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2023-2024 Heights Schools Foundation Trustees
PRESIDENT
Dr. Susan D. Carver ’78
VICE PRESIDENT
Steven Haynie ’91
VICE PRESIDENT
Shanice Settle ’06
TREASURER
Meghan Zehnder McMahon ’90
SECRETARY
Peter Shriver ’90
TRUSTEES
Anna Brandt ’04
Rachael Collyer ’11
Dr. Carmen Daniel
Krissy Dietrich Gallagher ’91
Dan Heintz ’85
Timothy Jones ’92
Jeff Johnson ’91
Kathryn T. Joseph ’78
Hank Kornblut ’81
Dr. Matthew McPheeters ’07
Margaret Rothschild Slesnick ’79
Kelly Thomas ’83
Elizabeth Kirby, Superintendent
THE HEIGHTS SCHOOLS FOUNDATION
DEAR TIGER NATION,
As I sit in our new space in the Board of Education building, I can’t help but reflect on the last nine months with pride and a sense of contentment. Tiger Nation has enabled the Heights Schools Foundation (HSF) to have an incredibly successful year.
Together, we have provided more support than anticipated. HSF provided more than $50,000 in scholarships for graduating seniors to attend college or technical school. Through a grant from a generous alum, the district, in conjunction with Metro Health, implemented a new mental health program for students and staff. We funded a running club at Noble Elementary. The HSF received a gift from the Sersig/Brandt family to endow a new scholarship to be given annually to a senior committed to volunteerism or civic engagement. We have also added classroom libraries, distributed more than 1000 alumni t-shirts and pennants throughout the world. These are just a few of the highlights of our year supporting HSF.
The greatest highlight this year was when more than 400 Heights alumni and Kelce brother fans attended a suspenseful Cleveland Cavaliers game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse and received a Kelce brothers Cavs bobble head. Both Travis and Jason Kelce chose the Heights Schools Foundation as the beneficiary of a $10,000 donation from the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was truly a night to remember for Tiger Nation.
As we move into another fiscal year, I would like to thank the HSF Board of Trustees for their dedication to the entire Heights community. We are a small but mighty office and rely heavily on our volunteers and their ongoing support is greatly appreciated. I would like to extend a special thank you to our 2023-2024 Volunteer of the Year, Meghan McMahon, treasurer of the HSF.
None of this could happen without each and every one of you, our alumni supporters. As we continue to grow our annual campaign and endowment fund as well as our grant program, we will continue to provide vital funding for our teachers and schools and our graduating seniors. Thank you!
Enjoy reading more in the next pages about our members of our alumni community, new programs, the 2023 Hall of Fame Induction ceremony and upcoming reunions.
Again, thank you for your support of HSF.
Sincerely,
Laura Schwartz Loebl ’87 Executive Director
43rd Cleveland Heights High School DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI HALL OF FAME
We congratulate and welcome nine extraordinary individuals who join the ranks of nearly 450 graduates inducted since CH-UH held the first ceremony in 1981. Created by Dr. Patricia A. Ackerman, former CH-UH School Administrator and Principal, the Hall of Fame recognizes individuals from all fields at varying stages of success in career, philanthropy and humanitarian efforts. It was a festive evening with over 200 in attendance for the ceremony and dinner reception.
What makes the Hall of Fame program so spectacular, and at the root of its success, is the ability to create relationships between alumni and students.
The hard-working and dedicated students who make up the Image Makers are influential in not just selecting alumni, but getting to know them through interviews and conversations, then introducing the inductees during the ceremony. The Image Makers program is overseen and supervised by Charlene Searcy, High School Guidance Counselor.
Welcome to the 2023 Alumni Hall of Fame Members!
by Betsy Friedlander ’90
EJ BAILEY ’90
EJ Bailey has worked as a web designer bringing fortune 500 brands onto the internet for the first time, co-founded Project Osmosis, a non-profit teaching design skills to children, and taught continuing ed at the Art Institute of Chicago. He has served as a user experience designer & Creative Director at Frog Design, a global innovation firm. His patented work can be found from Disney parks to hospital rooms. Bailey built and led design teams at AthenaHealth and served as Head of Design/Research at AltSchool.
Currently Bailey is VP of User Experience at Zillow Group and lives his purpose through his own company Properganda– making wearable and shareable graphic art with a twist of social commentary. Considered a User Experience Executive with 25+ years of experience, he believes that each of us has a purpose, and that the highest achievement of Design is to help us fulfill that purpose.
“This is a huge surprise and is an even bigger honor. Heights High is a very special place to learn. Many of my fondest memories and deepest, longest friendships were formed here. The educators and opportunities Heights afforded me set me on a path of self-discovery and self-determination. Wherever I live and wherever I travel, I proudly represent my home town of Cleveland Heights and this beautiful school.”
KEN BARCUS ’73
Given Posthumously
Ken Barcus went from singing in the Heights Men’s Chorus, to being the voice reporting the news on NPR, and then editing and mentoring countless others who would become some of the most preeminent voices on the network today. Barcus spent more than three decades working in journalism. He merged his unwavering passion for storytelling and for his hometown by moving his family across the country to raise his kids in Cleveland, and creating his “dream job” working remotely for NPR, championing stories that would spotlight the region’s unique culture and dispel the notion of the Midwest, as mere “flyover country.” Barcus’s family accepted this award on his behalf.
DR. SUSAN KLEINER ’75
PHYLLIS SEVEN HARRIS ’83
Phyllis “Seven” Harris’ 25+ years of experience with nonprofits, includes program management, fundraising, and upper-level management positions. For many years, she has played a strong role as an advocate in Cleveland’s LGBTQ+ community. With the executive leadership of Harris since 2012, the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland has experienced transformational growth and expansion. Harris directed a major capital campaign for the Cleveland Sight Center, served as Vice President of Programs for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland and spearheaded youth initiatives at Planned Parenthood of Northeast Ohio. Her leadership in local nonprofit circles also extends to service on local and national nonprofit boards including the Women of Color Foundation, Assembly for the Arts, Gestalt Institute of Cleveland and CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers.
“ Induction into the Cleveland Heights High School Hall of Fame is an amazing honor underscoring the value of representation and aligning with the district’s broader values. It is even more meaningful for those of us who struggled to find our voice in our formative years. This award is for the quiet ones. Go Tigers!”
Dr. Susan Kleiner is a pioneer in the field of nutrition, performance, and health. She is revered as a scientist, practitioner, consultant, educator, and motivator speaking worldwide to coaches, athletes, and industry on these topics. She is the founder and owner of High Performance Nutrition, LLC, where she has consulted with national and international sports teams, Olympians and elite athletes in countless sports, along with her work as an influential industry consultant. She is a best selling author and co-founder/ fellow of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, a fellow of the American College of Nutrition, a member of the American
“ I didn’t like school, yet I was curious and I loved learning. The Heights Flex and then New School Program showed me that there was an alternative path to learning about myself and the world. With that new point of view and my love of learning I was empowered to challenge myself and discover my own journey. This award is a testament to those innovative educational programs. I hope that by receiving this award I can encourage young students to seek helpful alternatives, search for their own paths and take on challenges that may offer excitement and fulfillment to their lives.”
DR. RUTH LINK-GELLES ’02
Dr. Ruth Link-Gelles, PhD, MPH is a Commander in the US Public Health Service assigned to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division, where she serves as a senior epidemiologist and the program lead for vaccine effectiveness. In this position, she plays a key role in evaluating the real-world effectiveness of current vaccines and determining the potential impact of future vaccine policy, routinely advising CDC and Department of Health and Human Services leadership. Dr. Link-Gelles previously led planning and implementation for COVID-19 vaccine rollout in long-term care facilities and has been deployed numerous times in response to outbreaks of COVID-19, Zika virus, measles, and hepatitis.
“Thanks to wonderful educators, Heights High is where I discovered my love of math and statistics, learned how to write and think, and started to understand the power of public policy. So many of my accomplishments are due to the foundations I built at Heights and it’s truly an honor to be recognized.”
HEATHER CLAYTON TERRY ’94
Heather Clayton Terry, MPA is an Advocate Career Coach and Philanthropist currently working as a Philanthropy Consultant for the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation. Terry is responsible for the company’s foundation, sponsorship and volunteer efforts across the state of Ohio and the Social Justice Grants Initiative across the company’s 15 state footprint. Terry has also worked as the Associate Director for Women in Science and Engineering at CWRU, advising emerging women and under resourced students in pursuit of STEM degrees. Co-founder of the Family Equity Committee for alternative family building to address infertility insurance coverage, adoption benefits, and foster care support & co-founder of Women of Color Series and the LGBT and Women’s Center’s Collaborative Series to address intersectional feminism.
“ I am grateful, thankful and feel a sense of humility for having the opportunity to be inducted into the Hall of Fame for Cleveland Heights High School. As a student, I struggled. I was navigating a space where I often felt like I did not belong. What helped me to see beyond my experience was centering on loving myself and surrounding myself with people who genuinely cared about me. Today, as an adult, I feel a sense of pride for how far I have come with the help and support of loved ones and inspired to do even greater things that will help myself and others not only live but thrive.”
DAVID THOMAS ’91
David Thomas embarked on his music career in Audio Engineering with Eighth Day Sound, working with legends like Frank Sinatra and Prince. Later, he established his own company, working prestigious events like Bonnaroo and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2012, Thomas joined d&b audiotechnik, a renowned professional loudspeaker manufacturer where he is the Advanced System Specialist, supporting major tours with artists like Imagine Dragons, Panic at the Disco, and Beyonce. Thomas’s legacy is not only defined by his technical expertise but also by his commitment to mentoring others while enjoying time with his family. His passion for the industry and dedication to hard work serve as an inspiration to all who have had the privilege to work with him. Thomas, born into a musically immersed family with both parents as music teachers, was introduced to the world of melodies and sound at a young age. His father directed the Heights Singers, which significantly influenced his future in audio engineering.
“ Being selected for induction into the Heights High Hall of Fame means a great deal to me on both a personal and symbolic level. It’s a recognition of the hard work, commitment, and guidance that have contributed to my academic and extracurricular journey. This honor serves as a constant reminder of the values I’ve cultivated during my time at the school and motivates me to continue striving for excellence. Moreover, it reinforces my responsibility to inspire others and give back to the community that has supported me.”
DR. HOWARD TUCKER ’40
Dr. Howard Tucker is a neurologist who celebrated his 101st birthday in July 2023. Recently named the “Oldest Practicing Doctor” by Guinness World Records, Dr. Tucker was teaching medical residents and treating patients throughout the pandemic at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center. He currently teaches medical students at Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Tucker practiced neurology for many decades at University Hospitals and served as Chief of Neurology at Hillcrest Hospital, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. In addition to practicing medicine for over 75 years, Dr. Tucker was one of the oldest individuals to receive a law degree and pass the Ohio Bar Exam in his late 60s. Having served in the U.S. Navy during WWII, he would later serve as Chief of Neurology for the Atlantic Fleet during the Korean War.
“ It is a privilege to be so honored by Cleveland Heights High School. Many memories are generated by this honor. I thoroughly enjoyed my time as a student at Heights High and I look forward to witnessing the accomplishments of the next generations of Heights High alumni. My participation in the symphony orchestra was a highlight and I had the honor of serving as concert master.”
DR. ARMIN WEINBERG ’64
Dr. Armin Weinberg was a Professor at Baylor College of Medicine, Director of the Chronic Disease Research Center, Co-founder of the Intercultural Cancer Council, founding board member of C-Change and many other advocacy, research and service organizations. He spearheaded partnerships in the Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Israel on the health effects of radiation. In recognition of his interest in and achieving impact in the community he was the recipient of the American Cancer Society’s Humanitarian Award, George & Barbara Bush Collaboration Award from C-Change, American Jewish Committee’s Academicians Award, National Patient Advocate Foundation’s National Health Care Hero Award, State of Israel Bonds’s Maimonides Award, Susan G. Komen Foundation’s Jill Ireland Award, Texas Cancer Council’s Gib Lewis Award for Public Education, Texas School Health Association’s Distinguished Service Award and Volunteer Houston’s Lifetime Member Award.
“I am gratified that today’s Heights High School students found my career accomplishments worthy of this honor.”
THISISHOWWEROLL UPDATE SPORTS TIGER NATION
It’s not often that a high school bowling match draws a crowd that sounds like a basketball game.
But that’s just what happened when Heights High’s bowling team competed in its first match of the season against Brunswick at Medina AMF on November 29.
Following each player’s two traditional ten-frame match-ups, Coach Charmaine Allen selects the top five bowlers to participate in a Baker game. This unique team effort pits one team of five against another, with each student bowling two frames. On this particular night, Heights High’s team consisted of Gabe McKay bowling the first and 6th frames, Matthew Catron bowling the second and 7th, Tyler McCann bowling the 3rd and 8th, Kevin Clark, Jr. bowling the 4th and 9th, and Marcus Holland bowling the 5th and 10th frames. Coach Allen always puts Marcus in at anchor “because he is clutch,” she said of the perpetually cool and composed senior.
Gabe started the match off with a strike. Matt followed. Then Kevin, Tyler, and Marcus did the same. By this point, people had started to gather around.
There were other teams competing in another section of the alley, plus certain lanes open to the public.
As the Heights team began to roll their second frames, they had quite a crowd watching. Gabe bowled another strike. Matt followed. Kevin too. The crowd grew, with cheers going up after every strike.
According to Coach Allen, a 200 is a very good score for a Baker match, something she encourages her team to achieve. “You have to close your frame,” she always tells them. “You have an obligation to finish your frame, even if it’s with a spare.”
But Heights High didn’t have any trouble closing their frames and they didn’t need to rely on spares. Tyler rolled a strike. Then it was Marcus’ turn: Strike. Now he had two extra frames to bowl. Strike. Strike.
As spectators, parents and fellow bowlers broke into shouts and cheers, Marcus turned around and calmly said, “Coach, how’s that for 200?” Because the Heights High team had bowled a perfect score, a whopping 300 points, which is good enough to automatically qualify them for the national tournament in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in June.
“When I turned around, I was shocked to see so many people watching us. It honestly sounded like a basketball gym in there,” said Coach Allen. Despite Marcus’ calm, she found herself moved to tears. “I’ve been with these kids since they were freshmen when most of them knew nothing about bowling.”
When the team won the Lake Erie League Championship last year and Allen was named Coach of the Year, she declared to Athletic Director Joe D’Amato that her team would make it to the State Championship this year. “But look at us,” said Coach Allen. “We’re going all the way to Nationals.”
The team needs the help of the community to get there though. With an ever-shrinking athletic budget and the surprise of this rare success, the team is fundraising to cover its transportation, hotel, and food costs. If any community members would like to support bowling’s remarkable accomplishment, donations are being collected at www.HeightsAthleticBoosters.org.
SUPERFANS
There are fans. And then there are superfans. For Heights High athletics, three superfans have been in the stands for decades, attending all home and traveling to most away football and basketball games and always cheering on their Tigers.
Larry Shaw, class of 1966, Grover Price, 1973, and Michael Kurtz, 1979, were all recognized by Athletic Director Joe D’Amato at a January basketball game for their commitment to Heights’ sports. Presented with replica Heights football jerseys complete with their last names and graduation years, the three got a taste of what it feels like to be on the receiving end of cheers and applause.
Despite not being serious athletes themselves, they each began attending games before they even entered high school. Kurtz was brought to football games by his mother starting when he was just 7 years old and now moves the chains for home games. “I just want to be a part of it and help out where I can.” Because he’s been retired for a few years, he says “Games are the highlight of my week.”
He’s formed “a partnership” with Price and Shaw in the stands and, as the youngest, he claims, “Larry and Grover can’t drive in the dark anymore so I drive the three of us to away games.”
He maintains contact and follows the college and athletic careers of many graduates, and always appreciates when they come over to greet him and his wife. “It’s nice to think that kids from a different era still come over to say hi. It’s wonderful to get to be a part of this.”
Grover Price feels the same way, claiming he’s “always been a fan.” Following a team for as long as he has, “I’ve had my ups and downs with both basketball and football.” Larry Shaw agrees, saying, “It’s easy to be a fan when your team is winning. But you find out how committed you are when they aren’t.”
How committed is Shaw? Very. Growing up just two blocks from the high school, he started attending games in 1959, and he’s never stopped. After a career as the Recreation Director for the City of Cleveland Heights, he continues to show up for all home and most away games. His reason is really quite simple: “It’s about my love for Heights.”
FOOTBALL’S HISTORIC SEASON
Tiger football reached new heights in 2023. With nine regular season wins and two playoff victories, Heights High advanced farther than ever last fall. In its first year in the highly competitive Greater Cleveland Conference, Heights beat every team in the league during the regular season, securing the top spot as GCC Champions.
Eight players received GCC honors, including sophomore Henry Perrymond, juniors Brandon Caesar, Marquise Davis, and Jason Owens, and seniors John Gordon, Jr, Albert Green, Rodney Harris, and Mekhi Web, with E’mere Atkins and Abdou Dieye receiving Honorable Mentions. Coach Mac Stephens was named GCC Coach of the Year.
He was also recognized as All-Ohio Coach of the Year, with junior running back Marquise Davis being named Ohio’s Offensive Player of the Year. Caesar, Davis and Perrymond were also named to 1st Team All Ohio, with Gordon, Gabe McKay, Owens and Webb being named to 2nd Team All Ohio, and Green to 3rd Team.
Davis, the star junior who plays both offense and defense, was first runner-up for the state’s highest football honor, Mr. Football. With 30 D1 offers under his belt, Davis was named the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission Male Athlete of the Year and Gatorade Player of the Year for Ohio.
The alumni community is invited to cheer on this immensely talented group of players next fall, starting with a home opener on August 23.
Bringing Value Back to the Place He Was Raised HEIGHTS GRAD PROVIDES MENTAL HEALTH GRANT
by Betsy Friedlander ’90
There is truth to the old adage, ‘the more things change, the more they stay the same’. Just ask a Heights graduate from any given year. Classrooms may look slightly different, technology advances, we lose some traditions and gain new ones… but we all speak of certain truths that bind us. The friendships, experiences, academics, sports, diversity and even the challenges. As generations have evolved, so too have the needs of our student body. As a district, Cleveland Heights-University Heights staff and administrators have worked tirelessly to keep up with those needs within the financial constraints of a public school system, because they know that staying the same is not always the answer. Heights grad Mike Waugh, class of 2004 couldn’t agree more!
Waugh, who attended CH-UH schools K-12, credits his participation at Heights in athletics and the Vocal Music Department for fostering his curiosity, desire for leadership and love for the world of sports. A love which led him to a successful career as Director of Player Personnel and member of the football coaching staff at; Ohio University, Marshall, Purdue and University of Cincinnati. Happily married and opting to spend more time at home with his three children, Mike is
now Co-Founder and CEO of 365Pro, a complete digital program for young football athletes, providing planning, guidance and coaching. (For more info visit www.365proapp.com)
For many, that would be enough. But like most grads, Waugh didn’t just attend Heights schools, he was raised in them. And this instilled a desire to bring value to people in any capacity; work, career, service. “Who I am comes from how and where I grew up”, explains Waugh. He learned resilience, the ability to keep pushing forward and the importance of helping other individuals in times of need. For Mike, when an opportunity presented itself, it was his chance to do just that. Give back!
Together with his wife, Angie, they have provided a grant through Heights Schools Foundation for an in-school, full-time mental health provider for the CH-UH School District. In collaboration with the MetroHealth School Health Program, the goal is to explore, plan, implement and evaluate new innovative mental and behavioral health services for CH-UH students.
Mike and Angie have been
dedicated to supporting children and families in Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati, the area they now call home. Their work has included improving access to shelter, nutrition, education, and mental & physical health services. Angie’s background as an LPCC, Certified Trauma Professional, member of the National Board for Certified Counselors and The Joe Burrow Foundation, which concentrates heavily on the mental health of youth in underserved communities, has been a driving factor.
For Waugh, it’s about building a better infrastructure for what’s missing. As someone who’s been through it, he recognizes that kids still need support. Waugh plans to continue his efforts with the district in implementation and recognition of future needs. As he puts it, “in the long run my presence is to give back over a lifetime. It’s the right thing to do, a full circle moment.”
HEIGHTS HIGH
EDUCATING THROUGH EXCHANGE
“Who sends 10-year-olds to France and Spain to live with host families for three weeks?!” asked Sara Shay Sullivan in a recent Facebook post peppered with old snapshots. The answer? Cleveland Heights-University Heights Schools. “And we’re all better for it,” said the 1995 graduate.
As a student at Boulevard Elementary when it was a foreign language magnet school in the 1980s, Sullivan and dozens of students over the years had the unique opportunity to experience another culture, speak the language they’d been studying since kindergarten, and open their eyes up to the wide world around them.
Cleveland HeightsUniversity Heights’ long commitment to intercultural exchange has spanned across the globe and across decades. The core of that commitment is more than 60 years of American Foreign Service offerings at the high school, which foster exchange programs for high school students. But the intercultural opportunities for district students extend far beyond those willing to live in another country for an entire semester or year.
In the 1970s and
by Krissy Dietrich Gallagher ’91
80s, trips like the one that Sullivan and her classmates went on were common at both Boulevard and Monticello, Roxboro, and Wiley Middle Schools. To enhance language instruction, students were given the chance to travel for several weeks with teacher chaperones, live with host families, and attend local schools alongside their host “siblings.” This kind of in-depth experience went far beyond typical tourism, with young people immersing themselves in another country and culture.
In the case of the Boulevard program, their foreign counterparts then visited the Heights for three weeks, living with host families here, and attending Boulevard. Lifelong friendships formed out of these experiences, with many alumni reporting they’re still in touch with their far-flung friends, sometimes even visiting one another on their travels. As for Sullivan, she earned a French degree in college. “It was an easy choice because I knew I would love it,” she said.
Heights High students still travel overseas with their language classes, with a group visiting France this past summer and others traveling to Costa Rica. The high school also had a long history of students in the Lessons of the Holocaust class traveling to Europe to visit Holocaust memorial sites, including concentration camps, as part of their Journeys of Consciousness.
This spring, the high school’s Advanced Placement Biology and Advanced Placement Environmental Sciences classes are traveling to Belize for a service learning trip, the first time it’s been offered since before Covid.
And two high school sophomores have spent either half or this whole year overseas as exchange students, one in Chile and the other in Spain. Ella Bain recently returned to Heights after a semester in Spain, ready to participate in Swim Cadets, play on the girls’ lacrosse team, and spend time with her senior brother before he heads to Colgate University.
She credits Heights High for being “so open and flexible,” making her transition back to classes “easy and not awkward.” She does admit that she’ll have a heavy workload her junior year as she catches up with any subjects she missed, but is thrilled with how much Spanish she now understands.
“Heights gave me this opportunity,” Ella said, having first considered it when her family hosted an exchange student from Chile when she was still in elementary school.
Sullivan agrees, adding that as one of just four black students to travel with her Boulevard group, “I never felt out of place. That’s a credit to growing up in the Heights because I felt like I could exist anywhere. We truly were global citizens from a very young age.”
“There’s no way I’d be doIng this if it weren’t for the opporTunities avaIlable to me at heIghts high.”
That senTimenT was repeated over and over from these four recenT graduates, whose unique life paths were forged thanks to the passions they discovered in high school.
where are they now? maya jacobs
For Maya Jacobs, her unique path was revealed thanks to the wide range of art courses offered at Heights. After participating in studio art and ceramics, she enrolled in the jewelry/metal-working class taught by Nancy Rich-Drehs during her senior year, which led to a job at Rivchun Jeweler and eventually all the way to Italy. The 2022 graduate eschewed traditional college to enroll in a two-year jewelry design program at the Lorenzo de Medici Institute in Florence. Living independently, traveling across Europe, and practicing centuries-old Florentine craftsmanship with a modern twist, Jacobs is steeped in a completely unique and life-changing experience thanks to the wide-ranging options available to Heights students. As her father says, “It’s going to be amazing to look back at these 2022 graduates in five, ten years and see what they’ve done.”
ahmya diggins
Ahmya Diggins’ fascination with language started when she was introduced to Spanish at Noble Elementary and Monticello Middle School. When Monticello merged with Roxboro during renovations, a new opportunity arose – one she was thrilled to take advantage of: learning American Sign Language.
She took three ASL courses at the high school under teacher Pat said Diggins, who graduated in 2023. “Seeing him communicate made me see that it was possible. And it came to me – that’s what I want to do with my life.”
Currently a sophomore at the Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Institute for the Deaf, Diggins is studying to become an ASL/English interpreter. She w especially with some deaf teachers and more than 1,100 deaf or hard of hearing students at RIT, “But I could actually understand!”
Her unique job choice would never have been possible without ASL offerings at the high school.
“I’m so grateful to have had this opportunity,” she said.
“But Heights has so many opportunities; it’s not just one thing. I never felt limited.”
michael siemen
For one of those 2022 graduates, that wait is over because he’s already saving lives … literally. Michael Siemen knew he wanted to work in public service and knew he could never sit still in an office job. So when he learned that the Heights Career Tech Consortium offers a firefighting/EMT program based out of Warrensville High School, he signed right up.
After completing the Fire Academy at Tri-C his senior year of high school, things moved quickly. He graduated from Heights High on June 1, took the state firefighting exam on June 2, and applied to paramedic school on June 3. By that August, a mere two months after finishing high school, Siemen was sworn in as a firefighter in Willoughby Hills.
He now has his Associates Degree and the advanced medical training to provide life-saving treatment during emergencies. Siemen is also the manager of Cumberland Swimming Pool after having taken lifeguard certification lessons with Heights swim coach (and fellow grad) Dan Budin. He teaches CPR and life-guarding classes, is a paramedic at University Hospitals, and referees community basketball games, earning him the local nickname “Ref Mike.”
Siemen is adamant that the options available to him through Heights High shaped his path in a unique and powerful way. “I have older colleagues who are $20,000 in debt and wish they’d had anything close to this opportunity. You just don’t get this anywhere else. You can’t beat it.”
lawrence amerson
2018 graduate Lawrence Amerson was similarly inspired by a Heights teacher, this time Engineering instructor Greg Nachman. “I’d always known I wanted to be an engineer,’’ said Amerson. “But I didn’t know anything about electrical engineering until I took that elective as a sophomore.”
Fast forward six years and two additional Heights engineering courses later, and Amerson has an Electrical Engineering Technology degree from Cleveland State and is – you guessed it – an electrical engineer. He now works for Middough – Engineering Project Solutions, currently on the design team automating the monitoring process for Cleveland Public Power.
Also a member of the award-winning Heights Robotics Club from 2017 and 2018, Amerson definitely thinks he was better prepared for his college coursework than his classmates who hadn’t had such specialized instruction in high school.
Oby Betsy Friedlander ’90
xford Elementary School, a beautiful brick, tudor-style building on Quilliams Road in Cleveland Heights, was built in 1927 to meet the demands of a growing population. Over nearly a century, the building has had its standard share of repairs and modifications, most recently this past summer. Only this time, the required repair was anything but standard. It went right through a cherished piece of artwork and part of the building’s great history.
Just two years after Oxford opened its doors, the stock market crashed and Cleveland, along with the rest of the world, entered The Great Depression. With its stronghold in manufacturing, Cleveland was especially hard hit. Factories closed, unemployment sky-rocketed, homes were lost and people went hungry. President Franklin D. Roosevelt saw the need to create jobs and bring communities back to work. Thus began the Works Progress Administration (WPA). In 1937, as part of the WPA, Gladys Carambella was commissioned to create two murals at Oxford Elementary: The Pied Piper of Hamelin and Cinderella which have adorned the walls of Oxford ever since.
Krista Hawthorne, then Executive Director of Reaching Heights, an organization committed to connecting our communities with our schools, was among the first to recognize the bowing and cracking on the plaster wall depicting the Pied Piper of Hamelin. Jacquelyn Taylor, Principal of Oxford, David Moss, Head Custodian at Oxford and Tige Dague, Lead
building, allowing steam to run up channels and enter the plaster. Together, these leaders were determined to repair the damage and conserve the mural.
Hawthorne, who believed restoration of the artwork was vital, procured funds from Heights Schools Foundation’s Opportunity Grants to do just that. In the meantime, Moss commissioned the work of Wendy Partridge, Paintings Conservator, to restore the artwork after completion of the repairs. According to Partridge, although there were some minor repairs to the mural in the past, this was a bit more challenging as the painting was done directly on the plaster, and both were peeling away. It required additional adhesive, heat and even a needle used to fill in holes. The outcome? Exquisite! The cherished mural, a relic of our country’s past, remains intact.
Thanks to the dedication of Oxford’s staff, the determination of Krista Hawthorne and HSF’s Opportunity Grant, both murals are on full display as they have been for nearly 90 years. They are not preserved in the art museum among equal works of history, nor are they elevated and out of reach for the thousands of students who have grown up in their presence. The murals are liveable masterpieces and are a part of both the building’s history and our community’s history.
ALUMNA LILA SCHUBERT RECEIVES HIGH HONOR
Tiger alumna Lila Schubert, a member of Heights
High’s class of 2020, can still remember the first time she wrote an actual story. “I was in Kristi Glasier’s 4th grade class at Fairfax and I filled an entire wide-ruled notebook. I was so serious about that story and worked on it every day until I finished.”
She has remained that serious about her writing ever since, having just graduated from Case Western Reserve University with a major in English and Creative Writing. About a week before her graduation ceremony, she was “genuinely surprised” to win the university’s Harriet Pelton Perkins Award for an Outstanding Student Majoring in English,” a prize her great-uncle – also a Heights High graduate – received nearly 60 years ago.
“It’s really cool,” Schubert said of sharing this honor with her great-uncle Denis Wood, who graduated from Heights in 1963 and from what was then called Western Reserve University in 1967. “I remember sitting around the table at my grandparents’ house and listening to him and thinking, ‘Wow, he’s really good at talking.’ It’s sort of a strange compliment but my friends tell me I’m good at talking, which I guess goes hand in hand with reading and writing. You’re always practicing that craft.”
While Schubert has continued to write creatively, she recognizes that this award is for more than being a good writer – it’s in recognition of an outstanding English student, “about critical and technical writing, which was definitely sprouted in my high school English classes.” She cites her 11th grade AP Language & Composition teacher Courtney White and 12th grade CCP College Composition teacher Katherine Strine for being “formative in her instruction. They were both really into English and talked passionately about the
Note - Ms. Glasier’s classroom receives support annually
by Krissy Dietrich Gallagher ’91
books they read. That had an impact.”
Strine returned to Schubert’s college essay which featured to that story from grade school: “The exploration of the human experience that once manifested itself in childhood games and my fourth grade notebook now takes a new life in poetry and short stories.” Strine went on to say, “To see someone take their childhood vision into adulthood (and earn such a prestigious award!): that’s the reward of teaching. I’m proud of her accomplishment, not only because she held fast to her dream but because she’ll continue the role of ‘outstanding student’ as she studies human nature and replicates it in her writing.”
White, who loves to hear about former students majoring in English, “was always impressed by Lila’s maturity and her willingness to seek feedback in order to improve. Even as an 11th grader, she had an innate grasp of language and how to weave it to create her purpose.”
Schubert also credits Lake Erie Ink as the place where she was encouraged to take risks, be creative, explore and just write. The whole point of Ink Spot, which she did regularly from 4th through 8th grade, “was so that kids had a space to do just that.”
She plans to spend the next year or two working while writing as much as possible to build up a portfolio of stories and poetry so she can apply for a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing.
Her great-uncle has also made a life of writing, as an artist, author, cartographer and former professor. Having two people in one family win the same major award feels like “a big deal,” said Schubert. “There’s really nothing like that replicated in anything else in my life. It makes me feel rooted in history.”
BOULEVARD ELEMENTARY
Lunch Bunch Promotes Social-Emotional Growth
The act of kids learning hip-hop dances and practicing yoga during lunchtime has helped alleviate Covid learning loss. Boulevard’s PTA President, Chandre Ford has created Lunch Bunch, a series of enrichment activities for students to participate in during their lunchtime. Activities range from comic book storyboarding, chess, yoga, and hip-hop dance by helping students reconnect with their peers, relearn how to socialize and practice communicating all while having fun.
FAIRFAX ELEMENTARY Makes Learning Buddy Bonds
Fairfax’s Learning Buddies is a partnership between Stephanie Petty’s 4th graders and Maggie Brooks’ 1st grade class. The two groups started the school year off by sending each other postcards sharing a little about their likes and dislikes and how excited they were to meet their new friend. The first time the two groups met, each student carried their postcard and used clues and pictures to find their new Learning Buddy.
CANTERBURY ELEMENTARY
Students Learn About Local Government
Third graders are learning firsthand about local government in the Heights. Teachers Stacy Leiby, Amy Miracle, and Carla Huter are using classroom and school management as examples to show students how Canterbury functions like local government. Students study the executive, legislative, and judicial branches comparing that to their system of school leaders, rules, consequences, and decisions that impact their well-being.
OXFORD ELEMENTARY & MONTICELLO MIDDLE
Students Write Holiday Wish Letters Together
Kindergarteners at Oxford Elementary have developed lasting buddy bonds with 8th graders at Monticello. Kristie Marbury came up with a holiday activity that involved her students visiting kindergarteners in Millie Litten’s class to help them write holiday wish list letters to Santa Claus. “It has been so sweet to watch their bonds build and unfold,” said Ms. Litten. “Ms. Marbury and I have seen some of our struggling students thrive and let their guards down during these experiences.”
ROXBORO ELEMENTARY
Cultural Diversity ‘Rox’ The Heights
Roxboro Elementary’s 2nd-grade teaching twosome Melissa Argie and Malik Daniels have taken full advantage of cultural diversity by focusing on CH-UH’s rich diversity. As part of their International Baccalaureate unit “How We Express Ourselves,” the two classes focused on food insecurity in their neighborhoods. Students spent two weeks collecting food donations and sent them to the Food Bank.
HEIGHTS HIGH
Mr. Fisher Teaches Heights Freshmen Art of Debating
Freshmen in Mr. Patrick Fisher’s World History class are learning the true art of debating. Each year, students debate the world’s most important inventions. Through this multiweek project, students pull an invention out of a bucket with options that include physical inventions like telescopes, guns, and refrigerators, then they work independently to research their invention before participating in a shortened Lincoln-Douglas-style debate.
GEARITY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHOOL
Awarded Bronze Recognition for PBIS Efforts
The evidence is in the bronze status we just got,” said Gearity Principal Patrick McNichols. But the evidence is also in the data. Since fine-tuning its Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support (PBIS) strategies, the elementary school has dramatically improved student behavior. How is Gearity achieving these gains? By setting clear expectations, motivating, reinforcing, teaching strategies, and linking behaviors to learning. The school is guided by four goals under its PAWS system: Personal Best, Acting Responsibly, Working and Playing Safely, and Showing Respect.
DELISLE OPTIONS CENTER
Students Remember Why Every Minute Counts
Xoriah Burkes and Avery Ward, students at Delisle Options Center, were recognized for having perfect attendance for November. Xoriah and Avery received tickets to the Cavs vs. Hawks game on November 28, where they celebrated with their families, Options teacher April White, and Communities in Schools Site Coordinator Erica Jackson. Several other students received “honorable mentions” and got Cavs swag for participating. The District would like to thank Yvonne Brown in Guest Relations & the Cavs Organization for the swag and Cameron Travel for donating the tickets, as well as the Options staff for helping our students remember that every minute truly does count.
TIGER FUND FOR GRADUATING SENIORS
Growing Scholarships for Heights High Graduating Seniors
Our pledge: We stand behind all students ready to take their next steps into the future. If you’ve done your part, we’ll be there for you.
We need your help to make this commitment possible. That’s why we’re growing our efforts to expand scholarships for Heights High students of today. Thanks to generous donations from alumni and supporters, every spring the Heights Schools Foundation has been able to make awards. In fact, thanks to your support, more than $200,000 has been awarded just in the last five years. But we know the need is much, much larger. The Tiger Fund is for Heights students thinking big about their future, but who need support financially to make their dreams come true. Candidates must have plans to attend an accredited college or
university for a career certification program, or a 2- or 4-year degree program and be graduating in good standing having attended Heights High for at least two years.
Heights Schools Foundation (HSF) is the internal nonprofit partner supporting the CH-UH City School District. Our mission is to engage alumni and community members to celebrate our past, embrace our present and support our future. One of our top strategic priorities is to support graduating seniors with increased access to scholarships. Your donations are helping to bring students’ dreams within reach. Thank you!
REUNITE WITH OLD FRIENDS
Check below to see if your class has reunion plans. In addition, many classes have Facebook Groups or websites, which are the easiest and most up-to-date way to stay connected. Planning a reunion event? To update us on the details, send a note to info@HeightsSchoolsFoundation.org.
CLASS of 1974
50TH REUNION
September 21-23, 2024
For more information
Brent Routman
E: broutman@merchantgould.com
Sally Zalben
E: sally.zalben@att.net
CLASS of 1979
45TH REUNION
September 28, 2024
For more information
Margaret Slesnick E: margaretslesnick@gmail.com
Reunion Planners
Please update us on any changes to events or to add your new event to our magazine and website listings.
FORM A COMMITTEE
Gather a diverse group of motivated peers to brainstorm, make decisions and divide and conquer. Schedule your first meeting as soon as possible. The more diverse the planning group is, the better the attendance.
CHOOSE A LOCATION(S)
Downtown or in the Heights? If you are planning a weekend of events, it is nice to offer free option(s). Consider a cookout at Forest Hills or ‘Pub Crawl’ down Lee Road. Not everyone will want to buy a ticket, no matter how great the event may be. The informal gathering is often some of the most meaningful for people, so don’t think that the only way to do a reunion is with a sit-down formal dinner.
CLASS of 1994
30TH REUNION
August 23-25, 2024
For more information
Valerie Utsey E: vrutsey@icloud.com
CLASS of 2004
20TH REUNION
October 11-13, 2024
For more information
Melissa Payne E: chhs.tigers04@gmail.com
SELECT LEADERS
Chairperson and Treasurer are common roles. These positions are crucial in planning, so should be held by responsible and organized committee members. We recommend co-treasurers, so there are always two people checking and supporting each other if you will be collecting money or managing tickets in advance. Co-Chairs can also be great, as long as it’s clear who is doing what (and the two work well together!). Having someone in charge of communications / notes is also extremely helpful. Sometimes people use the titles “secretary” or “communications chair.” Finally, an overall “planning team” without specific titles can work as well, as long as everyone knows their roles.
PICK A DATE
Whether your reunion will be one night or a weekend, the sooner you narrow down a date and get the word out, the larger the turnout will be. One great option is Homecoming Weekend. With an impressive parade down Lee Road, alumni watch parties, Friday night football game and Saturday open house at the high school, your class can re-live the experience all over again.
UTILIZE SOCIAL MEDIA
Start a Facebook group for your class and encourage others to locate classmates. Use Instagram to drive people to your page.
