Department Directory

Stephen D. Dackin, Director
Jeremy Varner, Deputy Director, Division of Career-Technical Education and Workforce Readiness
Diane Allen, Deputy Director, Division of Primary and Secondary Education
Aaron Rausch, Deputy Chief of Staff  and Chief of Budget and School Funding
Chris Woolard, Chief Integration Officer
Kari Jones, Chief Strategy Officer

Division of Primary and Secondary Education

Section for Educational Options and Improvement

Colleen Grady, Chief

• Community Schools – Lori Wood, Administrator  
• Nonpublic Educational Options -- Christine Burns, Administrator 
• Online Schools – Lily Bartholomew, Program Administrator
• School and District Improvement – Colleen Grady, Chief
• School Sponsorship – Sheila Vitale, Administrator

Section for Literacy Achievement and Academic Success

Dr. Melissa Weber-Mayrer, Chief

• Academic Success – Sherry Birchem, Administrator
• Educator Talent & Leadership - 
  • ​Teacher Leadership | Administrator | OhioHCRC
• Literacy Achievement - Sherine Tambyraja, Administrator
  • Literacy Policy - LM Clinton, Associate Administrator
• Integrated Systems of Academic Supports - Kerry Martinez, Associate Administrator

Section for Performance & Impact

Alyson DeAngelo, Chief

• Accountability – Rachel Wakefield, Administrator 
  • ​Report Card | Special Education Profile | Sponsor Evaluation
• Assessment – Lisa Chandler, Administrator
• Research, Evaluation & Advanced Analytics – Eben Dowell, Administrator 

Section for Student and Academic Supports

• Exceptional Children - Jo Hannah Ward, Administrator 
• Nutrition – Brigette Hires, Administrator

Division of Career-Technical Education and Workforce Readiness

• Career-Technical Education – Leah Amstutz, Administrator
• Graduate Success – Graham Wood, Administrator
  • ​Graduation Requirements | School Counselors | STEM

Chief Strategy Officer

Kari Jones, Chief Strategy Officer

• Whole Child Supports – Valerie Kunze, Administrator  
• Communications - Lacey Snoke, Chief Communications Officer

Section for Operations

Carolyn Everidge-Frey, Chief Operations Officer

• Pupil Transportation - Holly Fischer, Administrator

Office of Budget and School Funding

Aaron Rausch, Deputy Chief of Staff  and Chief of Budget and School Funding

• Field Services - Jill Grubb, Administrator
  • ​Information Technology Center Liaison
• Financial Analysis & Oversight - Kim Richards, Financial Program Manager
• School Funding - Elena Sanders, Senior Financial Manager
• Sourcing - Sarah Gunther, Financial Manager

Section for Fiscal

Brian Jones, Chief

• Federal Programs - Jeremy Marks, Administrator
• Fiscal Services - Carrie Nino Koontz, Financial Manager
• Grants Administration - Yolanda Mitchell-Garnes, Financial Manager

Last Modified: 2/2/2026 10:34:37 AM

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