By Gianna Jacobs, Staff Writer

Jason Whitacre, President

Q: What is your role on the board of education?

A: I serve as an at-large member of the Board of Education, which means I represent the entire district. At our most recent meeting, the board also elected me to serve as Board President for 2026.

Q: What is your number one motivation for being on the Board of Education?

A: My biggest motivation is working with others to make thoughtful decisions for the district. I really value hearing different opinions and perspectives, and I believe my legal background helps bring a different way of thinking to the table as we work together.

Q: What are your main goals and priorities now that you have been elected?

A: That’s a tough question because there’s a lot to focus on. Overall, I care a lot about having clear, fair and consistent processes in place. My goal is to help create systems that lead to long-term success—not just quick fixes—and that continue to benefit the district even after my term ends.

Q: How did your schooling/education affect you joining?

A: My education actually made me hesitant at first. As a political science major, I studied how lobbying can influence government decisions, which made me a bit cynical about politics. That experience stuck with me, but it also helps me stay grounded and avoid being overly influenced by outside pressure or special interest groups.

Q: What specific steps will you take in your first 100 days to address one of these key issues?

A: The board is already working on our next strategic plan, and my focus is helping us be more intentional and proactive rather than reactive. I hope you’ll notice better conversations at public meetings, a thoughtful approach to hiring our next treasurer and a stronger effort to move past personal politics and focus on what really matters.

Q: What do you believe is the single biggest challenge the community faces, and what makes you think that?

A: One of our biggest challenges is staying focused. There’s a constant stream of controversial topics coming from state, national and global politics, many of which the school board can’t actually control. While those issues matter, we need to stay centered on what we can do to support students and schools.

Q: How do you plan to collaborate effectively with other elected officials and city staff to achieve your goals?

A: Good communication is key. I make an effort to talk with people who don’t always think the same way I do and avoid staying in a political bubble. Disagreements are normal, but we usually have more in common than it seems—and staying connected makes it easier to get things done.

Q: How will you handle public criticism or disagreement with your decisions? 

A: Criticism comes with the job, and I’ve experienced plenty of it already. I try to listen respectfully without losing sight of my values. I’ve also chosen not to engage on social media during my term because I believe real conversations—face to face—are much more productive and meaningful.

Q: What specific skills and experience do you bring that will be beneficial to you as a board member?

A:I’m a licensed attorney with over 20 years of experience, much of it related to issues schools face. I’ve also served a full term on the board, including being president during COVID and vice president the year after. I tend to focus on fairness and consistency in how decisions are made, not just the outcome of one issue.

Q: What do you believe is the fundamental role of a board member in our community?

A: Board members are elected to represent the community by listening, asking questions and setting policy. We’re not meant to run the day-to-day operations—that’s handled by the district’s professionals. One of my most important roles is helping communicate between the community and the school district.

Q: What do you think is the biggest issue in the community right now?

A: We’ve become more divided than ever. Social media and constant online communication make it easier to misunderstand each other and harder to connect as people. I think we sometimes forget how much we actually have in common.

Q: What is your mission statement for the school year district wide?

A: The district already has a mission statement, and it’s important that board members support it rather than create their own. That said, I’m really interested in hearing what students think about it—whether it feels meaningful to you and whether you think the board actually follows it.

Q: What big changes are coming to Stow that are going to affect the students?

A: Many major changes affecting students come from outside the district, like the new Ohio cell phone law. From the board’s side, I hope you’ll see positive changes—better facilities, stronger community focus and more board members showing up to support and celebrate students at events.

Q: What is one thing you feel the students in Stow deserve or need the most?

A: Students need adults who stay focused on supporting them. It’s easy for adults to get distracted by political debates or trending issues, but our job is to stay centered on helping students learn, grow and succeed.

Q: What is the most important role a board member should offer the community in which they are representing.

A: Board members need to listen, respect different viewpoints and make informed decisions—even when those decisions aren’t popular. We can’t please everyone all the time, and that can’t be our goal. Being transparent, thoughtful and focused on the long-term good of the community is what really matters.

John Moyer, Vice President

Q: What is your role on the board of education?

A: I am currently the Vice President.

Q: What is your number one motivation for being on the Board of Education?

A: I enjoyed my time as a teacher at SMFHS.  Serving on the school board is another way for me to be involved in helping our schools. I’m also interested in leadership development, which is something I can contribute to our board. 

Q: What are your main goals and priorities now that you have been elected?

A: I hope to continue to uphold strong academics delivered in a welcoming environment.  I would like the SMF Schools to be the preferred choice for many students and families.  

Q: What specific steps will you take in your first 100 days to address one of these key issues?

A: Deeply listening while supporting consistent policies and procedures to support the goals above.  

Q: What do you believe is the single biggest challenge the community faces, and what makes you think that?

A: One current challenge is the way that schools are funded in Ohio.  We are seeing decreased state support in real dollars while also experiencing, like many households, increasing costs.  

Q: How do you plan to collaborate effectively with other elected officials and city staff to achieve your goals?

A: Deeply listening, sharing what I am fairly certain of and what I am unsure about while discussing the common goal(s) we have. 

Q: How will you handle public criticism or disagreement with your decisions? 

A: Sometimes the criticism has merit; a decision was wrongheaded.  Sometimes listening to the song beneath the words is where clarity comes. 

Q: What specific skills and experience do you bring that will be beneficial to you as a board member?

A: I have a long experience in education in our district.  I’m also a current leadership consultant, mostly in the field of education.   

Q: What do you believe is the fundamental role of a board member in our community?

A: To listen to the community members and think of how we can be the best school district while weighing differing views.  It’s about overall governance while the district leaders manage the day-to-day happenings. 

Q: What do you think is the biggest issue in the community right now?

A: In communities across the country, there is divisiveness on a number of issues.  This can prove to be challenging in making progress on important issues. 

Q: What big changes are coming to Stow that are going to affect the students?

A: The world continues to grow more volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous. How can we best help our students to thrive in that world?   

Q: What is one thing you feel the students in Stow deserve or need the most?

A: Someone to listen to them.  You can learn a lot from talking with young people.  

Q: What is the most important role a board member should offer the community in which they are representing. 

A: Deeply listening, sharing what I am fairly certain and what I am unsure about while discussing common goal(s) we have.  

Cooper Gregg / Copy Editor

         Drama club has entered into a very busy time of year, with many productions beginning alongside changes to club branding.

     Set construction has begun for the Senior Class Play, “Clue”; additionally, the early stages of the All-Class Musical, “Into the Woods,” have also begun. Amidst all this, the club has also adopted a new logo. 

     Despite the numerous things taking shape for the club, teacher and director, Morgan Kyser, alongside co-director Ryan Hinman, have spent a large amount of time preparing long before the start of these productions.

     “All these new and fun, exciting things going on are nothing actually all that new because we knew they were coming,” Kyser said, “so we have very strategically planned our schedules so we can do all the fun things all the time.”

     Planning is extremely important for the directors as the drama club is self-funded, with a small amount of financial support from the school. Due to the managing of the previous director and careful planning, Drama Club has planned out all the financials for their coming productions

     “As long as we don’t overspend, and as long as the community continues to support us, we are able to continue getting rights, building sets and bringing the magic to life,” Hinman said.

     With the coming production of “Clue” on the way, a team of roughly 60 students, with 17 senior actors, has already begun the preparations for the show. Hinman believes this massive amount of crew members is part of what allows for Stow’s productions to excel. 

     “Most high schools that we’re aware of typically the crew elements are the smallest side of things, and the actors are the more predominant one, but we’re very fortunate to have a ton of kids involved in the technical side,” Hinman said.

     Both directors have wanted to put on a production of “Clue” for some time now, and all the circumstances this year has allowed for the club to put on the well regarded, who-dunnit play.

     “This is the very lucky time where we have a very large senior class of actors who are leaving,” Hinman said, “so for once, we have the exact number to make ‘Clue’ happen, and so we bit on that opportunity to bring the show to life.”

     SCP is a unique opportunity for many involved in drama, as it allows seniors, who may not have previously, take the stage in an acting capacity. This is the case for junior, and current sound head, Andrew Klush. 

     “Going into my senior year, I’d love to do some acting. At the very least, for the ‘All-Class Play and Senior Class Play,” Klush said.

     On the contrary, those who have worked in solely acting roles are given the opportunity to take on backstage roles, as the only actors in SCP are the seniors themselves. Sophomore Joseph Klaben has been acting since sixth grade and has taken up a crew role for this production.

     “It’s going to be very different; a lot more work helping things being set up and changed around versus going out there and just acting,” Klaben said.

     Senior Taylor Bennett, who has been involved in Drama Club since sophomore year, is especially excited for this production and stresses the importance of working, on cast, with exclusively other seniors.

     “[Senior Class Play] really gives me a chance to have a different type of role that I’m not used to, and it feels like a more intimate type of play,” Bennett said.

     No production can take place without a set, which is why the drama club has already begun set construction, also known as SetCon, for “Clue,” which will be performed Feb. 13 to 15. Starting early allows the club to have everything well prepared heading into the actual performance.

     “[SetCon] gives us an opportunity to build our own set and really feel involved in our production and everything that comes with it; not just acting and crew, but also to build it and just truly be a part of the set,” Bennett said.

     Not only does SetCon allow for the team to build their sets, but also to build important relationships and skills that are necessary for putting on successful productions. 

     “I think it’s made a difference for a lot of people when it comes to socializing and for building team building skills. So it is definitely a very important thing when it comes to that,” Bennett said.

     Roy Miller and his wife Rayme Miller have helped with SetCon since the spring of 2023, originally doing so for a chance to work with their child, eventually taking up more and more of a role and continuing on even after they graduated. 

     “I actually grew up in the theater. I did a lot of plays when I was in elementary school and middle school and stuff like that, so you find a certain type of people in theater that are just all about the show,” Miller said.

     The Millers work closely with the directors to help create a set that will meet the needs of the actors and the show itself. 

     “We’ll make a drawing, and they’ll say yes or no, and then we just move forward and kind of build it that way,” Miller said. 

     Every production comes with its own set of challenges and this is certainly true for their current production, which includes many important moving parts.

     “What we’re currently doing is brainstorming how to keep ‘Clue’ doors upright, but still be able to roll. That’s kind of what we’re playing with at the moment,” Miller said.

     Set building challenges do not just stop at the current production as the Millers and the directors have already begun thinking about what needs to be built for the All-Class Musical, “Into the Woods,” where the Millers will be building a ramp for the show. This will be difficult and Miller stresses the importance of flexibility when working with the theater, telling a story of a mishap in a previous production.

     “The first time they picked up the table, the table fell apart,” Miller said. “I ran back during the play, during intermission and fixed the table because it had to go back on stage.” 

     There’s more unique things to “Clue” than just the setbuilding, as the crew is also setting up the various unique audio elements that will be present in the show.

     “There’s going to be a lot of audible elements, unlike some shows we do,” Bennett said. “There’s going to be music playing in the background to go with the tone of the show, and there’s going to be elements when it comes to weather.”

     Amidst all of these upcoming productions, the leadership of the drama club believed it was time to update the club’s branding. Students produced and voted for a new logo, which will be the club’s logo going forward for at least a few years. 

     “The winner was a cute little cartoon drawing of Mr. Hinman, myself, and our mascot, the Drama Llama,” Kyser said. “Now we want to get T-shirts, and we [also] want to get stickers for water bottles and for computers so we can really spread the good news that is Drama Club.”

     Despite all of the overlapping events and continued work on productions, members of Drama Dlub and all those assisting are putting in their full efforts to put on the best shows possible.

     “Everybody is working as hard as possible,” Klaben said “we are putting all our effort, all of our heart and love and passion into the show, and we will do the best we can. I would encourage anybody, just to at least see, to experience what we can do.”