Governing Board

The Educational Service Center of the Western Reserve (ESCWR) Governing Board is a policy-making body that functions according to the mandates of state law and is comprised of nine elected members.

The Board usually meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 5:45 pm at the Auburn Technology Learning Center, 8221 Auburn Road, Concord, Ohio.

It is the policy of the ESCWR that all of the ESCWR-sponsored public meetings and events are accessible to people with disabilities. If you need assistance in participating in this meeting due to a disability as defined under the ADA, please call the ESCWR Superintendent's office at 440-350-2563.

OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

Felker, Jennifer

Superintendent

jfelker@escwr.org

Since 2016 Jennifer Felker had been the Geauga County Educational Service Center Superintendent and was named the Lake County Educational Service Center Superintendent in December, 2018. She now serves as the Superintendent for the newly created Educational Service Center of the Western Reserve, which merged the two ESCs in January, 2020. In addition, Mrs. Felker also serves as the Executive Chair of the Lake/Geauga Information Technology Center (ITC), and Superintendent of iStem Geauga Early College High School.

Prior to coming to Geauga County, Mrs. Felker was the State Associate Superintendent for Public Instruction for the Ohio Department of Education and was responsible for overseeing the Division of Learning: Center for Curriculum and Assessment, and the Center for Student Support and Education Options. She has also served as Director of Programs and Services for the Orange City School District, and previously was the Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent Pro-Tempore of the Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County. Prior to that she was the special education supervisor at Olmsted Falls and Maple Heights City Schools, a teacher and an elementary principal in Brooklyn City Schools, and teacher for Toledo public schools.

OFFICE OF THE TREASURER

Slemons, L Greg

CFO Treasurer

gslemons@escwr.org

Office: 440-350-2563 x 731

Greg Slemons joined the ESC of the Western Reserve as the Treasurer in April, 2019

President

Mr. Geoffrey Kent joined the ESC of the Western Reserve Governing Board effective January, 2020. He previously served as the President of the Governing Board of the Lake County ESC. He has also served as Lake County Recorder, Painesville City Councilman and Council President and retired from Maximus, headquartered in Washington DC, as a budget cost analyst. He is vice-president of the Lake County Employee credit union, serves on the Lake Central YMCA Board of Directors, and has been an official with the Ohio High School Athletic Association for 33 years. He and his wife Marilyn reside in Painesville Township and have one son, Mark.

Member

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Mr. Steve Remias was appointed vice-president of the ESC of the Western Reserve Governing Board in January, 2020. He was the former president and vice-President of the Geauga County ESC Governing Board. Mr. Remias has been a lifelong Geauga County resident, married with two children and one grandchild. His past accomplishments and experience include work as a professor teaching Criminal Justice courses, and administrator handling basic police academies across Ohio. His educational accomplishments include a Bachelors of Science in Law Enforcement Administration, a Masters of Science in Technical Education, and CAI accreditation from the Auction Marketing Institute. Mr. Remias is a member of the VFW Post 1863, Buckeye Sheriff’s Association, Geauga Farm Bureau, Geauga County Department on Aging and the National Auctioneers Association. He also worked with the Geauga County Umpires Association.

Member

Mrs. Jean Brush has been a member of the ESC of the Western Reserve starting January, 2020. She served previously on the Lake County Educational Service Center Governing Board since 1990. She is active in her church. Seeing children succeed and helping families step up in life are the rewards she receives from her countless hours of volunteerism. Prior community involvement includes service at Forbes House, the YMCA, St. Clair School, the Rape Crisis Center, Lake Health, the Lake County courts, and Neighboring. Mrs. Brush lives in Painesville and has two grown children, Dr. James J. Brush and Betsy Chen. She has three grandchildren, Sarah, Adrian, and Colin.

Member

Mr. Kenneth Cahill has been a member of the ESC of the Western Reserve Governing Board beginning January, 2020. Previously, he served on the Lake County ESC Governing Board. Since 1991, Ken Cahill has been practicing family law, working toward outcomes that are in the best interest of families and children. Ken is a noted speaker on issues of family law and serves as chair of the Family Law Committee. Protecting dependent, neglected and abused children was the role of Family Law attorney Kenneth J. Cahill at the Lake County Prosecutor’s Juvenile Division representing the Lake County Department of Jobs & Family Services. Practicing Family Law since 1991, Ken started first as an Assistant Lake County Prosecutor enforcing and modifying child support orders before joining the Lake County Prosecutors Juvenile Division. Ken has also prosecuted criminal cases against juvenile offenders. In 1993, he commenced his private practice primarily focusing on Family Law before joining Dworken & Bernstein in 2000.

Ken Cahill has frequently lectured on several topics related to divorce and family law matters including legislative developments involving family law, marital & separate property issues, and child custody matters. He is frequently appointed by trial courts to serve as Guardian Ad Litem to represent the best interests of children.

Member

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Mrs. Bonnie Cavanaugh has been a member of the ESC of the Western Reserve Governing Board since January, 2020. Previously, Bonnie served as a member of the Geauga County ESC Governing Board. She and her husband David have resided in Middlefield for 26 years. Their two children attended and graduated from Cardinal Local Schools. Bonnie received a Bachelor's Degree in Urban Studies, Summa cum laude, from Cleveland State University, and an Associate's Degree of Business in Paralegal Studies from Cuyahoga County Community College. Bonnie is employed full-time at the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court Clerk's Office and is a member of the West Geauga Kiwanis club. She also worked as a paralegal in two law offices and has more than ten years corporate administrative / accounting experience.

Member

Dr. Susan Culotta has been a member of the ESC of the Western Reserve Governing Board beginning January, 2020. Previously, she was a member of the Lake County Educational Service Center Governing Board. Dr. Culotta is a Professor of Psychology at Lake Erie College. She also serves on the Board of Health for the Lake County General Health District. Dr. Culotta holds a doctorate from Cleveland University, a Master's Degree from John Carol University and a Bachelor's from Kenyon College. Dr. Culotta lives in Kirtland with her husband, Judge Vincent Culotta, and their two daughters.

Member

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Mr. Timothy H. Snyder, Esq., was elected Member of the ESCWR Governing Board commencing January, 2022. He earned a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from Hiram College, an M.A. in Psychology from Cleveland State, and Juris Doctor degree from Cleveland Marshall College of Law. Tim is still active with over 35 years of state and local law enforcement experience, and over 25 years of experience as private practice attorney, college professor and police academy instructor. He volunteers for many community activities including flipping pancakes for the Burton Fire Dept., donating blood over 130 times, and organizing bone marrow donor registration drives. Tim and his wife live in Burton where they raised their three children and now enjoy visits from their grandchildren.

Member

Mr. Erik L. Walter has been a member of the ESC of the Western Reserve Governing Board beginning January, 2020. Previously, he was a member of the Lake County ESC Governing Board. Mr. Walter is a partner at the law firm of Dworken & Bernstein Co., L.P.A. He has served on the Board of Directors for the YMCA in Lansing, Michigan, is currently on the Board of Directors for the YMCA in Lake County, Ohio, the Northeast Ohio Autism Group and Lake County Jail Ministries. Mr. Walter, his wife Melissa and three children Hannah, Noah and Isaiah reside in Concord.