Educational Service Center of Lorain County

10/02/2026

There is something so special about seeing new opportunities begin.

These first days at Project Search - Lorain County are about much more than learning a new job. Interns are stepping into a real workplace, building skills, gaining confidence and discovering what they are capable of along the way.

It is also a wonderful reminder of what can happen when schools, community partners and organizations work together to create meaningful opportunities for students. We are incredibly grateful for our partnership with Mercy Health - Lorain and so proud of these interns as they get started.

We can’t wait to see where this year takes them!

10/01/2026

Some opportunities give you experience. The best ones let you make a difference while you’re gaining it.

We’re seeking a substitute Project SEARCH instructor to support young adults in developing workplace skills, confidence, and independence.

Learn more below. https://www.esclc.org/Employment.aspx

10/01/2026

Students are growing up in a world built to compete for their attention. But meaningful learning still asks them to slow down, stay curious, wrestle with ideas, and stick with problems that don’t have an immediate answer.

On November 3, Dr. John Spencer, author of The Depth Advantage, will explore what deeper learning can look like in today’s classrooms, with a focus on strengthening student focus, curiosity, problem-solving, resilience, and communication.

GETTING STARTED

09/30/2026

When a student is missing school regularly, the question isn’t only what the law requires; it’s what will help.

During our September Attendance and Truancy Network meeting, Donna Rivera and Emily Kirsch worked with school teams to unpack Ohio attendance laws while sharing approaches to best support students.

09/29/2026

AI opens up plenty of possibilities. Knowing which ones actually strengthen learning takes more thought.

Beginning October 21st, Mike Triska will lead a virtual cohort exploring that question through Project-Based Learning. Using Ed3’s AI-Amplified PBL coursework, educators will consider how AI can support meaningful learning experiences while keeping student thinking, inquiry, and authentic work at the center.

BUILDING THE FOUNDATIONS

09/29/2026

So much of a school day depends on communication: sharing an idea, asking a question, understanding directions, connecting with a friend.

That is why we are excited to welcome Nicole Herman, our new Speech and Language Pathologist serving Lorain City Schools. Nicole will help students build the communication skills that make those everyday moments possible.

09/28/2026

When districts are working through many of the same literacy questions, there’s a lot to be gained from working through them together.

That kind of cross-district conversation is at the heart of our Structured Literacy Network. Literacy leaders and educators compared approaches to screening, interventions, data, and Ohio’s literacy guidance, sharing ideas and strengthening the decisions for students.

09/25/2026

Getting a student to graduation is an important milestone, but helping them see what’s possible beyond graduation is just as important.

At Pathways to Possibility, Melissa Wagner and Kennie Searight helped educators think through both while connecting graduation pathways with transition planning and career coaching that reflect each student’s strengths, interests, and future goals.

09/25/2026

A book in the mailbox. A story before bed. A few minutes spent reading together.

Dolly Parton understood that something simple could shape a childhood.

Today, Ohio celebrates Dolly Parton Day, honoring a legacy that has placed millions of books in children's hands and homes. Through Imagination Library, Dolly helped make reading part of lives from the earliest years, giving families more opportunities to read together and building the foundation for literacy long before a child enters a classroom.

In Ohio alone, more than one million children have been part of that story.

Today is the day to celebrate what Dolly understood from the beginning: access to books creates access to reading, and reading opens a world of possibility.

Children from birth to age five can receive a free book each month through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Ohio: OhioImaginationLibrary.org.

Lorain County Imagination Library

09/24/2026

There’s knowing the requirements of an evaluation system, and then there’s knowing how to use that system in a way that actually supports growth.

During a two-day OPES 2.0 training, Franco Gallo and Dave Kish helped evaluators move beyond the mechanics of the framework and think more deeply about the observations, evidence, feedback, and conversations that make evaluation meaningful.

For school leaders responsible for supporting other school leaders, those nuances matter.