About Us

SEI Background
In January 1996, leaders from the community joined together to create the framework that would become Summit Education Initiative. The Founding Mission was to engage and mobilize, in an innovative manner, a broad base of people and resources to significantly improve education for all children in Summit County. SEI has continued to evolve to reflect the changing educational needs of children and the community.

In spring 2006, at SEI's invitation, more than 50 leaders from across the community participated in conversations about SEI's direction and focus. This led to updating SEI's mission and vision. It also led to defining SEI's role more clearly.

Mission
Summit Education Initiative forges strategic alliances among education, business, civic, and community leaders that increase the educational aspirations and achievement of all Summit County children.

Vision
Summit Education Initiative envisions a future in which education is Summit County's highest priority. Reflecting that priority, all sectors of the community engage in coordinated efforts to: 1) encourage children at every stage in their development to pursue further education, and 2) eliminate obstacles that prevent children from achieving ambitious educational goals. Fortified by this support, ever-increasing numbers of Summit County children graduate from high school well-prepared for higher education and earn degrees from postsecondary educational programs, making Summit County the most educated community in Ohio and attracting to the county thousands of highly skilled and well-paid jobs.

SEI's Role
To help Summit County realize this vision, Summit Education Initiative:
  • Articulates the major educational challenges facing the county and tracks the progress being made in addressing those challenges by conducting research and publicizing relevant data and findings.
  • Encourages and facilitates collaborations designed to address those educational challenges.
  • Develops prototype programs that test and refine strategies for removing barriers to high educational aspiration and achievement.
Board of Trustees
SEI is fortunate to have a history of community leaders who have served on the Board of Trustees.
The current board includes:

Jim Crutchfield, Chair
Former President/Publisher
Akron Beacon Journal
Darren Wells, Treasurer
Senior VP, Finance and Strategy
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
Jean Van Ness, Secretary
Attorney
William Considine
President & CEO
Akron Children's Hospital
Suzanne Rickards
Former President
Herman Machine
Leonard Foster
Director of Human Resources
Summit County
Ali Jamshidi
Vice President, Commodity Options
FirstEnergy Corporation
Barbara Mathews
Senior Vice President and Manager of Public Affairs
FirstMerit Bank

Andrew Duff
Vice-President
Amer Cunningham Co., L.P.A
Joseph Zarconi, M.D., F.A.C.P.
Vice President, Medical Education & Research
Summa Health System






















Staff Members

Shannon Anicas, Administrative Assistant

Charlyn Bohland, Office Manager/Program Assistant

Diettra Engram, Program Manager

Dr. Judythe A. Hummel, Executive Director

Fran Rice, Director of Development

Denny Buzzelli, SEI Associate – Learning 24/7

Joe Siegferth, SEI Associate - Goodyear Leadership Network


Defining Events
Defining events shape an organization: Here are a few that illustrate the commitment of SEI and its partners to improving education across Summit County.
  • 1998: Standards-Based Reform — SEI partnered with several Summit County school districts to develop a set of clear standards for what each student should know and be able to do. SEI worked with partnering districts to implement these standards. Subsequently, the State of Ohio adopted academic standards for the entire state.
  • 1999: Celebrate the Stars — For five years, this annual event recognized the best of teaching, learning, and school-community partnerships across Summit County.
  • 2000: Networks for Teachers — A group of teachers came together to design inquiry-based learning experiences in partnership with the Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center.
  • 2001: Education Summit — This summit resulted in the founding of the Education Leadership Roundtable, which subsequently launched This City Reads!, a community-based effort to promote reading.
  • 2003: Closing the Achievement Gap — Joseph Johnson, Ohio Department of Education, spoke at a community forum that addressed the learning gaps between groups of students. Out of this effort, SEI and Coming Together Akron created Plug-Ins for Parents.
  • 2004: Learning 24/7 Begins — Seven schools and seven community organizations pioneered this work that has continued to expand. Current emphasis is on math benchmarks for middle grade youngsters. See Learning 24/7
  • 2005: Goodyear Leadership Network for Education — The first group of chief education leaders was selected from public school districts, private schools, non-profit organizations with a focus on education, and university deans.
  • 2005: Destination College Class I — The first group of juniors was selected from Garfield High School and the 13-month program started in May 2005.
  • 2006: Destination College Expands — Program expanded to Barberton High School (Barberton City Schools) while continuing the program at Garfield High School (Akron Public Schools).
  • 2006: Plug-Ins for Parents — A Web-based resource for parents was launched in January 2006 that describes more than 200 out-of-school programs available across Summit County to enhance and support children and their learning.
  • 2006: P-16 Alliance of Summit County established — Partners representing 16 organizations came together to create a seamless pathway from early childhood through postsecondary programs. KnowledgeWorks Foundation funded initial planning work.
  
   
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