Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine today announced the members of the Governor’s new Ohio School Safety Working Group.

Governor DeWine called for the creation of the working group in August when announcing the development of the Ohio School Safety Center, a new statewide office focused on assisting educators and law enforcement in preventing, preparing for, and responding to threats and acts of violence, including self-harm. The working group, which will be led by the Ohio Department of Public Safety, will evaluate current issues regarding school safety and advise the Ohio School Safety Center on its work.

“Members of this working group all have a common goal of making Ohio’s schools as safe as they possibly can be,” said Governor DeWine. “I’m confident that this group will be a great asset as they work to promote a safe environment for Ohio’s school students and school employees.”

Members of the Ohio School Safety Working Group include:

• • Tim Armelli, Teacher, Chardon High School
  • Melissa Wervey Arnold, CEO, American Academy of Pediatrics
  • Todd Barnhouse, CEO, Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Association
  • Bobbie Boyer, Deputy Director of Prevention, Ohio MHAS
  • LeeAnne Cornyn, Director, Governor’s Children’s Initiatives
  • Courtney Ebersole, Program Administrator, Ohio ACBHA
  • Joan Englund, Executive Director, Mental Health and Addiction Advocacy Coalition
  • Dan Flannery, Director, Case Western Reserve University
  • Eric “Yitz” Frank, Director, Agudath Israel of Ohio
  • Dan Girard, Principal, Wilson Hill Elementary, Worthington Schools
  • Dan Grothause, Transportation Supervisor, St. Marys City Schools
  • Kirk Hamilton, Executive Director, Buckeye Association of School Administrators
  • Donna Harrass, Executive Director, Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police
  • Brian Hill, School Psychologist, Ohio School Psychologists Association
  • Lois Hochstetler, Assistant Director of Community Treatment, Ohio MHAS
  • Scott Huddle, Board President, Mad River Local Schools
  • Jeff Hussey, State Fire Marshal, Ohio Department of Commerce
  • Joe Kitchen, Fire Chief, Ohio Fire Chiefs’ Association
  • Jon Kochis, Fairfield County EMA Director, EMA of Ohio
  • Teresa Lampl, CEO, Ohio Council of Behavioral Health & Family Services Providers
  • Nicholas Lashutka, President, Ohio Children’s Hospital Association
  • Sarah LaTourette, Executive Director, Ohio Family and Children First
  • Rick Lewis, Executive Director/CEO, Ohio School Boards Association
  • George Maier, Sheriff, Buckeye State Sheriff’s Association
  • Krista Maxson, Associate Vice Chancellor P-16 Initiatives, Ohio Dept. of Higher Ed.
  • Mark Mecum, Executive Director, Ohio Children’s Alliance
  • Matt Miller, Superintendent, Lakota Local Schools
  • Nichole Miller, President, Ohio School Counselors Association
  • Bradley Paramore, President, Ohio School Psychologists Association
  • Kari Parsons, Executive Director, Ohio School Resource Office Association
  • Mark Porter, Director of Law Enforcement, Ohio Attorney General’s Office
  • Pam Reed, Teacher, Columbus City Preparatory School for Girls
  • Terry Russell, Executive Director, National Alliance on Mental Illness Ohio
  • Angela Sausser, Executive Director, Public Children Services Association of Ohio
  • Marcie Seidel, Executive Director, Prevention Action Alliance
  • Stephanie Siddens, Senior Executive Director, Ohio Department of Education
  • Jeff Staggs, Superintendent, Newcomerstown Exempted Village Schools
  • Joe Suozzi, Director of Safety, Security and Preparedness, Olentangy Local Schools
  • Ben Suver, Director of Law Enforcement Initiatives, Ohio Dept. of Public Safety
  • Dean Tondiglia, Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police, Kent State University
  • Kim Welter, Director of Finance and Policy, Equality Ohio Education Fund
  • Jeff Westhoven, Chief of Program Services, Ohio Facilities Construction Commission

The Ohio School Safety Center and the Governor’s Ohio School Safety Working Group were created as part of Governor DeWine’s STRONG Ohio plan.

The working group’s first meeting will be held tomorrow at 10 a.m. at the Ohio Department of Public Safety, 1970 W. Broad Street, in Columbus.