Welcome to Ohio Making Schools Work!
Ohio High Schools That Work (HSTW) is now Ohio Making Schools Work, a national K-12 comprehensive school improvement model. Making Schools Work is based on the High Schools That Work, Making Middle Grades Work and elementary school ten key practices and five focus areas that improve student success from kindergarten through high school in preparation for work, careers, and further education. Ohio’s four regional centers provide services to 260+ high schools, middle schools, career centers and elementary and intermediate schools.
Meet Dennis Haft, our Making Schools Work State Coordinator
Dennis has a diverse background in public education as a classroom teacher, building administrator and most recently a district superintendent. He fully supports the goals of High Schools That Work around creating high expectations and multiple pathways for all students. Dennis works for the Ohio Department of Education, Office of Graduate Success.
Ohio 2023 Gene Bottoms Making Schools Work Pacesetter Award Winners
Athens High School
Green High School
Penta Career Center
Southern Hills Career Center
Talawanda High School
West Clermont High School
Clermont Northeastern Middle School
Wellston Middle School
McKinley STEM Academy
Warrensville Heights Elementary
These schools will be recognized at the July 2023 Making Schools Work Conference in Orlando, Florida.
Congratulations! 
Ohio Making Schools Work 2022 National Blue Ribbon School:
- Lynchburg – Clay Elementary School
Conferences/Workshops: SAVE THE DATES!
Ohio School Improvement Institute, November 2-3, 2023, Renaissance Downtown Columbus Hotel Registration now open! | W-9 for payment | Submit a proposal to present!
Making Schools Work Conference, July 18-21, 2023 – Orlando, FL Register Now!
MSW Conference Attendees -The Ohio meeting will take place in Room Lafayette 4 on Wednesday, July 19 at 4:30 PM.
Welcome Marcie Wilson!
Following the retirement of Joyce Odor in June 2023, Marcie Wilson will be joining Making Schools Work as the Central/Southeast Regional Coordinator. Marcie has thirty years of experience in public education as a teacher and building administrator with Johnstown-Monroe Schools.
Marcie attended Capital University, where she earned her reading endorsement and Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education. She continued her education at The Ohio State University, receiving a master’s degree in Teaching and Learning with a focus on Language, Literacy, and Culture. She went on to study educational leadership at Muskingum University.
Marcie grew up in southeastern Ohio before moving to central Ohio to begin her career in education and raise a family. She is looking forward to sharing her knowledge of school improvement, supporting the goals of Making Schools Work, and serving districts in the Central/Southeast Ohio region.
Congratulations, Debra Schneider!
2022 SREB Change Champion Award Recipient.
Debra Schneider received the Change Champion award from SREB at the Coaching for Change Conference in Atlanta on May 26. Debra is a Making Schools Work coach in the NW Ohio region. Along with her other sites, Debra coaches Penta Career Center, a SREB Pacesetter site.