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Mansfield, OH (April 15, 2026) – The Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center (MOESC) is pleased to announce the hiring of two key leaders who will enhance regional partnerships and expand career-connected learning opportunities for students. During its April 15, 2026 Regular Board Meeting, the MOESC Board of Governors approved the recommendations of Superintendent Kevin Kimmel to appoint Casie Grau as School-Community Partnership Coordinator and Bethany Rachel as Career Connected Coordinator.

Casie Grau brings extensive experience in strategic partnerships, organizational leadership and community engagement to her new role. Most recently serving in leadership positions within local chambers of commerce and as a career-technical educator, Grau has demonstrated a strong ability to connect education, business and community stakeholders to drive meaningful outcomes. In her role, she will lead the development and coordination of partnerships across the region, supporting the work of the Mid-Ohio Educational Center Business Advisory Council (BAC) and expanding opportunities for students to engage in career-connected learning experiences.

Grau stated, "I am incredibly excited to join the MOESC and to serve in a role that connects the classroom to our regional workforce, driving impactful outcomes through strong partnerships and initiatives."

Bethany Rachel joins MOESC with a strong background in workforce development and education, having led multi-county initiatives that connect students with employers and expand access to career pathways. Her experience includes managing regional career-readiness programming, building partnerships with business and industry and supporting students through coaching, job shadowing and work-based learning opportunities. In her new position, Rachel will focus on strengthening career-connected systems and ensuring students across the region are prepared for success beyond graduation.

“I’m honored and excited to join Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center in this role,” Rachel said. “As someone born and raised here, I’m passionate about strengthening connections between our schools and community and helping support continued growth across our region.”

The addition of these roles reflects MOESC’s continued investment in aligning education with regional workforce needs; fostering collaboration among schools, businesses and community organizations and creating meaningful opportunities for students throughout Richland, Morrow and Crawford counties.

“These positions are critical to advancing our mission of preparing students for both college and career success,” said Superintendent Kevin Kimmel. “Casie and Bethany bring a wealth of experience and a shared commitment to building strong partnerships that will benefit our schools, communities and workforce.”

Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center provides specialized academic and support services, including professional development, to 13 school districts and over 20,000 students in Crawford, Morrow and Richland Counties. Client districts receive services from curriculum, gifted and special education consultants, speech pathologists, psychologists, special education teachers, occupational therapists and physical therapists.

Mansfield, OH (April 14, 2026) – As winners of the MOESC Franklin B. Walter Scholarships, Jacob Bickert (Galion High School, Crawford County), Mary Green (Highland High School, Morrow County) and Jesse Halfhill (Pioneer CTC & Lexington High School, Richland County) were selected to represent MOESC and their respective county at the Ohio Educational Service Center Association (OESCA) Franklin B. Walter State program on April 13.

Kevin D. Kimmel, MOESC Superintendent, said, “I would like to congratulate Jacob, Mary and Jesse on this outstanding accomplishment and wish them the best of luck as they graduate from high school next month and move on with their pursuits in college.

The Franklin B. Walter All-Scholastic Award was established in 1989 by Ohio’s educational service center superintendents to recognize outstanding student achievement. One senior from each of Ohio’s eighty-eight counties is eligible to receive this annual honor. 

Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center provides specialized academic and support services to 13 school districts and over 20,000 students in Crawford, Morrow and Richland Counties. Client districts receive services from curriculum, gifted and special education consultants, speech pathologists, psychologists, special education teachers, occupational therapists and physical therapists.

Mansfield, OH (April 7, 2026) – Spring is here, and for our local art teachers, this means art show season! Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center is excited to host its annual Artapolooza fine arts festival. This year, it will take place from April 17 through April 22 at the Mid-Ohio Conference Center at 890 W. Fourth Street in Mansfield.

“This year’s event is shaping up to be a massive showcase of local talent, with 23 school districts participating consisting of 46 art teachers displaying the incredible work of their students” stated Jennifer Pennell, Mid-Ohio ESC coordinator of this year’s event.

Event Highlights and Entertainment

In addition to the vast gallery of visual arts, Artapolooza is thrilled to announce a special performance by the Richland School of Academic Arts dance team. They will be providing live entertainment for attendees on Saturday, April 18, at 2 p.m.

Gallery Hours

The public is invited to explore the gallery during the following hours:

• Friday, April 17: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Saturday, April 18: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. (dance performance at 2 p.m.)
• Sunday, April 19: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
• Monday, April 20 – Wednesday, April 22: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Awards and Virtual Access

The annual art awards presentation will be held on the final evening, Wednesday, April 22, at 6:30 p.m. in Artists Hall. For those unable to attend in person, a slideshow presentation and gallery walk will be available on the Mid-Ohio ESC website at the conclusion of the event.

Mid-Ohio ESC would like to thank Schmidt Security Pro for their generous support of Artapolooza and for providing funding for the awards.

As in years previous, Artapolooza will be accepting all types of visual art projects: paintings, drawings, sculptures, as well as mixed media and digital art. Pennell emphasized that students from all area schools, not just MOESC member districts, are all welcome and may submit projects for the festival.

Pennell further stated, “Artapolooza is about celebrating the arts, something that is important to every child’s education. We are supporting the belief from the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce that education in the Fine Arts is essential in developing the whole child."

Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center provides specialized academic and support services, including professional development, to 13 school districts and over 20,000 students in Crawford, Morrow and Richland Counties. Client districts receive services from curriculum, gifted and special education consultants, speech pathologists, psychologists, special education teachers, occupational therapists and physical therapists.

Mansfield, OH (April 2, 2026) – This summer, Mid-Ohio ESC is offering a Summer School for students with autism to help support school districts with their Extended School Year Services. The program will be held from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays from June 8th through July 2nd. A second session may be offered if enrollment requires it. 

During this program, students will participate in a variety of theme-based activities like a traditional summer program while also receiving a naturalistic application of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). 

ABA treatment plans target the development of specific skills across areas, including socialization, play, adaptive behavior and language, with an emphasis on communication skills. Services will be provided using a tiered delivery model. 

A Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) will design and supervise treatment goals and oversee Registered

Behavior Technicians (RBT) in working directly with each student, in collaboration with an Intervention Specialist, Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist and a Speech Language Pathologist to address academic and language IEP goals as needed for extended school year services. Every week will include themed activities, all while working towards each student's personalized set of goals.

District Directors of Special Education, please register by Friday, May 8, 2026. The rate for client districts is $2,300 and non-client districts/private pay is $2,760. For more information, please contact Michaela Martin at martin.michaela@moesc.net or at 419-709-7011

Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center provides specialized academic and support services, including professional development, to 13 school districts and over 20,000 students in Crawford, Morrow and Richland Counties. Client districts receive services from curriculum, gifted and special education consultants, speech pathologists, psychologists, special education teachers, occupational therapists and physical therapists.

Mansfield, OH (March 26, 2026) — In 2023, Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center (MOESC) was selected as one of four Educational Service Centers in Ohio to secure a competitive bid from the Ohio Department of Education to support Governor Mike DeWine’s “Building Regional Capacity to Support Ohio’s Literacy Coaching Model” initiative.

Building on that success, MOESC was awarded a 2025 contract by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce to lead the regional implementation of this literacy initiative across both West and Central Ohio—impacting more than 40 counties: West (red) and Central (yellow).

As a result of the measurable success of the state’s ReadOhio Literacy Coaching Project, Governor DeWine announced in his 2026 State of the State Address a significant expansion of the initiative, including the addition of 50 new ReadOhio literacy coaches statewide. Nick Jacobs, Director of Literacy at MOESC and the Regional Literacy Coaching Coordinator for the West Region, states, "This announcement represents a pivotal moment across this project to strengthen our impact.” 

Carrie Wood, Director of Literacy at MOESC and the Regional Literacy Coaching Coordinator for the Central Region, adds, “The expansion initiative reflects Governor Mike DeWine’s continued commitment to ensuring that every child in Ohio becomes a proficient reader, and it underscores the critical role that highly qualified literacy coaches play in making that vision a reality."

As this work expands, MOESC is thoughtfully recruiting experienced educators who are interested in contributing to regional literacy efforts while maintaining strong partnerships with local school districts.

Applications are now being accepted for 25 positions with an expedited review process. Qualified applicants can expect to be scheduled for an initial interview within one week of applying if there are placements near their residence.

Minimum qualifications include:

• Master’s degree in an education-related field
• Reading Endorsement and/or
• Structured literacy accredited credential

MOESC remains committed to supporting the stability and success of local districts. This recruitment effort is not designed to draw educators away from their current roles but rather to provide a pathway for those who are independently seeking new opportunities, transitioning into leadership or whose professional circumstances are evolving.

We especially encourage interest from:

• Recently retired educators interested in continued contribution
• Educators navigating role changes and seeking to apply their expertise in a broader context due to budget constraints at their local district

These positions are intended to complement—not compete with—district staffing by strengthening instructional capacity across the region and supporting long-term literacy outcomes for all students.

Additional opportunities to learn more about the role will be announced via the Mid-Ohio ESC Facebook page. Prospective applicants are also encouraged to attend an upcoming information session as promoted in this flyer.

Apply now through the MOESC website.

Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center provides specialized academic and support services, including professional development, to 13 school districts and over 20,000 students in Crawford, Morrow and Richland Counties. Client districts receive services from curriculum, gifted and special education consultants, speech pathologists, psychologists, special education teachers, occupational therapists and physical therapists.

Mansfield, OH (March 24, 2026) – Educators from districts in Crawford County, Morrow County and Richland County will have the opportunity to participate in the fourth Teacher Boot Camps this summer. Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center's Business Advisory Council collaborates with workforce development partners in each county to organize these programs to show teachers what goes on behind the scenes in businesses in each county. Participants will gain first-hand experience with the rewarding careers available in manufacturing and technology and the skills students need to obtain and retain these local positions.

The Crawford County Teacher Manufacturing Boot Camp is May 20, 2026, June 9-11, 2026 and June 17, 2026.

The schedule is as follows:

May 20, 2026: Orientation, 4-6 p.m.

June 9, 2026: Two Business Tours, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

June 10, 2026: Two Business Tours, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

June 11, 2026: Two Business Tours, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

June 17, 2026: Teacher Project Presentations, 8-10 a.m.

The Morrow County Teacher Manufacturing Boot Camp is June 8, 2026, June 9-11, 2026 and June 16, 2026.

The schedule is as follows:

June 8, 2026: Orientation, 9:30-11:30 a.m.

June 9, 2026: Two Business Tours, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

June 10, 2026: Two Business Tours, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

June 11, 2026: Two Business Tours, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

June 16, 2026: Teacher Project Presentations, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

The Richland County Teacher Technology Boot Camp is June 8, 2026, June 9-11, 2026 and June 16, 2026.

The schedule is as follows:

June 8, 2026: Orientation, 9:30-11:30 a.m.

June 9, 2026: Two Business Tours, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

June 10, 2026: Two Business Tours, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

June 11, 2026: Two Business Tours, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

June 16, 2026: Teacher Project Presentations, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Educators must apply for this professional development opportunity by April 10, 2026. Those who are selected to participate in the Boot Camp will receive the following benefits:

• Three graduate credits from Ashland University at a rate of $125 out-of-pocket cost for the teacher. (this is a $415 savings being funded through the Governor’s Office).
• All educators will be required to create a project/unit to use with students during the 2026-27 school year. Teachers will present this project to businesses and administrators on the final day of the Boot Camp.
• Instruction and guidance from top-level professionals at participating businesses, Mid-Ohio ESC and local Economic Development partners.

These summer sessions are set to be a huge success. The summer Boot Camp programs provide customized opportunities for educators to explore the workforce development needs and opportunities in their respective communities. The experiences for teachers in the Manufacturing and Technology Boot Camp programs can be used to strengthen classroom career readiness connections that are embedded in core subject area instruction.

Amy Wood, Mid-Ohio ESC's Director of Grants and Special Projects, stated, "Teachers are inherently our best career readiness advisors. Teacher Bootcamps are a meaningful way for teachers to enhance their understanding of the current landscape of local and regional career opportunities, and then use that knowledge to better integrate career-connected learning into their classrooms.”

The deadline to apply is April 10, 2026, with twelve spots available in each county. All core content and special area middle & high school teachers, school counselors and career coaches may apply at the links below. Educators in all schools in Richland, Crawford and Morrow Counties are eligible to apply.

Register for Crawford County at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeP9fNqI2AnM1efDGqgpaeU5PTHHAkAtHzHCIe8RgDiMAAiHw/viewform

Register for Morrow County at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeQUINnZBLjEzFiSygCoNe778a01rqV0uq0Buf4bEOxiTUbJA/viewform?usp=send_form

Register for Richland County at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSePVzdP7XdmgKM4vZhrH1yOI8vfJ0M5LRKQWk2zrrhTMn_7qg/viewform

Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center’s Business Advisory Council represents the following school districts in Richland, Morrow and Crawford Counties: Bucyrus City Schools, Cardington-Lincoln Local Schools, Crestline Exempted Village Schools, Crestview Local Schools, GOAL Digital Academy, Highland Local Schools, Lexington Local Schools, Lucas Local Schools, Madison Local Schools, Mansfield City Schools, Mount Gilead Exempted Village Schools, Northmor Local Schools, Ontario Local Schools, Plymouth Shiloh Local Schools, Shelby City Schools and Wynford Local Schools.

Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center provides specialized academic and support services to 13 school districts and over 20,000 students in Crawford, Morrow and Richland Counties. Client districts receive services from curriculum, gifted and special education consultants, speech pathologists, psychologists, special education teachers, occupational therapists and physical therapists.