State and Regional Contacts

Nicki is a 2003 graduate from the University of Dayton in Middle Childhood Education with concentrations in math and science. She also received her Master’s Degree from Marygrove College. Nicki is a 7th grade math teacher at Troy Junior High School and is also a team leader.

Mr. Tom Burton is currently the Past-President of OMLA and is the Associate Superintendent of Princeton City Schools, located just outside of Cincinnati, Ohio. Tom has been in administration since 1995 with over 12 years of service as a building principal. He is the author of “Mark of Leadership: Strategies for Leading with Purpose, Plans, and Passion.” Since 2001 Tom has spoken to numerous audiences throughout the United States with passion and purpose on a multitude of topics. Additionally, Tom has written articles for publications both in Ohio and nationally and was the “Mark of Leadership” columnist for Middle Ground Magazine, an AMLE and formerly National Middle School Association publication. He is the winner of NASSP/MetLife Ohio Middle School Principal of the Year, Distinguished Young Alumni Award from Slippery Rock University, and many other awards. Most recently he was selected as Ohio Educator of the Year by the Ohio Middle Level Association and was inducted in both the Cleveland Heights High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame and John Carroll University Athletic Hall of Fame. Tom is married to wife Franca, and they share the joy of raising three children, Cailey (Eleventh grade), Bryce (Ninth grade), and Tommy (Sixth grade).

Paul Destino is the Treasurer of the Ohio Middle Level Association. He has been on the OMLA Board since 2002. Paul has been the Principal of Mayfield Middle School since 2006. He previously was an Assistant Principal at Wiley Middle School and a middle school teacher at Monticello Middle School, both in the Cleveland Heights/University Heights School District. Paul is married to his wife Natalie and has 2 sons, Dominic and Anthony.

Serving as Executive Secretary of OMLA since 2009, Dona joined the OMLA Executive Board in 1998 as a Southwest Regional Representative.  She held the office of vice-president of the organization from 2005 to 2009.  Dona taught middle level science for fifteen year in the Hamilton City School district.  She joined the administrative team of Middletown City Schools in 1994 and was a high school assistant principal for two years. During her five years as Vail Middle School principal, she led the transition of their awarded middle level program.  After two years as the Secondary Curriculum Coordinator, Dona wanted to return to building level administration and completed her thirty year career as a principal of Nagel Middle School in Cincinnati.  As a presenter, she had the opportunity to share her experiences at multiple NMSA/AMLE National Conferences, OMLA State Conferences, OASSA Middle Level Conference, Nuts and Bolts Middle Level Symposiums, U.S. Department of Education Conference for State Technology Directors in Washington, D.C., ODE Teaching and Learning State Conference, and SchoolNet/Soita State Conferences.  Dona received her M.Ed. in Leadership and Curriculum, M.Ed. in Secondary Science, and B.S. in Secondary Science degrees from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.  She also attended The Western College as an undergrad for three years.

Robb Gonda is the proud principal of Hastings Middle School with the Upper Arlington City School District, which is a suburb of Columbus. During Robb’s twenty one years in education, he has served as language arts and social studies teacher at the middle level as well as an assistant  principal and principal at the secondary level. His formal education was completed at Ashland University and the Ohio State University. Additionally, he has been fortunate to present multiple time at various state and national conferences. He resides in New Albany with wife, Elizabeth, and two children, Caroline and Timothy.  

Tiffany Shaw graduated from Muskingum College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and Psychology. She continued her education earning a Master’s Degree in Curriculum & Instruction and Educational Administration also from Muskingum College. Tiffany is currently a lead teacher within the Tuscarawas Valley Local School District and Master Teacher with Project Lead The Way. During the summer months, Tiffany trains hundreds of teachers equipping them with the framework of STEM education. She has led student and adult groups through international travel bringing classroom lessons to life. Tiffany has been awarded the WTUV Teachers Are Tops Award, and is a Class Coordinator for Financial Peace University, where she has taught both staff and community members. She is a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, an educational women’s honorary organization, currently serving as Vice-President. Tiffany and her husband, Matt, have two children; Olivia and Sophia.

Michelle completed her undergrad and graduate work at Ashland University and currently serves as an adjunct professor at the university. She has taught at Independence Middle School since 2006 and currently teaches 6th grade ELA. She is the student council advisor, volleyball coach, and serves on various professional committees at the school. She has presented at state and national conferences,  received various awards at the city and state level, and was part of the 2012 OMLA Team of the Year. Michelle resides in Strongsville with her husband Tony,  their sons, Griffin and Oliver, and their dog Oscar.

Jeffrey Cicerchi is currently the  principal at North Royalton Middle School. Prior to serving as principal, he was an assistant principal at NRMS for five years.  Before going into educational leadership, he taught sixth grade for three years at NRMS and one year in the Riverside Local Schools.  He is a 2005 graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College with a degree in middle childhood education and a 2009 graduate of Ursuline College with a master’s degree in education administration.  He currently lives in North Royalton with his wife Steff and three children, Landyn, Owen, and Raelyn. 

Rebecca has been teaching since 1992. She has taught 6th, 7th and 8th grade science and is currently teaching 7th grade science at Hudson Middle School. She has served on the Ohio Middle Level Association board since 1996 and is currently a NE Associate Representative.

Lee is the District Title I Data Coach and Data coordinator for the Lima City Schools.  He was in middle level education for thirty years teaching math and then as an instructional coach.  Lee has a B.A. from Wittenberg University and a M.A. Ed. from Bowling Green State University.  Lee and his wife, Doris have two grown sons and one “middle level” Labradoodle and reside in Lima.

Kristen graduated from Otterbein College with her Bachelor’s degree in 2007.  She earned her Master’s degree through Walden University.  She is a 7th and 8th grade math teacher at New Lexington Middle School where she has spent her entire career.  She has presented at numerous state and national conferences, has been published in AMLE Magazine, and was a co-recipient of a Rural Trust Global Fellowship to visit schools in Australia.  Her favorite day of the school year is Pi Day, and she has recorded several Pi Day parody videos to entertain her students and colleagues.

Stephanie Paul serves students as a grade 8 language arts teacher and as an adjunct instructor at Ohio University in the Patton College of Education. She has research interests in the middle school concept in rural settings, and in examining how best to meet at-risk students where they are as readers in the era of the Common Core through diverse YAL book pairings and middle level best practices intended to serve the unique needs of the young adolescent. Stephanie also serves on her school's building leadership team, has coached other teachers in the past and led professional development, and enjoys mentoring teacher-candidates in her classroom. She enjoys exchanging ideas with colleagues having presented on a variety of topics at regional, state, and national professional conferences for the organizations in which she is active: OMLA, AMLE, and NCTE. Stephanie presently lives in the rural, Appalachian region of southeastern Ohio. . 

Amy Peck is currently the middle school principal of North Ridgeville Academic Center.  Prior to her tenure in North Ridgeville, she was an administrator in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.  The 2017-18 school year marks Amy's eighteenth year as a school administrator.  Prior to administration, Amy taught in Cleveland, Lakewood and Florida. In addition to Amy's principal license, she also holds superintendent's licensure.  She resides in Avon with her husband Patrick and her two sons, Ian and Elliott. 

Dave Slamer currently serves as the Principal at Edgewood Middle School in Trenton, Ohio. Previous to his current role he served as the Assistant Principal at Edgewood Middle School for 1 year, taught Social Studies at Fairfield Senior High School for 2 years, and taught Social Studies for 6 years at Twin Valley South High School. Dave did his undergraduate work at Miami University, received his Master's Degree from Wright State University, and did his Principalship work at the University of Dayton. He has found his niche in middle level education and enjoys working with an ever-changing group of students. Dave lives in Lebanon with his wife Lindsay, a fellow educator, son Cole, and daughter Celia. 

Jennifer graduated from Shawnee State University in 1992 with a Bachelor Degree in Elementary Education.  In over 20 years of teaching, Jennifer has taught first grade, eighth and seventh grade Language Arts and Social Studies.  Jennifer began teaching middle level students in the Kings Local School District in 2001.  During this time, Jennifer has worked on various professional committees, including organizing the application process for Ohio Schools to Watch and serving on the Building Leadership Team at KJH.  She has presented at regional and state OMLA conferences and was a recipient of a Regional Award for Best Practice from OMLA. In addition, Jennifer enjoys being on the state application and site evaluation teams for Ohio Schools to Watch.  She resides in Middletown with her husband, Barry and their two dogs, Charlie and Tanner.  

I am Maggie Davis and I am currently a 5th and 6th grade science and English language arts teacher at Mills Lawn Elementary for Yellow Springs Exempted Village Schools. I graduated from Wright State University with my Master's Degree in Middle Childhood Education with a 4-9 science, reading, and English language arts teaching license. While in pursuit of my degree, I worked for The Miami Valley School and Wright State University. At The Miami Valley School I was a substitute teacher, a summer camp teacher, and a staff member for their after school program. During my years at Wright State, I became a Study Coach for Tutoring Services on campus, which helped students develop study skills to be successful in college. Additionally, I served on the Dean’s Student Advisory Council for the College of Education and Human Services, which aims to serve the students, faculty, and staff of the college and generate positive changes to the college. Overall, I feel that I am a very passionate person and am excited about education!

Nichole graduated from Wright State University in 1999 and received her Master’s degree from The University of Dayton in 2001.  She has been the principal of Valley View Junior High in Farmersville, OH since 2013.  During her time as principal, VVJH has made a shift to the middle school philosophy, implemented an advisory program, and created many opportunities for student exploration.  Prior to her current position, Nichole was an intervention specialist for grades 6-12.  Nichole is a member of OASSA, NASSA, OMLA, and AMLE.  She has earned the Outstanding Special Education Teacher Award from NASET and is a Martha Holden Jennings grant recipient.  In addition to presenting at the district level, she has co-presented numerous times at the NSTA conference on differentiated instruction in the science classroom.  Nichole currently resides on the family farm with her husband, Mike, and two children, Taylor, and Mason.  

Stacy is an English Language Arts content specialist in the Office of Curriculum and Assessment at the Ohio Department of Education. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Secondary English Education in 2003 and her master’s in Educational Curriculum and Instruction in 2010. Before coming to work for the ODE, she was and English teacher for more than 10 years in Ohio and Indiana and a curriculum coach for two years in Indiana. She is currently working on her dissertation for her Ph.D. in Educational Studies from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Stacy lives in southeast Columbus with her husband, David, and their three children, Alyssa, Coralee, and Beckett.