Welcome to Independence Magazine
BEING LOCAL
The City of Independence is a vibrant community with safe neighborhoods and dynamic business districts! With a strong school system, low property taxes, and excellent services, we offer an enviable quality of life for our 7,500+ residents. A business-friendly environment with easy access to highways, airports and downtown Cleveland has attracted a variety of industries, corporate headquarters, nonprofits, colleges, restaurants and entertainment venues to our City.
Adjacent to the beautiful Cuyahoga Valley National Park, outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy hiking and biking. A short drive offers access to Lake Erie, professional sports, museums, theaters, amusement parks and two zoos.
Thank you to Great Lakes Publishing for another fantastic edition of Independence Magazine! Be sure to explore the great stories and support the local business sponsors who made this possible at no cost.
Sincerely,
Gregory P. Kurtz, MAYOR
GROWING TOGETHER
Every organization needs revenue to operate — be it sales revenue for a business, donations and grants for a nonprofit, or tax revenue for a governmental entity.
Independence’s primary revenue source is income taxes paid on wages earned within the City.
While Independence’s income tax revenue has been relatively flat the last four years in a row, two other revenue sources have at least somewhat made up for that.
Hotel-motel lodging taxes have bounced back from their 2020 lows during COVID, and investment income reached a likely all-time record high in 2024.
The Independence Finance Office works closely with the City’s Economic Development Team to ensure the City remains competitive and a “city of choice” for businesses.
This is the only way to ensure that Independence retains a strong and reliable revenue stream to pay the cost of delivering services, acquire capital equipment and complete infrastructure investments.
Sincerely,
Vern Blaze, FINANCE DIRECTOR
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Where futures beginSM
FUN FOR ALL
Children with disabilities enjoy a camp geared to their needs.
// STORIES BY LINDA FEAGLER
Crafts, sports, swimming, yoga, a cardio drum circle — and so much more.
Welcome to S.T.A.R. Summer Camp, (Students Together for Acceptance and Respect) at Elmwood Park. It’s a special place where children with disabilities — including autism and Down Syndrome, as well as those in wheelchairs or struggling with behaviors and emotions — can have fun engaging in tailormade activities while learning and practicing social skills and sharpening math and reading competence.
There’s also an Alumni Camp tailormade for those age 22 and older who want to continue their S.T.A.R. Camp experience.
Independence residents Jim Wotowiec, a retired North Royalton High School special education teacher, and his wife Lori, also a retired special education teacher and former school administrator, launched the camp 16 years ago with 20 participants. It has grown to serve 200 students from Northeast Ohio, ranging from preschooler to age 19.
The idea was sparked when the couple were spending a peaceful afternoon biking along the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail.
“We were enjoying the day, when Lori said, ‘I’d like to start a school for individuals with disabilities,’” Jim recalls, “and I said ‘Lori, we have three kids, and our calendars are too full.’ She paused and said, ‘Well, would you consider starting a summer camp and helping me direct it?’”
His answer: “Absolutely.”
Lori spearheaded a meeting with the Autism Society of Greater Cleveland, and the organization quickly lent its support. Through the years, S.T.A.R.
opened to anyone who could benefit from the experience.
Each camper arrives with an individualized education plan from their respective school district. The Wotowiecs and their team meticulously study them, and tailormake activities geared toward participants’ needs.
“Everybody wants to feel wanted and be part of something,” Jim says. “Our mission is to be able to provide a camp experience for kids that allows them to grow as everybody else would want to grow, and provide activities that continue to foster independence and, most importantly, provide a support network.”
STAYING SHARP // Inside the mind challenge for the new majority.
Where is the golf capital of the world?
Myrtle Beach
What mythical creature has the head, talons and claws of an eagle and the body of a lion?
The griffin
What college did Bob Dylan attend?
University of Minnesota
What was Ulysses S. Grant’s first name?
Hiram
THIS IS JUST A SAMPLING OF THE TRIVIA QUESTIONS the Independence team tackled — and aced — to win first place in the seventh-annual Mind Challenge for the New Majority.
Created and organized in 2019 by Northeast Ohioans Art Greenberg and Phil Levine, the contest for active seniors is patterned after the NCAA basketball tournament. During the game, the host asks questions, and each team has 90 seconds to collaborate and come up with the correct answer. Point values are established for questions within the six rounds. Each team determines what point value it wishes to give to a specific question, and winning teams are determined by the most points they’ve acquired during the tournament.
“It gets pretty complicated,” says Independence resident and team captain George Klepacz, who along with his brother Ed Klepacz and Independence residents Sal Indrico, Gloria Mikals, Jack Mikals, Sharon Rogers and Bob Sackett, bested Canal Fulton in the final round to take the title of 2025 Mind Challenge Champion, and received $2,500 for the Senior Organization at the Independence Civic Center.
This year, 115 teams from 72 cities across Ohio competed in the match.
“The game,” Klepacz says, “keeps us seniors going and gives us the opportunity to socialize and interact with each other.
Kids enrolled in S.T.A.R. Summer Camp engage in fun activities while learning.
Team Independence, mind challenge champions.
ON THE WELL WAY
All’s well in Independence, where a thriving local business community offers a variety of services to promote healthy lifestyles. //
BY KRISTEN HAMPSHIRE
Independence is home to an expanding community of entrepreneurs who are dedicated to living a whole, healthy life. From tailored, science-based fitness to yoga of all kinds and dance for all ages, residents and visitors can find a feel-good fix here.
OM TO THE OCCASION
Tracy Rhinehart had been teaching yoga and offering wellness services in the Akron-Fairlawn area for years. When the pandemic reshaped in-person gatherings, she recentered and established her home base in Independence.
“I was touched by my own community and its needs and wanted to create something to serve people right here,” says Rhinehart, who opened Studio 108 with her daughter, Leah Rachelle Markowitz, whose eyes “lit up” when her mom shared the opportunity.
Markowitz is a functional medicine coach, herbalist, and Pilates teacher who grows her own herbs in Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
“We’re really proud of our lifestylebased business,” Rhinehart says. “We don’t do yoga and wine — we do things like tinctures and mocktails to hone in on the wholeness of wellbeing.”
Studio 108 offers sound baths, massage, health and nutrition coaching, as well. A range of yoga styles includes one that’s especially popular now, such as Yin Yoga, involving long-hold stretches. “It attracts a crowd in need of nervous system care, releasing tension in the muscles and supporting joint health,” Rhinehart explains.
Kundalini Yoga, on the other hand, includes a deep-dive into personal experience and self-awareness. “We do deep meditations with the use of sound, mantras and chanting,” Rhinehart says of a practice targeted toward
those who want to optimize creativity, authenticity and intuitive capacity.
The sound baths involve a range of instruments like gongs and singing bowls infused with gemstones that are tuned for a therapeutic experience. “People are appreciating the care of their nervous systems and how the vibration of sound enters their biofield to clear blocks and release stories, beliefs and habits that maybe aren’t as optimal as how they want to live.”
The location attracts diverse clientele. Some ride their bikes to classes, others join Studio 108 for Yoga on the city’s Public Square on Fridays during the summer. Fitness classes are well attended and expanding. Those already include barre, Pilates, strength and conditioning. The studio has four Pilates reformers in a semi-private setting.
Rhinehart says, “We are really proud to be part of this community.”
Studio 108 students practice their warrior pose.
GIFTED HANDS, OFFERED WITH CARE
When Sherri and Robert Morris learned that more than half of their massage clientele was traveling to their venue from the west side, it prompted them to relocate to Independence. The community welcomed Her Gifted Hands, a massage therapy destination that eases stress and brings joy.
They even offer a luxury car service that will drive clients and parties to the studio, where a range of whole-body wellness services span from myofascial release and relaxation massage to dynamic hot stone therapy for trigger points, prenatal services and stretching programs. Her Gifted Hands partners with medical professionals who perform lymphatic draining massage and can accept insurance reimbursement payments from Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts.
“You’re not just a number here,” says Sherri, with Robert noting that the business has grown substantially because of its Groupon offerings that convert to longtime clients.
Sherri says, “We reserve time accordingly to give each client the attention they deserve, and we follow up afterward with recommendations on how to make the most of their experience and see how their doing.”
She adds, “The spa services we offer are personal care, and any client who comes through our doors becomes family to us.”
Her Gifted Hands has extended its healing services to local businesses, offering services at the Independence Community Expo. They hope to introduce a corporate chair massage program.
Ready to celebrate? So are the Morrises. “We make it our business to be sure when people come in for a special occasion, they are recognized,” Sherri says. “We go all out — birthday decorations, complimentary mimosas, cards and a cupcake. I want our clients to feel special and know we really do care.”
ELEVATED LIFESTYLE, DANCING MOVES
He was a Cleveland charter schoolteacher, driven to leverage dance as a creative platform to boost confidence, social development, physical fitness, teamwork and, above all, offer an inclusive community.
“I’m going to bet on these kids and myself,” Howard Washington said to himself in 2015 when he started the Elevated Dance Crew hip-hop dance company. After two years of growing the company, competing nationally and practicing at studios across the region, the time had come to establish a headquarters.
He landed in Independence, centrally located and ideal for the regional draw that brings in dancers from all over Northeast Ohio. Washington is looking forward to expanding the local audience.
Since moving to Independence, Washington has grown Elevated to three dance companies, from 20 to 70 students involved in these groups with more than 100 students ages three to 30 participating in diverse programming that includes ballet, hip-hop, musical theater, jazz and summer experiences like its Disney Dance Camp.
“We’re loud, we’re proud,” Washington says, sharing some of Elevated Dance headquarters’ national accolades, which include dancers performing at the Super
Bowl alongside pop singer Rhianna and at The Grammy Awards.
The Elevated youth competitive dance company holds several Top Overall titles. Several dancers have received scholarships to prestigious dance programs, Washington says.
“We use dance to create a platform for any local dancer who wants to pursue dance beyond the studio realm with training and competitions inside and outside of Ohio,” Washington says. “The goal has always been to create a conduit that gets them to the next level.”
But it’s not all about competition. Dance, as a form of self-expression, a physical outlet for emotion, and simply for fun, is also why Elevated is here. And Washington is inspired by the tight-knit nature of Independence and looking forward to “really getting innovative within the community.”
Lobbing a few ideas into the ring, he imagines dance collaborations where his companies visit businesses and do “dance flash mobs,” filming performances to showcase companies and all they do.
And he sees growth on the horizon with eyes on finding an even larger venue in town.
Ultimately, Washington hopes his dance headquarters elevates community spirit and connectivity. He says, simply: “I believe in this thing.”
Elevated Dance has created a platform for any local dancer to train and compete inside and outside of Ohio.
THE SCIENCE OF LIVING WELL
Exercise is good medicine, and Dr. Frederick Peters is bridging the gap between science and fitness at The Fitness Doctor, a business he started in 2014 after recognizing a niche opportunity to offer what most personal trainers and gyms don’t deliver.
“I’d see trainers working with people of different ages and abilities, but they weren’t tailoring the workout for the person, which causes injuries,” Dr. Peters relates, noting that any influencer can claim to be a personal trainer.
“I decided to bring a science-based approach to the market for people who need my assistance, largely a clinical population,” he says.
The Fitness Doctor is located close to Independence’s health systems and allows physicians to point patients to the Brecksville Road office.
Some clients are preparing for knee surgery and need a customized fitness plan to improve outcomes. Others are going into bariatric surgery, undergoing chemotherapy, struggling with diabetes or hypertension — trying to lose weight per doctor’s orders.
Going to a gym is uncomfortable. Group classes are off the table. (They’re not tailored, Dr. Peters points out.)
The Fitness Doctor is a hybrid clinic/gym with fully equipped private spaces and dedicated areas for cardio, strength training and more. A licensed staff is trained by Dr. Peters, who is also the program director for Concordia University’s Applied Exercise Science department.
“People come here because they have a genuine interest in living healthy, feeling better and staying active — they care about wellness,” says Dr. Peters.
Every client’s experience at The Fitness Doctor starts with a thorough assessment to inform a personalized exercise program. Reassessments every four to six weeks ensure programs are tweaked to accommodate clients’ progress over time. Dr. Peters has guided clients on weight-loss journeys that have resulted in shedding pounds in the triple digits.
“As a professional in the field, I’m always evolving with the science,” he adds.
Located in the heart of Independence, Dr. Peters says his business is a fit for a community that cares about wellness. “People here
value the close-knit feeling of personal connection,” he says, noting how The Fitness Doctor grows long-term relationships with clients.
The Fitness Doctor, Frederick Peters, brings a science-based approach to customizing fitness plans.
A DANCE PROJECT FOR ADULTS
Anna Cerveny took a chance and started a Facebook group inviting adults to come out and dance. She announced applications for a choreographer and rented out theater spaces.
Today, her initiative is Cleveland Dance Project, based in Independence after five years of playing “trading spaces” to land studio time and performance venues.
Cerveny grew up dancing with professional training and pursued a career in physical therapy. When she returned to Cleveland after touring with a company, “I didn’t have anywhere to dance as an adult,” she relates, explaining that regional companies’ professional classes are usually during the day. This class schedule doesn’t work for adults with full-time jobs.
She created an opportunity for herself and others, ranging in age from 18 to 70+.
“One of the greatest things about Cleveland Dance Project is you’re not only coming to ‘work out,’ you are also coming to be part of a community, to network and move your body in ways that challenge you, led by an instructor,” Cerveny says. “And there is an end-result — a performance.”
Not every dancer decides to perform, and drop-in classes make adulting and dancing possible — and convenient. “It’s hard to make a weekly commitment,” Cerveny acknowledges. “We offer more flexibility and an opportunity for adults to train in an adult environment.”
This passion project was born from her drive to keep dancing in classes she could attend in the evening and not youth classes. Moves are adapted based on age. And as a physical therapist at University Hospitals in Independence, Cerveny prioritizes movement.
“Part of my goal is to encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to move,” she says, calling Cleveland Dance Project her passion project.
Cerveny’s company performed at the Independence Community Expo, Home Days and is always looking for opportunities to step out close to home. She says, “When you take a dance class and can learn a new skill or have a video of yourself doing a dance combination that may not be perfect but it’s something you didn’t think you could do. This gives people a great feeling about the progress they’re making.”
Cleveland Dance Project offers flexible instructor led classes for adult dancers ages 18 to 70+.
BUILDING BRIDGES
STRONGER TOGETHER AND UNITED IN CONNECTING AND COLLABORATING, the Independence business, school, resident and city services communities came together at the first annual Community Expo at the Middle School. Its halls were lined with local vendors, nonprofits and service organizations. The schools hosted athletic clinics, with musical and theater groups performing on stage.
“There was a lot of energy, networking and connecting of residents to businesses they might not have known about,” says Jessica Hyser, economic development director.
“This event highlights something Independence does really well, which is building bridges, and we’re really proud of how the business community, city and schools open a lot of doors for residents and students,” Hyser points out.
The goal: Create a stronger, more informed, more connected community. And, to highlight synergies across Independence. All told, participants included 40 businesses across industries, five city departments and seven community partners.
Cleveland Clinic offered health screenings, while Street Bean Coffee Co. offered fresh-brew specialty drinks and Indy Sewing Studio set up a stand for kids to make petal bags.
“The event was a platform and opportunity to bring together so many people from our community, including five city departments on site sharing their programs and resources,” says Irene Kalal, economic development coordinator. “This platform was definitely well-received and showed how every entity in Independence plays a part of contributing something valuable to the whole.”
Superintendent Kelly Cogan adds, “With so many businesses and industry, there are many opportunities for us to have mutually beneficial relationships. We invite any experience when we can showcase the talent of our students and welcome the community into our schools.”
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WELCOME TO SCHOOL
Renowned for the quality of the city’s school district, Independence creates innovative programming designed for students of all ages and the community-at-large. //
BY LINDA FEAGLER
TEACHING MENTAL HEALTH TOOLS
Being a kid isn’t always child’s play.
“We live in a world that’s ever-changing,” says Independence Primary School (IPS) guidance counselor Brooke Gradert. “In this technological age of social media and cell phones, we’re seeing a big spike in a variety of mental health diagnoses and issues.
“If you have a child who’s coming to school in a constant state of anxiety, they’re not learning much,” she adds. “We need to teach them ways that will help them cope and enjoy school like every K through fourth-grader should.”
That earnest commitment to mental wellbeing began in 2022 with the debut of Independence Primary School Mental Health Day at the Civic Center.
During the annual event which takes place in November, elementary school
students engage in activities tailormade for their respective age group, including mindful walking, positive self-talk and teamwork exercises.
Participants also create sensory jars filled with glitter in soothing hues, stress balls and favorite objects designed to allay stress when it strikes.
“We teach students that the items in their jars are not toys,” Gradert says. “Instead, we explain to them that they’re tools that will help them calm down if they’re upset, mad, anxious or experiencing other negative feelings they may have.”
TJ Ebert, director of human resources and business operations for the Independence Local School District — and former Independence Primary School Principal — ensures that the steps to mental wellness continue throughout the school year. The IPS curriculum includes lessons offered
by Second Step, a nationally recognized, classroom-based program designed to help students develop emotional management, empathy and problem-solving skills.
Gradert and a behavior technician are also available to students needing one-onone counseling.
Ebert delightedly shares an incident relayed to him recently from a mom responsible for providing snacks to a student baseball team: When she arrived moments before the game began, it dawned on her that she’d driven to the wrong field. As the stress mounted, her daughter piped up from the back seat and said, ‘Calm down mom. Everyone makes mistakes. Take a deep breath and pretend you’re blowing out birthday candles. I like doing that because it makes it seem like it’s my birthday every day.’”
It was an exercise the first-grader learned during a health and wellness class at IPS.
“We’ve always been responsible for teaching reading, math, science and social studies,” Ebert reflects. “But now we’re also including lessons in life skills that our students share with their parents.”
CAMPUS LIFE
Back in the ’70s, folk singer Janis Ian shared the angst she felt “At Seventeen.”
And although that was decades ago, many students still experience the worry and fear associated with being the last one picked for a volleyball game in gym class or the loneliness of another day sitting by themselves in the cafeteria during lunch.
Kaylee Rauch, director of the Campus Life programs at Independence Middle and High schools, understands how crushing experiences like this can be.
Across the country, bullying is the leading cause of anxiety and suicidal thoughts in students, she explained. “The mission of Campus Life is to reduce these actions and thoughts, be a positive influence inside and outside the school, and inspire positive change that uplifts and enhances the community.”
Created by Youth for Christ, a 65-yearold nonprofit organization with more than
Students in attendance at the annual Independence Primary School (IPS) Mental Health Day held at the Independence Civic Center.
1,000 sites throughout 40 states, Campus Life is open to every student regardless of race, gender, religious beliefs and economic circumstances.
In addition to Independence, six Northeast Ohio school districts — Brecksville-Broadview Heights, Brooklyn, Chardon, Nordonia Hills, Parma and BereaMidpark — have incorporated Campus Life secular and nonsecular activities into their curricula. Each is designed to help students make good decisions and build positive relationships. Seven area private schools also offer Campus Life events.
Rauch, who became director of Campus Life Independence in 2024, credits Angie Zidanic, the city’s Clerk of Court, with spearheading the introduction of the program to the two schools as an offshoot of INDYAlive!, designed to enhance the safety and wellbeing of all residents.
In addition to conducting faith-based programming and clubs before and after school, Rauch also leads secular homework and craft activities, along with one-on-one and group mentoring sessions tailormade for every grade level.
“We help students from the inside out,” Rauch explains. “In [junior high,] students stress over ‘Will my friends continue to like
me?’ and ‘How do I really fit in?’ “In high school, struggles include trying to gain approval of others, and burdens students have in their lives about what school or college they’ll attend and the pressure to perform well and be the best.”
“When kids know they are valued, seen and cared for, and when they receive compassion and kindness, they’ll give it back to others,” she says. “Additionally, we practice coping skills students can use when someone is bullying them — and how they can stop a bully from hurting someone else.”
Rauch also chaperones the annual high school Homecoming dance, serves as a ticket-taker at athletic events and attends student concerts and other special scholastic events in their lives.
Her field trips to popular places including the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and Cedar Point, along with mini-golf excursions, prove to be invaluable because, she explains, it’s easier to build relationships and open up to each other in a fun setting rather than in a classroom.
“My role is unique,” Rauch reflects, “in that I can talk with students that maybe a teacher, guidance counselor or principal can’t.
“It’s good to be a bit removed but still close in age to the students,” she adds. “That way they can look up to me as a big sister, mentor and friend.”
A WORLD OF LEARNING
Each year, Independence residents travel to 75 countries without leaving “the heart of Cuyahoga County” during the Cultural Fair that is quickly becoming an eagerly anticipated tradition.
Sponsored by the Independence Local School District and the City of Independence, the third annual fete is scheduled to take place on March 19, 2026, at the Independence Civic Center. The day is designed to offer a chance for students, families and the community to come together in the spirit of unity, learning and appreciation for diversity.
The free Cultural Fair is a collaborative effort between the city’s second- and sixth-graders who research various traditions, customs, and heritages from around the world.
The purpose of the event is two-fold, explains former Independence Primary School principal TJ Ebert, now serving as the director of human resources and business operations for the district.
“We feel it’s important to expose our students to different cultures and people,” he says. “Working together on the event also leads to big brother-big sister relationships between the two grades. The
partnership makes the transition to middle school much smoother for elementary students because they’re familiar with the school building and the teachers.”
Cuisine from Aladdin’s, Cozumel, Gentile’s, Thai Gourmet, King Tut Egyptian Street Food, Tita Flora’s and Gran Fiesta Mexican Restaurant have also been showcased.
“We’re thrilled to be part of Independence,” says Gran Fiesta co-owner Juan Vazquez, “and love giving back to the community.”
Since it opened in December at the Ramada by Wyndham Cleveland Independence, Gran Fiesta has become a popular gathering place. In addition to popular Mexican fare including fajitas and chimichangas, specialties of the house include tacos de birria, succulent slow-cooked beef smothered in special seasoning, topped with cilantro and a side of salsa and fresh lime. Diners also enjoy kicking back on the restaurant’s patio, which offers views of the Cuyahoga Valley.
“The spirit of unity the Cultural Fair represents is important for everyone,” Vazquez reflects. “It’s also an opportunity for us to share our favorite dishes with people who ove them — and introduce new flavors to those who have never had the opportunity to try Mexican food.”
Gran Fiesta
Each state in the US has a federally designated anti-sexual violence coalition, as well as an anti-domestic violence coalition. Ohio’s anti-sexual violence coalition is the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence (OAESV), and our work is a little bit different than the work that rape crisis centers do. We’re responsible for training and technical assistance for the rape crisis centers in Ohio, as well as providing information to legislators and even some services directly to survivors, such as housing and legal representation. And we make it a point to do all of our work in a trauma-informed and survivor-centered way.
The Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence works to train and support advocates and others working on behalf of survivors in Ohio. Join the movement to end sexual violence in our communities. Go to www.oaesv.org/get-involved
OHIO ALLIANCE TO END SEXUAL VIOLENCE 6111 Oak Tree Blvd., Suite 140 Independence, OH 44131
CONNECT WITH US (888) 886-8388 Toll-Free (216) 658-1381
25
WITH A 4.0 GPA OR HIGHER 40 STUDENTS WITH HONORS DIPLOMA
383 GRADUATION SEALS EARNED
1.8
492 COLLEGE CREDITS EARNED
141 ADVANCED PLACEMENT AP TESTS TAKEN 2
MERIT COMMENDED SCHOLARS
10
VALLEY CAREER CENTER (CVCC) GRADS
STUDENT-ATHLETES 44 INDUSTRY CVCC CREDENTIALS
5,465 VOLUNTEER HOURS EARNED
SCHOOLS INDEPENDENCE GRADUATES WILL BE ATTENDING:
• Akron General Paramedic Program
• Ashland University
• Baldwin Wallace University
• Bowling Green State University
• Brigham Young University
• Case Western Reserve University
• Cleveland State University
• Cuyahoga Community College
• Do Good Day Hub
• Hiram College
• John Carroll University
• Kansas State University
• Kent State University
• Lake Erie College
• Link Academy (Missouri)
• Miami University
• Northern Kentucky University
• Ohio University
• Penn State University
• The Cleveland Institute of Art
• The Ohio State University
• University of Akron
• University of Cincinnati
• University of Northwestern Ohio
• Ursuline College
• Walsh University
OUT OF THE COUNTRY:
• I.I.S. Sausustio Bandini, Italy
• Bismarckschule Elmshorn, Germany (gymnastics)
MEET
THE TEAM
NATALIE FIOR MATTHEWS
With more than two decades of educational expertise and leadership across diverse school communities, Natalie Fior Matthews has been appointed the district’s new assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and assessments.
Before joining Independence Local Schools, Matthews held principalships in Wellington Exempted Village Schools and Avon Lake City Schools. Under her leadership, all five elementary school buildings in Elyria City Schools received the prestigious Governor’s Award for the Science of Reading — a testament to her innovative vision and unwavering focus on literacy and achievement.
“Natalie brings a wealth of experience, a deep understanding of curriculum and instruction, and an unwavering commitment to student success,” says superintendent Kelli Cogan. “We are thrilled to welcome her to Independence Local Schools, and are confident she will be a driving force in advancing our mission to empower every learner and cultivate a legacy of excellence.”
HALEY MUELLER
Haley Mueller, a seasoned educator with more than a decade of experience, is the new principal of Independence Middle School. Her career — which began as a middle school social studies teacher at Akron Preparatory School — includes leadership roles as associate principal of A.I. Root Middle School for Medina City Schools, and principal of Northeast Ohio College Preparatory School.
“Haley’s experience, values, and leadership style align directly with the priorities our community expressed,” says superintendent Kelli Cogan. “She brings a deep understanding of middle-level education and a clear commitment to both academic and social-emotional growth.”
JODIE HUGHES
Jodie Hughes, an adjunct professor of foundational courses in literacy and assessment for aspiring educators at the University of Akron, has been named the new principal of Independence Primary School. Prior to joining Independence Local Schools, her 20-plus year career included being the director of curriculum, assessment and instruction for Chippewa Local Schools. Hughes’ leadership at Hazel Harvey Elementary was recognized nationally when the school was named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education in 2018.
“Jodie’s passion for education and ability to lead through collaboration, data-informed strategies and strong relationships make her an exceptional choice to lead Independence Primary School,” says superintendent Kelli Cogan. “She aligns closely with the priorities our staff identified, and brings the expertise and heart needed to guide IPS into its next chapter.”
