Governing Board

About Us

Philosophy

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.

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.

Vice-president

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 Burnett has been a member of the ESC of the Western Reserve Governing Board since January, 2020. Previously, Ken served his community with over 30 years of service as a Governing Board Member of the Geauga County Educational Service Center. Ken is a lifelong resident of Burton and a graduate of Berkshire High School and Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Banking. With the exception of a 10 year period of non-profit administration he has consistently worked within the Banking/Mortgage Financing area throughout Cleveland’s eastern suburbs. Ken is currently serving his third 4 year term as a Burton Township Trustee. He has been married to his wife Ruth for almost 47 years, has two children and 4 wonderful grandchildren who all attend Geauga County Schools.

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

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 State University, a Master's Degree from John Carroll University and a Bachelor's from Kenyon College. Dr. Culotta lives in Kirtland with her husband, Judge Vincent Culotta, and their two daughters.

Member

Mrs. Sally Gillmore has been a member of the ESC of the Western Reserve Governing Board since January, 2020. Previously, Sally served on the Geauga County ESC Governing Board and on the West Geauga Board of Education. She is an active member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, a society of key women educators that promotes professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education, with responsibilities to her local chapter and to the Ohio state organization.Mrs. Gillmore received a B.A. in mathematics from the College of William and Mary, followed by her M.A.L.S. in School and Public Librarianship from Kent State University. Her career in librarianship included serving as librarian at the Mayfield Middle School for twenty-one years where she devised and implemented a skills instruction program for teaching information literacy. She then headed the Mayfield High School Library for sixteen years. She also served as adjunct professor of Library Science at the KSU SLIS from 1967-1990. She taught reference service, cataloging, young adult literature, school library management, and others. She also did some writing for World Book Encyclopedia, as well as chapters for texts on reference works comparing encyclopedias and evaluating dictionaries.

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.

ESCWR Governing Board Meeting Dates

Feb
18

Governing Board Meeting - Special
Tue Feb 18 2020

Mar
3

Governing Board Meeting - Regular
Tue Mar 3 2020

Apr
7

Governing Board Meeting - Regular
Tue Apr 7 2020

ESCWR 2020 Minutes

January 15, 2020 Regular

January 7, 2020 Organizational

Educational Service Center of the Western Reserve

8221 Auburn Road, Concord Township, Ohio 44077
Phone: 440.350.2563