Two Westerville City Schools assistant principals are participating in Leadership Westerville, a nine-month community leadership development program that nurtures civic leaders who understand key issues facing the community. More than 30 individuals from the district have taken part in the program since its inception in 2002. Jill Beck, Executive Assistant to Superintendent John Kellogg, serves as president of the Leadership Westerville Board.
Rodney Johnson, assistant principal at Heritage Middle School, says his Leadership Westerville experience has been “absolutely phenomenal. It has been great working with individuals from all different fields. Collaborating with them to get an authentic view of what it’s like to live in Westerville has been amazing,” he said. Johnson is currently working with a team to develop a video montage about why residents think Westerville is great. The project is called Neighbor to Neighbor – For the Good of the Community. They will be filming people’s stories in the Westerville Community Center tomorrow – February 25 – from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. If you wish to participate, please contact amy.nashmoneypenny@westerville.org.
Tyson Hilkert, assistant principal at Huber Ridge Elementary School, says Leadership Westerville has provided him with a variety of opportunities and perspectives from several public and private organizations within Westerville. “What I have taken most from Leadership Westerville is networking with other professionals and organizations,” he says. “Many of these relationships will continue well after I complete this opportunity.” Hilkert and three other individuals from the class have partnered with the Promise House at Otterbein University, which addresses food insecurity on campus. “We have been working with the Promise House to develop partnerships with other organizations to secure additional funding as well as a continuous and ongoing supply of resources.”