(April 30, 2015)
Jackie Kuffel of Boardman, Ohio, will become the new director of career-technical programs at Tolles, effective July 1, 2015.
Kuffel brings 13 years of administrative experience to the career and technical school, most recently as principal at Mahoning County Career and Technical Center in Canfield, Ohio.
“It is a pleasure to welcome Jackie to our team,” said Tolles Superintendent Kim Wilson. “She brings strength in curriculum and instructional leadership, professional development coordination, and human resources and licensure expertise.”
Kuffel earned her bachelor’s degree in social studies education from Moorhead State University in Moorhead, Minn., and received her master’s in educational administration from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Ill. A former middle school principal, she co-authored “Turning Points in Middle Schools: Strategic Transitions for Educators” in 1996. In 2011, she was honored by the Ohio Association of Career-Technical Educators with the Pacesetter Award.
“It is a great opportunity to join the staff at Tolles,” said Kuffel. “As the career-technical director, I want to keep our programs on the cutting edge. We need to continue to meet our industry partners’ workforce development needs by providing our students with the knowledge, skills and aptitude necessary to compete in the economy. Tolles provides students a rich environment to learn, create and grow as individuals. It is my hope as an educator, I too will learn, grow and serve the Tolles community well.”
Kuffel will provide oversight for all 22 career-technical programs located at the Plain City campus, while current director Connie Strebe moves into the role of satellite director overseeing Tolles’ expanding programming within Dublin City Schools, Hilliard City Schools, Fairbanks Middle School, West Jefferson Middle School, and Jonathan Alder Local Schools.
Mike Oler, current instructor at the Tolles Information Technology program at Jonathan Alder Junior High, has been named as the district’s new dean of students, overseeing discipline and attendance. Oler begins his new role this summer pending board approval.
