The Highland School District is pleased to welcome Kelli Crawford-Smith as the new Director of Communications. She replaces Dawn Marzano who recently accepted a position outside of the District after 14 years of service. Crawford-Smith will begin her new role effective October 10, 2022. Currently the Director of Neighborhood Excellence, Communications and Community Outreach (NECCO) for the City of Cuyahoga Falls, Crawford-Smith is responsible for marketing, branding, community relations, media relations and event management for the City of Cuyahoga Falls. She has an extensive background in directing and managing the development and implementation of integrated public relations/marketing strategies through radio, print and social media, as well as community outreach efforts. In addition, she has cultivated collaborative relationships in the public, private and non-profit sectors to maximize community impact.

Highland Earns Highest 5-Star Ratings on Ohio’s State Report Card Today, the Ohio Department of Education released the 2022 Ohio School Report Cards for all school districts in the State of Ohio. The Ohio Department of Education analyzes performance in six areas: Achievement, Progress, Early Literacy, Gap Closing, Graduation, and College, Career, Workforce and Military Readiness (this component is not rated until 2025). Each component receives a 1-5 “Star” rating based on performance. The Highland Local School District has earned “5 Stars” in all rated areas. We are one of only 12 school districts in the state to achieve this designation. “We are extremely proud to earn a 5-Star rating in each component this year. While the report cards are not the only measure of success or accomplishments of a district, it is an important statewide benchmark and provides valuable data that we use to continue raising student achievement and preparing all students for their futures,” stated Superintendent Catherine Aukerman. “I want to commend our students and teachers for their sustained focus and commitment to learning, despite all the challenges over the past few years. We are also thankful to have a supportive parent base and community that recognizes and values the importance of a high-quality education.”

The latest Highland Community Education courses for the Fall season will be up and running very soon! Don't miss out on popular courses to learn a new skill or meet like-minded adults and community members. Register today! Back by popular demand are the in-person elementary afterschool classes, including Madscience, Brixology and Crayola Arts Academy. Again this year, HCE is offering an online Spanish class for students in K-8, which includes the entire family and new offerings include Virtual Sewing Basics and Virtual Coding classes. And who can forget Hummingbirds Soccer? -- It's a fan favorite! High school students have the opportunity to enroll in ACT/SAT Test Preparation classes in the evenings or during the school day. Adults can sign up for Beekeeping, CPR, Retirement Planning, Virtual Voiceover and Stop Smoking/Weight Loss seminars. Evening classes are not restricted to Highland community residents only. Download the detailed brochure and registration form HERE. For questions, enrollment or more information, contact Mary Fran Kudla, HCE Director, at 330-239-1901, ext. 5503, or at mkudla@highlandschools.org.