccer for all four years of high school and plans to attend Franciscan University, then earn a law degree.

Lukacena, the daughter of James and Holly Lukacena of Wintersville, received a 30 on her exam and yields a 4.64 GPA. School activities include softball, band, majorette, Key Club, Rotary-Interact, Nike Club, NHS in addition to 300 hours of community service plus employment at the Follansbee Municipal Pool. She plans to attend Ohio University to major in chemistry pre-med, complete medical school and become a cosmetic dermatologist.

Toronto senior Kyle Leonard, the son of Chris and Tracey Leonard of Toronto, received a 30 on his test and has a 4.0 GPA. Leonard has participated in Key Club, student senate where he was president, Beta Club, Phi Theta Kappa, NHS, Close Up and the National Society of High School Scholars. He plans to attend St. Olaf College in Minnesota and his major is undecided.

(Photos: Kowalczyk, Maille, Phillips E, Phillips T, Reed of Edison; Driscoll of IC; Asci, Blake, O'Karma and Stoutz of SCC; Antill, Loot and Lukacena of SHS; and Leonard of Toronto)

George Honored for 35 Years of Service by OSBA

Posted 4/6/2022 at 12:07:18 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]

STEUBENVILLE-One local educational leader has been honored for his dedication to students and schools during the Ohio School Boards Association’s Northeast Region Spring Conference.

Larry George, who is president of the Jefferson County Educational Service Center Governing Board and Jefferson County Joint Vocational School Board of Education, was awarded for 35 years of service during the conference in Warren on March 28. George received a Silver Star as well as a service award in the Star Program for his activity and was humbled to earn the distinction.

“It’s nice to be honored,” he commented. “The voters are the ones who put me in every time I run.”

The Wintersville resident said he originally was appointed to fill the vacated seat of C.B. Henderson on both the JCESC and JVS boards and was later re-elected to the former panel. He has seen education evolve during his tenure and is glad to have been a part of it.

“I’m happy to serve and I enjoy it. It’s amazing to see what it was like in the mid-80s to now with Jefferson Health Plan, the Virtual Learning Academy and Help Me Grow at the ESC. We’re offering legal services to districts and professional development and others services to help keep them up to speed,” George continued.

He served along with Ken Simeral at JCESC and on the JVSBOE, succeeding Simeral as president of both panels five years ago. During his time at the JVS, he has witnessed the addition of new programs such as small animal science and heavy equipment operator that is set to begin this fall, plus building and equipment upgrades to bring the school into the modern era. Other plans are to start a new subdivision and continue preparing students for the workforce. At JCESC, he also was essential in the formation of the professional training annex on Estelle Avenue which bears his name.

“I’m honored to be on both boards and they have been all about teamwork,” he said. “We work well with the individual boards and student success is our goal.”

Meanwhile, JCESC Governing Board Vice President Barry Gullen said George’s commendation exemplifies his longtime support for education.

“Larry George has supported education through his work with the JCESC for more than three decades, and this award is a testament to his longevity and dedication. He has given his time to provide learning opportunities through professional development of teaching staff, programs for students and more. He truly cares about the kids and the schools that we serve,” Gullen commented.

JCESC Superintendent Dr. Chuck Kokiko congratulated George for his achievement and said he has been a true leader.

“One of the high points in my career in education has been working with Mr. George. He is a tremendous resource when understanding the historical perspective of education as well the Jefferson County Educational Service Center but more importantly, a visionary who is willing to take risks when looking toward the future,” Dr. Kokiko concluded. “The JCESC and our members schools have benefited immensely from Mr. George’s service and leadership.”

(Photo Cutline: Jefferson County Educational Service Center Governing Board President Larry George was honored for 35 years of service during the Northeast Region Ohio School Board Association Conference in Warren on March 28. He is pictured, at center, with OSBA Trustee Sally Green and OSBA Chief Executive Officer Rick Lewis.)

JCESC Gains $212K to Support Vulnerable Youth

Posted 3/24/2022 at 12:43:05 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]

STEUBENVILLE-More funding is coming to the Jefferson County Educational Service Center to help support vulnerable youth in the community.

JCESC procured a $212,000 Family and Community Partnership Liaison Grant from the Ohio Department of Education for the 2023-24 school year to create a second liaison’s position who will assist a representative already in place. The purpose of the liaisons is to aid children in need by providing community resources to get the youth back on track. A $58,000 allocation was given during the 20-21 school year to create a position that would help school districts and families facing increased needs as a result of COVID-19. Jennifer Agresta, assistant principal at Harding Middle School, was selected to fill the role and establish a network of community resources, partners and support services for vulnerable youth and families.

JCESC Director of Special Education Amber Fomenko said the latest grant is an extension and will carry the program for the next two years.

“It’s to build family and community partnerships two work with the vulnerable youth population,” Fomenko added. “Right now, the liaison has gone through trainings and she surveys local districts to get information. We’ve picked a vulnerable area and that’s our focus: justice-involved youth.”

“They had to form a coalition that works with the justice system that’s part of the community to get supports to help those youth,” Fomenko continued, adding the group includes juvenile court and probation officials. “They will look at trying to get a mental health provider to be part of it because the focus is on the whole child, so that will include the social-emotional piece. The liaisons give resources to the districts in the ESC’s consortium.”

Agresta said the new liaison will work with the other school districts and such organizations as Children’s Services and the Friendship Room.

“We look for the resources schools would need to pass along to the students and their families,” Agresta explained. “It could be absenteeism or delinquent juveniles in the juvenile detention center to help them transition back into school seamlessly. It’s stockpiling these resources in a place and schools can go to one location and ask what resources there are for a situation.”

JCESC Grant Tackles Learning Loss

Posted 3/4/2022 at 11:53:52 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]

STEUBENVILLE-The Jefferson County Educational Service Center has received a $1 million grant to review the ramifications of the COVID pandemic upon education in a bid to put students back on track to learning.

JCESC was awarded funding through the Ohio Department of Education for the 2023-24 school year which Superintendent Dr. Chuck Kokiko said was part of a two-phase plan. Funds were previously given to review needs while the latest allocation would help seek solutions.

“JCESC was awarded funding for the 2022-23 school year and we were given $1 million through 2023-24 to address issues identified in the first round of funding. The first phase was to identify needs and the current round is to put programs in place to address phase one,” he said. “We found academic needs and mental health needs through the learning loss.”

He added that a measurable decline was shown in academic achievement during the 2020-21 school year which was caused by the shutdown of schools. Leaders viewed the learning loss curve before, during and after the pandemic and are now taking steps to rectify the situation.

“Our goal is to continue to enhance an afterschool tutoring program, to address literacy issues and provide Heggerty curriculum training to school district staff. We’re going to look to employ a mental health coordinator to work with students and local mental health agencies and a preparatory course to assist with ACT testing following a decline in schools,” Dr. Kokiko continued. “We’ll begin talks this spring with districts to implement this in the fall.”

JCESC provides other services to help youth through educational and behavioral supports. Schools have utilized the Virtual Learning Academy (VLA) to assistant students who may now be credit deficient as well as a host of other test preparation programs in the system. JCESC also offers a variety of high-quality professional development programs aimed at classroom teachers and assisting them with identification learning loss plus strategies for gain. The organization even sponsors the Quest For Success before- and after-school program for students in grades 5-8 who attend Jefferson County schools, and the program also offers virtual online tutoring to help youth get ahead with their studies. Tutoring is available Monday to Thursday from 7:30-8:30 a.m. and 1-5 p.m. while students utilize the Google Meet link and work with Quest staff and education students from Franciscan University. The program is a Homework Help with math and literacy using the IXL curriculum for personalized learning. Students can log into a Google Meet for sessions to receive homework and intervention assistance. For more information or to register, contact Mark Miller at [email protected].

Meanwhile, JCESC recently received a $1 million grant through OhioRISE (Resilience through Integrated Systems and Excellence) and will serve as one of 20 regional Care Management Entities (CMEs) for children with severe behavioral needs. That grant will aid start-up costs to build local systems of care for youth and the ESC’s program will benefit some 2,300 children in Jefferson, Harrison, Belmont, Monroe, Carroll, Columbiana, Tuscarawas and Stark counties. The initiative is anticipated to add 150 jobs and aid some 2,335 youth throughout the region.

OhioRISE Initiative Creates Job Opportunities

Posted 2/23/2022 at 10:02:16 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]

STEUBENVILLE-The Jefferson County Educational Service Center has been named as one of 20 regional providers under a new initiative for children with severe behavioral needs and will require plenty of help to support the effort.

JCESC has received grant funding through OhioRISE (Resilience through Integrated Systems and Excellence) and will serve as one of the community-oriented Care Management Entities (CMEs) statewide. Each CME will receive between $900,000 and $1.2 million for start-up costs to build local systems of care for youth and the ESC’s program will benefit some 2,300 children in eight counties including Jefferson, Harrison, Belmont, Monroe, Carroll, Columbiana, Tuscarawas and Stark.

JCESC Superintendent Dr. Chuck Kokiko said the program gained $1,110,000 to establish local supports, which could add up to 150 jobs, and spots must be filled before the system goes live this July 1.

“Over the past several years, the JCESC board’s vision has been to expand our outreach and services beyond grades K-12 and help address some of the issues that schools were facing prior to children entering school and upon graduation,” he added. “We began to see an increasing number of challenges in areas of mental health, substance abuse and developmental disabilities among our students. These issues impacted the education in our schools and the lives of our students and families. We started getting involved in the Family and Children First Council and Help Me Grow, Early Intervention and ENGAGE, and the knowledge and experience has helped us prepare for becoming a case management entity.”

In addition, he said the JCESC’s experience at growing other programs such as alternative schools, the Virtual Learning Academy (VLA) and Jefferson Health Plan demonstrated a capacity to successfully implement an initiative of this scale. Officials then learned about OhioRISE and soon became involved. When Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced last April that Aetna Better Health of Ohio would oversee the OhioRISE program, Dr. Kokiko said it created access to knowledge and resources the service had to offer and would enable the regional CMEs to maintain local services for local children and families.

“The $1.1 million grant will fund the initial startup and this would be a bill-back program through Medicaid. The startup will allow us to hire people as well as put the infrastructure in place. The plan is to initially staff one at Jefferson County and one in Stark County with satellite locations in the other areas,” he explained.

About 2,335 youth ultimately would be served throughout the region and an overall estimate of 60,000 kids statewide. The network to support them includes two categories: moderate care coordinator and intensive care coordinator.

“A majority of the 150 people will be in these two categories,” Dr. Kokiko said. “Qualifications include experience in helping children through mental health, child welfare, developmental disabilities, juvenile justice, special education and behavioral health care.”

He said the JCESC was grateful for the opportunity to expand its reach and assist children even further.

“On behalf of all the selected CME’s and the JCESC, I would like to sincerely thank Governor DeWine for his vision and commitment to OhioRISE, as well as all of the cabinet directors and Aetna for this amazing opportunity. We are eager to begin the CME work. Additionally, the grant dollars and support networks provided will ensure the success of OhioRISE while creating a brighter future for thousands of youth and families across the Buckeye State.”

Ohio Department of Medicaid officials announced the launch of OhioRISE last week and said it was the state’s first highly integrated care program for youth with complex behavioral health and multi-system needs.

"Our goal is making sure children with the most complex needs receive the right kind of care, in their hometowns, surrounded by families and communities they know and trust," stated ODM Director Maureen Corcoran. “CMEs are vital to the success of the OhioRISE model. They will serve as the singular point of contact families will turn to in times of crisis, and a welcomed resource for managing day-to-day behavioral health and family support services. Their focus is ensuring that wrap-around, high-intensity care is available, coordinated locally, and clinically integrated for children enrolled.”

The remaining CMEs provide community mental health and substance abuse, specialty care coordination, hospital and educational services and include Unison Health, Harbor, National Youth Advocate Program, Choices Coordinated Care Solutions, CareStar, Lighthouse Youth and Family Services, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Healvine, Integrated Services for Behavioral Health, The Village Network, The Buckeye Ranch, I Am Boundless, Inc., Wingspan Care Group, Coleman Health Services, OhioGuidestone, Positive Education Program, Ravenwood Health and Cadence Care Network while some of those organizations are in partnership with the Child and Family Health Collaborative. OhioRISE will be available to youth under age 21 who are Medicaid-eligible. For more information, visit the OhioRISE webpage at https://managedcare.medicaid.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/mac/managed-care/ohiorise.

Full-time positions that are a combination of face-to-face, on-site work will be available with benefits and retirement, and anyone interested from the surrounding areas may apply online at the JCESC website at www.jcesc.k12.oh.us. Go to the “About” tab and check the employment listing.

January is School Board Appreciation month!

Posted 1/11/2022 at 11:58:54 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]

The staff at JCESC would like to extend a heartfelt 'Thank You' to the JCESC Governing Board for always providing support and encouragement! Their leadership has allowed for the JCESC to grow by leaps and bounds as well as earn numerous awards from the State of Ohio. On behalf of the JCESC staff...'THANK YOU!'

JCESC Rated as High Performing

Posted 12/10/2021 at 1:14:33 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]

STEUBENVILLE- The Jefferson County Educational Service Center has once again been recognized for measures taken to save local school districts money.

The Ohio Department of Education’s Office of Budget and School Funding rated JCESC as high performing based on figures for cost-effective services provided in 2020-21 which enabled districts to put funding back into their coffers.

JCESC Superintendent Dr. Chuck Kokiko said those efforts ultimately saved schools more than $720,000.

“ESC’s are required to submit data based on the Ohio Administrative Code. We submitted data for psychologists, alternative schools, legal services, and occupational and speech therapy used by districts in the consortium,” Dr. Kokiko explained. “All of the programs generated $723,957 in savings, or 37.48 percent over outside vendor costs.”

An application was made last summer and all ESC’s must demonstrate and show savings by comparing prices with private vendors. The data indicated that local districts split a total $1,207,423 for services rendered through JCESC while the same price for outside providers equaled $1,931,381. According to the ODE, cost savings across all five of the primary services must generate a minimum of 5 percent for an ESC to be classified as high performing and JCESC has been named high performing for the past three years.

The ESC was notified by Aaron Rausch, director of the Office of Budget and School Funding, who stated that those savings represent value to the school districts.

“We know this is only a part of the total savings you provide each year. This has become even more apparent over the past 20 months. My colleagues and I here at the Department of Education are thankful for your partnership and willingness to take on additional duties as a result of the pandemic,” Rausch added.

Dr. Kokiko said the designation ties directly into the agency’s purpose.

“A part of JCESC’s mission is to build capacity through innovative, cost-effective programs and to improve partnerships and collaborate with educational institutions, families and communities within public and private settings. The high performing ESC application helps validate that JCESC is providing cost-saving programs to its member schools.”

He noted that every dollar the districts save would better serve students through education, and JCESC Treasurer Ethan Tice agreed.

“As a treasurer, it is easy to get caught up in the day-to-day duties. While completing our High Performing ESC application, it allows time to reflect on how the services we offer as an ESC help provide a significant cost savings to local school districts,” Tice added. “This allows schools to use these saved dollars to benefit students in other ways.”

In addition to providing those services, JCESC also acts as fiscal agent for the Jefferson Health Plan, has partnered with Franciscan University of Steubenville and received a 21^st Century Grant to provide the Quest for Success program and a Striving Readers grant to bolster literacy in children from birth through grade 12.

Quest for Success is made possible through a five-year, $850,000 grant from ODE and includes a partnership with Franciscan University. The goal is to increase opportunities for students in grades 5-8 to have success in literacy, mathematics, social development, family support and community involvement and events have been held Monday to Thursday at the Jefferson County Alternative School on Cherry Avenue in Steubenville. Morning sessions are available from 7-8 a.m. with afterschool programming from 2-5 p.m. and more activities are held at the Sycamore Center on North Fourth Street in Steubenville.

JCESC also was among 46 sites in Ohio to obtain the three-year, $500,000 Striving Readers grant through the ODE. The grant focuses on serving the greatest numbers of students living in poverty, students with disabilities, English learners and students identified as having reading difficulties. Five local school districts have enacted the program, with Buckeye Local, Harrison Hills, Southern Local and Toronto City Schools utilizing it at their elementary schools and Indian Creek using its portion to benefit both elementary and middle school pupils. The grant has also provided opportunities for teachers to take an eight-week course at Franciscan University on learning and practicum.

JCESC serves Buckeye Local, Edison, Harrison Hills, Indian Creek, Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Jefferson County Joint Vocational School, Southern Local, Steubenville Catholic Central and Steubenville and Toronto City Schools in Ohio in addition to community schools such as E-School, Ohio Cyber Academy, Jefferson County Alternative School, Coshocton County Alternative School and Help Me Grow in Jefferson, Harrison, Belmont and Carroll counties.

ESC Grant Provides Instructional Coaching

Posted 10/27/2021 at 9:48:49 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]

STEUBENVILLE-Local educational service centers have teamed up to provide teachers another resource to improve upon students’ education.

The East Central Ohio ESC was awarded a $434,185 RemotEDx grant in September to provide virtual instructional coaching to school districts in conjunction with the Jefferson County ESC, Ohio Valley ESC, Muskingum Valley ESC and Gallia-Vinton ESC while Michele Carlisle of ECOESC serves as project manager. ECOESC partnered with the other groups and each are employing a coach while being reimbursed up to 75 percent of the costs through the one-year grant. In turn, the coaches work as a team to hold virtual one-on-one or small group sessions with teachers. According to the Ohio Department of Education website, RemotEDx is a state-level initiative that brings together a unique mix of remote, hybrid and blended learning partners from across the state to help schools and districts enhance, expand, and more effectively scale high-quality education delivery models. Consistent with the state’s strategic plan for education, RemotEDx places a premium on equity and seeks to support Ohio’s most underserved students.

Coaches provide a minimum of two days’ face-to-face instruction in addition to online and train educators on strategies to hone their skills and utilize resources. Additionally, YouTube content and a podcast will be produced as an extra resource. Brant Starkey, instructional coach through JCESC, said his work involves assisting teachers in assessing their classroom practice and identifying potential areas for improvement, which may include better and more strategic use of technological tools.

“It is driven by the desire to increase student impact through the use of technological tools that have been properly recommended and implemented,” he added. “The nice thing about this grant and this coaching system is that we are not exclusively bound to the ESC where we are based. If I am not sure how to handle a question that is brought to me, I can either directly ask one of my co-coaches for input, or I can refer the inquiring teacher directly to one of the other coaches. Additionally, teachers are not required to seek out the coach at their particular ESC. Through escsupport.org, they can reach out to any one of us.”

Starkey was excited about the idea of assisting teachers to use technology to impact student learning in a positive way.

“The position is more about getting teachers to evaluate what they are doing in the classroom and seeing if we can come up with a solution to better reach the students that they teach. At the end of the day, it is about helping teachers to make a greater impact on the students they see each day.”

Starkey holds an Associate of Arts degree from Ohio Valley University and a bachelor’s degree in health education 5-12 and athletic training from Marshall University. He taught health for 16 years in the Indian Creek Local School District and pursued an opportunity outside the field around 2014. He has taught at the Jefferson County Justice Center for the past four years and is nearing completion of his master’s degree in education administration from Franciscan University. He is getting acclimated to his latest role and said he and his fellow instructional coaches will work to support and benefit the teachers and their pupils.

JCESC Superintendent Dr. Chuck Kokiko noted that RemoteEDX establishes mini-grants and the consortium applied for funding, and hopes are to renew it in the future to continue the program.

“JCESC viewed the RemoteEDx grant as an opportunity to work with surrounding ESC’s and provide valuable service to our local schools. Just like our students are in different places in their educational program, so are our teachers when it comes to instructional tools and strategies,” Dr. Kokiko said. “With many schools going remote in the 2020-2021 school year, the need for instructional support, especially in the areas of technology became apparent. The grant will allow the newly created network to assist our teachers with their individual needs in an efficient and effective model. We look forward to Mr. Starkey assisting our educators in making the educational experience better for both our teachers and students.”

Quest for Success offering Virtual Online Tutoring

Posted 10/8/2021 at 10:09:27 AM by Kristina Ash [staff member]

STEUBENVILLE-The Quest For Success program has a new offering to help students keep their grades in check with virtual online tutoring.

Students in grades 5-8 who attend Jefferson County schools may take part in the latest iteration of the program which kicks off for a fifth year on Oct. 18. The before-and-after-school program has held activities at the Quest Center located at 2250 Cherry Ave. in Steubenville and partners with Coleman Professional Services and Franciscan University with the goal of increasing opportunities for student success in literacy, mathematics, social development, family support and community involvement. Tutoring will be available on Monday to Thursday from 7:30-8:30 a.m. and 1-5 p.m. Students will utilize the Google Meet link and work with Quest For Success staff and education students from Franciscan.

“The program will be the Quest for Success Homework Help with math and literacy using IXL [curriculum for personalized learning],” said JCESC Administrative Assistant Mark Masloski, who serves as program manager. “This is the second year and students are able to log into a Google Meet to have tutoring sessions. They can work on homework they need assistance with as well as intervention.”

IXL combines a comprehensive K-12 curriculum, real-time diagnostics, personalized guidance and actionable analytics to personalize instruction and help student progress faster. For more information or to register, contact [email protected].

Participating students represent Buckeye Local, Edison Local, Indian Creek Local, Steubenville City and Toronto City School Districts, Bishop John King Mussio, Jefferson County Christian School and home schools throughout the county. Quest for Success is made possible through a five-year, $850,000 grant through the Ohio Department of Education which provides $200,000 annually for the first three years, with $150,000 during year four and $100,000 the final year.

Parker is Administrator of the Year

Posted 9/13/2021 at 1:25:48 PM by Kristina Ash [staff member]

Ken Parker, principal at Harrison Central, was named 2021 Administrator of the Year during the Principals’ Leadership Collaborative meeting on Sept. 9 at the Jefferson County Educational Service Center’s R. Larry George Training Annex. Parker received a plaque and $700 to be used at his grade PK-12 school. JCESC Director of Curriculum and Professional Development Ron Sismondo said the governing board recognizes an outstanding school leader each year who has succeeded in providing high-quality learning opportunities for students, and Parker definitely fits that description. The principal was lauded for his exemplary contributions to his profession in the areas of leadership, curriculum, instruction and assessment, school environment and personal excellence. The Administrator of the Year honor has been given since 2018 with Buckeye Local and Harrison Hills City Schools each yielding two recipients. Pictured are, from left, Parker with Sismondo.