Dr. Steven M. Coolahan, school psychologist, is retiring from the Westerville City Schools as of May 30, 2014. Since joining the district since 1983, he has been responsible for the creation and implementation of numerous intervention services and programs. For the past 14 years, Dr. Coolahan has served as the program manager for the Educational Opportunities for Success (EOS) Alternative High School Program. He wrote the original grant for this program and has played a major role with regard to its overall growth and success. During this time frame, the EOS program has graduated a large number of at-risk youth and provided them with intervention assistance for mental health related concerns as well. In the fall of 2013, the EOS Program was recognized as a model program for dropout prevention by the National Dropout Prevention Center/Network (NDPC/N), Clemson University.
Dr. Coolahan and his family are long-time residents of Delaware, Ohio and he started his career as an educator in Lima, Ohio. He earned his master’s degree at Bowling Green State University and his doctorate at the University of Cincinnati. During his tenure in Westerville, Dr. Coolahan has served in numerous state and national leadership positions. He served as President of the Ohio School Psychologists Association and as Chair of the National Certification Board for the National Association of School Psychologists. In addition, his service and leadership has been recognized with numerous awards such as the Accomplished Graduate Award from Bowling Green State University (2001), Distinguished Alumnus Award from Lima Shawnee High School (1998), and the Superintendent’s Award for Outstanding Employee (1985). Dr. Coolahan has served as an adjunct professor at Otterbein University, The Ohio State University, and Bowling Green State University. He has presented lectures and workshops to well over 50 learned societies and professional organizations.