Buckeye Reporter

January is a great time to celebrate our hard-working Lorain City Schools Board of Education members and educate the public about the important role each member plays in our community and schools. Please take some time to get to know each board member. We thank them for their service!

Bill Sturgill, Board President

Bill Sturgill has been a Lorain City Schools Board of Education member for 13 years, this year serving as president. But the number of years a ‘Sturgill’ has proudly represented the International City is decades-long.

Bill has lived in Lorain for 64 years, graduating from Lorain High School in 1968 before earning an associate’s degree from Lorain County Community College in 1975. His family has several Admiral King High School graduates among its ranks, including his wife, Andrea (Class of 1968) who just retired after 37 years with the district; his son, Stephen (Class of 1990), who currently serves as the district’s Executive Director of Wraparound Services, and his daughter (Class of 1991.)  Add to this, his six grandchildren who are Lorain Schools alumni, and his long history of volunteerism and coaching, and it is no surprise that Bill believes in all that Lorain City Schools has to offer.

“I became a school board member to better serve the teachers and children of this community,” he said. “I believe there is nothing that will serve you better in life than having a great education and that starts with good reading comprehension. I believe that any child can get a well-rounded education in Lorain, I believe our diversity is good, and growing up with people with different ethnic and racial backgrounds will serve your best interests in your future. We are all more alike than unalike.”

Courtney Nazario, Board Vice President

Courtney Nazario moved to the city of Lorain 16 years ago. This Amherst Marion L. Steele High School graduate married a Lorain High School alum, and soon the couple produced enough Titans to convince Courtney that the best way to be a Titan was to serve other Titans.

As such, Courtney, a 2004 graduate of Ashland University, joined the Lorain City Schools Board of Education in 2019, to let others see the same great education she sees each day with her children, Emmersyn, 10th grade; Addesyn, eighth grade; Maisyn, sixth grade; Ellesyn, second grade, and soon with Kenzingtyn who will start preschool next year. In addition to her work on the board, Courtney has been involved with several parent-teacher organizations, parent advisory and levy committees, and has served as a substitute teacher at Larkmoor Elementary School.

As a board member, Courtney said she wants to continue to make sure the best is being done for the district’s students, teachers, and staff. “I believe Lorain City Schools has amazing, hardworking teachers, staff, and students.  And I know that together we will continue to help our schools and students grow and expand on the great things they are doing.”

Mark Ballard, Board Member

Mark Ballard joined the Lorain City Schools Board of Education in 2016, but this Lorain native of 53 years has long ties to the district. Mark and his wife, Sandra, who is an administrative assistant in the district, both graduated from Lorain High School in 1986. His son, Mark Anthony followed in 2012, and his daughter, Moriah Alyssa, is from the Class of 2015.

Mark attended LaSalle College, where he earned a bachelor’s of science in Business, which has boded well for him as he has started many businesses in the local community, most recently WNZN Power 89.1FM.

When asked what his most important work has been as a board member, Mark said he would tell anyone unequivocally that it has been the fight to keep local control in the district and against House Bill 70.  He said his mantra of service has been to ensure Lorain students have the same opportunities he had in this community. “I believe Lorain City Schools prepares our students for life. Lorain has prepared me for every challenge that I’ve ever faced.”

Jay Ferguson, Board Member

Jay Ferguson has worn many hats for Lorain City Schools — teacher, coach, principal, and assistant superintendent. Now, he is one of the newest Lorain City Schools Board of Education members after officially taking his oath of office this year.

This is Jay’s first time as an elected official, but he is a true Titan with a long history of support for the district. He was born and raised in Lorain, graduated from Admiral King High School in 1973, and after completing his undergraduate studies at Denison University in 1977, Jay kept his talents close by serving the district for more than 30 years. He also earned a graduate degree from Baldwin Wallace University in 1990 and retired from education in 2014.

When asked why he wanted to become a school board member, Jay said, “his goal is to be part of returning Lorain Schools to excellence. I believe in Lorain Schools because I've seen how great it can be.” Jay lives on Skyline Drive with his wife, Mary Jo, a Lorain High School teacher, and son, Storm, and daughter, Skyler.

Barbie Washington

Barbie Washington likes to say she is an Amherst Comet (Class of 1998) and a Lorain County Joint Vocational School graduate, but “one heck of a Titan mom.” Titan pride has boded well for this born and raised Lorain native who is taking her first turn as a Lorain City Schools Board of Education member.

Barbie’s link to Lorain City Schools runs from her late husband, Ken, through to her children — Desiree (Class of 2013), Kenneth Jr. (Class of 2016), Sly (Class of 2017), and Arianna (Class of 2021) — and soon to her grandson as he gears up to start the district’s preschool program in the coming years. In addition, over the years Barbie has played ‘mom’ to many in the community — serving as everything from room mom to Titan FAM member. And, when House Bill 70 led to a state takeover of Lorain City Schools, Barbie helped to create ‘It Takes a Village’ to increase family engagement and fight to bring local control back to the district.

When asked why she wanted to serve as a board member, Barbie said she wanted to ensure that Lorain City Schools was “serving each student equitably, while providing them with the tools to succeed now and in the future. I believe great things happen in our buildings every day, but there is room for growth. We need to do better together and I believe we can do just that."

Original source can be found here.