About

Mission Statement

Develop, deliver and implement quality educational services and programs

Governing Board Members

Meet the Wood County Educational Service Center Leadership Team

Meeting Rooms

FC2 Documents

Early Intervention

Prevention Resource Guide

No Wrong Door

Wood County LPDC

Contacts:

Cheryl Grote  

Joe Taylor

Governing Board Policies

Personal Leave addendum to staff handbooks

Restrictions on the use of personal leave days are as follows:

*The day(s) may not be used in conjunction with any holidays/vacation days.

*The day(s) may not be used in the first ten (10) nor the last ten (10) working days of the school districts’ calendars.

Exceptions may be granted by immediate supervisor for the following reasons:

*In case of emergencies, e.g., an auto accident, furnace break down, frozen water pipes.

 *Wedding of an immediate family member, graduation, move child into college, or legal business  which cannot be addressed outside of regular school hours and the scheduling of which is not under control of the employee.

Board approved 6/22/2021

Title IX Coordinator:

Kyle Clark, Prevention Education Director

1867 N. Research Dr. Bowling Green, OH 43402

419-354-9010 ext. 251

kclark@wcesc.org

 

Hannah Feffer, CLC Director

1867 N. Research Dr. Bowling Green, OH 43402

419-354-9010 ext. 233

hfeffer@wcesc.org

 

Title IX Appeal Officer:

Mark North, Superintendent

1867 N. Research Dr. Bowling Green, OH 43402

419-354-9010 ext. 130

mnorth@wcesc.org

 

Title IX Administrator Training

 

Upcoming Board Meeting Dates and Times 

May 27, 2025 @ 4:00 PM

June 24, 2025 @ 4:00 PM

July 22, 2025 @ 4:00 PM

August 26, 2025 @ 4:00 PM

September 23, 2025 @ 4:00 PM

October 28, 2025 @ 4:00 PM

November 25, 2025 @ 3:00 PM

December 16, 2025 @ 4:00 PM

January 27, 2026 @ 4:00 PM

February 24, 2026 @ 3:00 PM

March 24, 2026 @ 4:00 PM

April 28, 2026 @ 3:00 PM

May 26, 2026 @ 4:00 PM

June 23, 2026 @ 4:00 PM

 

 

 

Wood County Logo
Wood County ESC Logo

Vision Statement

1. Middle of W symbolizes a person being supported by the WCESC

2. Different colors represent the unique and diverse programs

3. All elements represent the partnerships coming together to form a W for Wood County

Do you need a place to hold a meeting, conference, or special event?  Choose the WCESC. 

WCESC employees: Click on the link below and reserve a room in our building.

Conference Room & Equipment Request Form

Non-WCESC employees: contact Stephanie Dyar at extension 210 or via email sdyar@wcesc.org for information regarding rates and availability.

Wood County Family & Children First Council

The Wood County Family and Children First Council commissioned the Psychology Department of Bowling Green State University to conduct a three phase needs assessments of Wood County Children and Families.  This work was completed from 2010 through 2011 under the leadership and guidance of Drs. Eric Dubow and Carolyn Tompset.

STRATEGIC PLAN - Recommendations & Action Steps

You may access five key assessment documents below.

Other Resources:

Many community resources are available for expectant parents, infants, toddlers, and preschoolers of Wood County.

Click on the Help Me Grow link to access Wood County Health District Help Me Grow/Early Intervention web page. There you may learn about eligibility, services, and programs for Young Children and Families in Wood County.

No Wrong Door logo

NO WRONG DOOR is an initiative of the Wood County Family & Children First Council to promote awareness and ease of access to many child and family serving programs & services.

2025 Board Meeting Minutes

January 28, 2025 

Belief Statement

We believe:

Everyone has a responsibility to the overall success of the organization

Professional and organizational growth occurs in a safe and supportive environment

Mutual respect and effective communication is fundamental to teamwork in creatively responding to emerging service needs and improvement opportunities

Each member of the team is valued and supported for his/her contributions in celebrating success in exemplary leadership and service

Judith Paredes President & Penta Career Center Board Representative
Joe Long Vice President & Legislative Liaison
Judith Hines Board Member & Student Achievement Liaison
Kathy Limes Board Member & Penta Career Center Board Representative
Timothy F Smith Board Member

 

The Governing Board conducts all business in open meetings. News media representatives are notified through public announcements in advance of meeting days and times. Normally, the Governing Board meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 4:00 p.m. at the Wood County Educational Service Center, 1867 N. Research Drive, Bowling Green, OH 43402.

Mark North - Superintendent

Mark North - Superintendent

E-mail - mnorth@wcesc.org 

Phone - (419) 354-9010

Mark North, superintendent, joined the Wood County Educational Service Center in August, 2018. Mark earned a B.A. with teaching licenses in special education and health education from the University of Akron. He also earned a M.Ed. from Ashland University. Teaching experiences revolved around serving a diverse population of special needs children.

Mark also served districts as an assistant high school principal and 7th-12th grade principal, an assistant superintendent, and a local and city superintendent for 20 years before joining the Wood County Educational Service Center.

Please click on the link below to access WCESC Governing Board Policies.

https://go.boarddocs.com/oh/woodcesc/Board.nsf/Public?open&id=policies

General Notice of Monitoring or Accessing Student Activity on School-Issued Devices

https://www.wcesc.org/media/about/General Notice of Monitoring Accessing Student Activity on School-Issued Devices.pdf

Kyle Kanuckel, Associate Superintendent
Kyle Kanuckel, Associate Superintendent

Kyle Kanuckel - Associate Superintendent

E-mail - kkanuckel@wcesc.org 

Phone - (419) 354-9010

Kyle Kanuckel joined WCESC in August 2024 as Associate Superintendent. Kyle earned his B.A. from Muskingum University and his M.Ed. from Xavier University. His teaching licenses include K-8 Elementary and 8-12 Mathematics.

Kyle has also served school districts in the capacity of assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent. Kyle has over 40 years of experience in public education.

Joe Long, Board Member & Legislative Liaison Representative

Joe Long, Vice-President & Legislative Liaison Representative

Joe Long was born and raised in Wood County.  Other than the time he spent serving his country, he has lived his entire life in Northwest Ohio.

Working his way through college, he experienced various work experiences and continued to help on the family farm.  He worked at Campbell Soups, LOF, in building construction, as a custodian, and delivered furniture for a Toledo department store.

Joe’s wife, Lynne, teaches piano and has performed at various venues in Northwest Ohio.  They have two adult children and two grandchildren.

Joe is also a small business owner.

Joe holds degrees from The Defiance College, Bowling Green State University, and the University of Toledo.

He has taught classes ranging from junior high industrial education to college-level social science.  He served as a school superintendent for over twenty years and utilized the services of the Wood County Educational Service Center during that time.  This experience as a consumer of the WCESC’s programs and services allowed him to experience first-hand how the WCESC can positively impact students’ lives.

SOME OF THE HONORS EARNED AND SERVICE POSITIONS HELD:

  • Recipient of the Outstanding Leadership Award presented by the Ohio Educational Service Center Association
  • Recipient of the Buckeye Association of School Administrators Exemplary Educational Leadership Award
  • Testified on behalf of the Wood County Educational Service Center in Washington, D.C.
  • Jennings Scholar
  • Former president of the Wood County Park District Governing Board
  • Past president of the Wood County Committee on Aging Governing Board
  • President of Friends of Wood County Committee on Aging
  • Former church board president
  • Served as a 4-H club advisor and athletic coach
  • Honorary FFA degree recipient
  • Member of Ohio Retired Teachers’ Association, American Legion, Wood County Historical Society, and local arts council
Brad McCracken - Treasurer
Brad McCracken

Brad McCracken - Treasurer

Email - bmccracken@wcesc.org

Phone - (419) 354-9010 Ext. 214

Brad grew up in Bowling Green and is the son of former BGCS superintendent Dr. Robert "Bob" McCracken. After 24 years in private sector supply chain & procurement positions with GE Jet Engines, Aeroquip Vickers, Gt Technologies and Pilkington/NSG, Brad and his family decided to set their roots in NW Ohio. Brad transitioned to school finance, and since 2010, worked as the Treasurer/CFO for Firelands Local, concurrently one year with Wellington EV, followed by Eastwood Local, and now with the Wood County ESC since December 2022. Brad and his wife Bev met at BGSU, have been married 39 years and have three children and two grandsons. Through the years they have actively participated in their local church youth programs, small group ministries and overseas missions. Brad is a board member of Church Planting International. Hobbies include spending time with his family, gardening, finishing beef cattle, and golf. Brad is a graduate of Bowling Green State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Education. He also earned a Masters in Business Administration from Xavier University. 

Kathy Limes, Board Member

Kathy Limes, Penta Career Center Representative

Since 1996, Kathy Limes has served as a member of the Wood County Education Service Center Governing Board serving as both President and Vice President.  She has been active on a variety of committees and attended an assortment of seminars to benefit herself, the WCESC Governing Board, and the Wood County educational system.  Mrs. Limes also received the privilege of being a Board Member when the new WCESC was constructed at its currently location in Bowling Green, Ohio.

Mrs. Limes has been married to her husband Donald for over four decades.  The couple has two children (Peggy and Dana) and six grandchildren (Donyelle, Taylor, Dalton, Hunter, Mikayla, and Logan).

Kathy is a proud graduate of Bowling Green High School (Bowling Green, Ohio).  She has taken numerous courses on income tax preparations, real estate and estate taxes, sales and marketing, business account, and computer programming.  Education has served her well as she conducts and orchestrates major financial decisions as a business partner in Limes Family Farms for over 40 years and in her endeavors with individuals throughout Wood County and Northwest Ohio.

An active participant in her community, Kathy has served on the Penta Career Center Board since 2001 where she presided as President and Vice President.  During her time there, she was on the Executive & Personnel, Policy/Legislative, Building & Grounds, and Finance & Curriculum committees.  She was honored to be on the Penta Board during the construction of the current Career Center located on Buck Road in Perrysburg, Ohio.

Other activities and interests include being a lifetime board member of the ARC of Wood County Board which is associated with Wood Lane School (Wood County, Ohio), a lifetime member of the Wood County Historical Society, a member of the Republican Party and the Republican Central Committee, a past candidate for Wood County Commissioner, and a member and Sunday School teacher at Dayspring Assembly of God Church (Bowling Green, Ohio).

Kyle Clark - Director of Prevention Education

Kyle Clark - Director of Prevention Education

E-mail - kclark@wcesc.org 

Mr. Clark serves as the Director of Prevention Education Services.  This initiative partners with Wood County School Districts, law enforcement, juvenile justice agencies, mental health service providers, and other community organizations.  The Initiative works towards finding solutions and implementing evidenced-based programs that address safe school environments and violence prevention, substance abuse prevention and intervention, student behavioral, social, and emotional supports, mental health services, and early childhood development where students can learn, grow, and succeed.

Mr. Clark obtained his BS degree in Education, Masters degree in Educational Administration/Supervision, and completed his post-graduate doctoral studies at Bowling Green State University.  He has over thirty years of educational administration experience as a principal, superintendent, and project director.

Judith Hines, Board Member & Student Achievement Liaison

Judith Hines, Board Member & Student Achievement Liaison

Judith Hines was born in Henry County. Graduated from Liberty Center High school, and moved to Wood County in 1960 with her husband Maurice and two children. Judith was a housewife, a mother and worked on their family farm for several years.  She attended business programs at Stautenburg College for two years. In 1974 she worked for USDA, ASCS office in Bowling Green and retired after 40 years. Judith has always worked with and raised children with physical and learning disabilities.  She became a member of the Wood County ARC in 1974 and was very involved in their Academic and Outreach programs. She attended several State and National conferences to learn how to further education for children with disabilities.  Judith has always been very interested in helping any person to improve their education and skills to achieve the best quality of life possible.  Judith has been serving the WCESC  since August 2014.

Judith Paredes, Vice President & Penta Career Center Board Representative

Judith Paredes, President & Penta Career Center Board Representative

Before serving as a member of the Wood County Educational Service Center Governing Board, Mrs. Paredes committed herself to improving the Lake Local Schools District for more than 20 years.  During that time, she resided on the School Board for eight years while she and her husband were also members and officers of the Athletic Boosters.  They spent countless hours working at the concession stands for a variety of Lake Athletic contests.  Some weeks, they spent more time at the school than at home.  Through this endeavor, the couple met numerous wonderful people while enjoying every minute of the experience.  The couple treasured their involvement with Lake Schools and desired to give back whenever they could.  Their tireless dedication earned them a place in the Lake Schools Athletic Hall of Fame.

Mrs. Paredes was married for 33 years before her husband passed away.  The couple has three children:  Michael, Brian and Janea, who is the head Culinary Instructor at Penta Career Center.  A few years later, she remarried and added three more children to her family:  Chad, Jeremy and Nichole who are all teachers.  Mrs. Paredes has always had a great respect for teachers and what they do for children.  Serving on school boards has provided her with great insight on the immense effort it takes to teach well, along with the rewards that teaching brings.  These insights aide her as she guides the WCESC Governing Board.

Jessie Dible - Director of Special Education/Life Skills

Jessie Dible - Director of Special Education/Life Skills

Jessie Dible

E-mail: jdible@wcesc.org 

Phone: 419-354-9010

Jessie Dible, Director of Special Education/Life Skills, began working for the WCESC's Community Learning Centers in 2016-2018. After teaching in the Columbus area for three years, she returned in 2018 as an Intervention Specialist. Jessie has both her Undergraduate and Master's degrees from Bowling Green State University, and her passion lies with advocacy and independence for those with development and cognitive disabilities. Jessie has worked a variety of DODD Residential Facilities, day habilitation programs, summer camps, and obtained her LAMP Certified Professional designation in 2021. Jessie has over ten years working with individuals with disabilities both inside and out of the classroom.

 

Tim Smith, Board President

Timothy F. Smith, Board Member

Timothy Smith returns to the governing board of the Wood County Educational Service Center, having previously served from 1994 to 2015, including four years as board president.

Throughout his career, Smith served as Assistant Dean of Students at Bowling Green State University from 1965 to 1975; Wood County Administrator from 1975 to 1981; Director of Sales for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Ohio from 1981 to 1995; and Senior Vice President of Sky Insurance from 1995 to 2005.

He then retired from active employment for several years before becoming Associate Vice President of Research and Economic Development at BGSU from 2009 to 2013.

Smith holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and a Master of Arts degree in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University. He also graduated from Krannert Graduate School of Management at Purdue University.

Susan Spencer - Director of Community Learning Centers

Hannah Feffer - Director of Community Learning Centers

Hannah Feffer E-mail: hfeffer@wcesc.org 

Phone: 419-354-9010

The Community Learning Centers of the Wood County Educational Service Center provide quality enrichment and extended learning activities for elementary children - kindergarten through sixth grades. Our daily before-school, after-school, and Summer STARS program meets the care and supervision needs of parents during out-of-school hours while engaging children in fun learning experiences that complement their school-day instruction. Through the support of the Wood County Educational Service Center, 21st Century Community Learning Center program, and the United Way, this amazing program has expanded to serve thousands of kids a year, in 7 districts, at 9 sites, year-round, throughout Wood and Lucas County.

Hannah joined the WCESC team in 2013, and stepped into the CLC director position in June 2022.  Hannah earned her Bachelor's degree from Bowling Green State University and holds a Master's Degree in Recreational Administration from the University of Toledo.  A long-term Wood County resident, she has 10 years of experience in teaching, administration, coaching, and leadership. 

Teresa Kitchen - Director of Special Education/Behavioral Programming

Teresa Kitchen - Director of Special Education/Behavioral Programming

Teresa Kitchen E-mail: tkitchen@wcesc.org

Phone: 419-352-7588

The Wood County Educational Service Center's PATHE Program services students with Emotional Disabilities (ED) and other unique needs. The program is designed to provide educational opportunities for children to learn the academic, social, and functional skills that he/she will need to be a happy, healthy, and productive adult. We recognize that each child is unique and it is with this mindset that we approach our work daily. Additionally, the PACE program is a vital part of PATHE that services students ages 16 and up.  This program focuses on strengthening vocational skills and gives students the opportunity to work in the community in a variety of fields.

Teresa Kitchen has worked for Wood County Educational Service Center for 15 years as an Intervention Specialist, Behavior Support Specialist, and Pathe/Pace Program Supervisor. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Bowling Green State University, a Masters of Education Administration from Grand Canyon University, and over 20 years working with students with social emotional, behavioral, and educational needs. Teresa focuses on providing specially designed instruction and behavior, social emotional, and academic supports to students and district schools.

If you have any questions about the PATHE program you can contact Ms. Kitchen by email at tkitchen@wcesc.org.

Christy Spontelli - Director of Educational Services

Christy Spontelli - Director of Educational Services

Christy Spontelli E-mail:  cspontelli@wcesc.org 

Phone:  419-353-4406

The Juvenile Residential Center of Northwest Ohio located at 1012 South Dunbridge Road in Bowling Green is a Community Corrections Facility.  This is a State of Ohio facility that houses male students ages 12 to 19.  The education portion of the day is provided by the Wood County Educational Service Center with three teachers, an intervention specialist and an education coordinator.  Students attend school daily from 8:00 to 2:00 within the facility.  School is provided for the academic year and an additional summer quarter.

The Wood County Juvenile Detention Center is located at. 1032 South Dunbridge Road in Bowling Green.  This facility houses students 12 – 21 years of age, both males and females.  The education portion of the day is provided by the Wood County Educational Service Center.  Two intervention specialists provide the classroom staffing along with an education coordinator.  Students attend school daily from 8:00 to 2:15 for the academic calendar year.

The Wood County Alternative School is located at 126 South Church Street in Bowling Green.  Students grades 6-12 are welcome to attend. This program is open to students from all Wood County school districts, and referral to attend the program begins with the home school.  An intervention specialist and Outreach Coordinator staff the ALC along with the education coordinator.  Students work both online with Pearson Conexus curriculum, as well as in class groups.  The students have the opportunity to participate in community service while at the ALC.  Intake packets can be found on the Wood County Educational Service Center’s website.

Christy Spontelli has been employed at the Wood County Educational Service Center since 1985 working with at-risk youth.  She has served as the Education Coordinator since 1995, supervising the JRC, JDC and ALC education programs.   She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Vocational Consumer Education and Multi-Area Job Training and a Master’s of Education in Career and Technology Education, from Bowling Green State University.  Secondary Principal’s Licensure was earned at the University of Findlay.

Joe Taylor - Director of Special Education/Student Services

Joe Taylor - Director of Special Education/Student Services

Joe Taylor E-mail: joetaylor@wcesc.org 

Phone: 419-354-9010 ext. 232

The Related Services Department of the Wood County Educational Service Center provides Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech/Language Therapy, Adaptive Physical Education, and School Psychology services to Wood County school districts. The Related Service providers work with children ages 3-21 who require evaluations and specialized therapies, as well as providing consultative services to both families and school district personnel. 

Joe Taylor joined the WCESC team in 2015 as the MD program supervisor. In 2017, he also assumed the responsibility of supervision of the Related Services program which he continues to oversee along with the direct supervision of the Life Skills programs. Joe is a long-term resident of Northwest Ohio and received undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Toledo. He has over twenty years of experience as an educator, both as a teacher and a school administrator, working with students and families in a number of districts throughout the area.