District News

Congratulations to Eastlake North High School's Clare Davey who led the 2026 Excel TECC Team at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference. As a senior in the CADD Engineering Program, she also served as Team Captain and National Leadership Conference Delegate.

The Excel TECC team had two competition teams, also hailing from the CADD Engineering Technology program, directed by Instructor Craig Schmidt. It made for a powerful and supportive environment that tested the skills, leadership and workforce readiness that comprises the framework of the program.

 

We are excited to welcome Aria Lipscomb to the Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools family as the Communications Coordinator! Aria will be responsible for all strategic marketing and communications in the district. With more than seven years of experience in journalism and communications, she has a strong background in storytelling, crisis communication, media relations, public engagement and multimedia content creation.

Aria most recently served as a content producer and journalist with WOIO Channel 19 News. She was also an anchor and morning manager at WTOC in Savannah, and has experience developing fundraising and public awareness campaigns for non-profit organizations. Her technical skills combined with her outgoing personality and commitment to effective communication will be an asset to the district.

Aria is taking on the role following the retirement announcement of current Director of Communications and Community Engagement, Gina Kevern. We thank Gina for her service to public education for 33 years and wish her the best in retirement!

 

The generosity of our local community members continues to warm our hearts!

Pete Maurath is an avid cyclist. He was interested in helping children in our community who might not have a bicycle to enjoy this summer and perhaps would like to ride to school one day. He has been hard at work refurbishing bicycles that he donates to our schools, and then they are distributed to students.

This first round of ten bikes were donated to Edison, Jefferson, Longfellow and Royalview. More bicycles will be available this summer.

Thank you so much, Pete, for helping our students be on the move safely!

 

Burlington Stores celebrated their grand opening at their new location in Willoughby Hills by donating $5,000 to Royalview Elementary School through AdoptAClassroom.org. This program helps principals and other school administrators fundraise for important school-wide projects and initiatives that cannot be met through other funding sources, powering today’s classrooms to prepare tomorrow’s graduates.

 

Two of Willoughby-Eastlake Board of Education staff were honored with the Impact and Connection Award this month. Staff are nominated by their peers for being extraordinary in their field. Superintendent Dr. Patrick Ward visited the school to present the awards earlier this month.

Lisa Hohlfeld, district registrar, began her dedicated 30-year career in the district serving in diverse roles ranging from bus driver to paraprofessional support. Over three decades, she transitioned into essential administrative positions in transportation, payroll, and special education before concluding her tenure as the district registrar. In this demanding final role, she served as a vital first point of contact for families, managing complex responsibilities with remarkable patience and skill. Lisa leaves behind a lasting legacy of professionalism and care that has profoundly impacted the entire Willoughby-Eastlake community.

 

Sandy Myers, Pupil Services Executive Office Assistant, is an exceptional professional whose reliability and proactive care define the Pupil Services Department. She is known for anticipating the needs of staff and families alike, ensuring complex processes run smoothly with a solution-oriented approach. Beyond her technical expertise, her deep commitment and respectful interpersonal skills make her an invaluable asset to the entire district.