Partnerships Make A Difference

Partnerships Make A Difference was founded in 1996 by experienced and committed educators whose mission is to help young people develop a sense of passion and purpose for their own learning, and to enhance students’ belief that they can positively impact their own lives and the lives of others. Toward that end, our organization has successfully focused on helping schools and community organizations strengthen such program areas as service-learning, Project Based Learning, career development, substance abuse prevention, dropout prevention, and character education.

Currently, the major focus of Partnerships is to promote and expand the use of service-learning and Project Based Learning as strategies for instructional improvement, student empowerment, and positive community impact. This focus is evident in our work with the “Growing Together” Service-Learning Network.

Board of Trustees/Officers

The Board of Trustees/Officers are appointed to provide fiduciary responsibility and accountability, and to ensure that the organization (Partnerships) retains its status as a 501(c)(3) in good standing.

Betty L. Melragon, Ph.D., President

Coming soon.

J. Troy Earhart, Ed.D., Vice President and Treasurer

Coming soon.

Edward J. Marchwicki, Jr., Assistant Treasurer

Coming soon.

Board of Advisors

The Board of Advisors is appointed to counsel/advise leaders of the major service-learning and Project Based Learning initiatives championed by Partnerships Make A Difference, especially those based in central Ohio. The current leaders, project consultants Ellen Erlanger and Kathy Meyer, will ask the Board of Advisors to provide professional expertise, fresh ideas, and unique perspectives that contribute to the systematic growth and long-term sustainability of such programs as the “Growing Together” Service-Learning Network. The Board of Advisors will assist with strategic planning, marketing and communications strategies, resource development and allocation, and other steps designed to maximize organizational capacity and effectiveness.

Jason Barger

Coming soon.

Emmy Beeson

Emmy Beeson has served as the superintendent of Ridgemont Local Schools for five years. While at the district, she has initiated the Ohio Improvement Process and the Race to the Top Scope of Work in efforts to improve the academic process for students. Read more . . .

Katie Benton

Katie Benton brings a unique perspective to Upper Arlington classrooms, as teaching is a second career for this educator at Barrington Elementary School. Benton graduated from Ohio University’s Scripps School of Journalism and spent seven years in the public relations field (read more . . . )

Mark Eatherton

Coming soon.

Gabby Feta

Coming soon.

Dale E. Heydlauff

Dale E. Heydlauff is vice president - Corporate Communications and president of the American Electric Power Foundation. His responsibilities include internal and external communications and oversight of corporate contributions and community relations. Read more . . .

Gloria Heydlauff

A retired librarian, Gloria is a community volunteer. In addition to working with Partnerships Make a Difference since its beginning, she serves on several other non-profit organization boards. Read more . . .

Michelle Jones

Coming soon.

Keiana Mitchell

Coming soon.

Katie O'Keefe

Coming soon.

Yolanda Owens

Coming soon.

Kitty Quinn

Kitty Quinn has been with the Diocese of Columbus, in the Office of Catholic Schools, since August of 1989. She currently serves as the Associate Director of School Leadership. Read more . . .

Sue Ralph

Coming soon.

E.J. Thomas

E.J. Thomas has served in the role of Habitat for Humanity MidOhio's chief executive for nine years and is responsible for the oversight and operation of one of the nation’s top-50 Habitat affiliates in terms of the number of homes constructed, which have averaged 16 per (read more . . . )

Sharee Wells

Coming soon.

Program Consultants

Ellen Erlanger, Program Director

Ellen Erlanger, Co-Director, was a teacher and administrator for the Upper Arlington City Schools, Upper Arlington, Ohio, for 27 years and was involved in service-learning, career development, character education, vocational education, guidance, staff development, and community education throughout that time. In addition to fulfilling her local program responsibilities, she provided consultation, training and technical assistance to other public and private schools on a regional, statewide and national basis. Ellen retired from the Upper Arlington City Schools in December 2002 after 30 years in the field and is now Vice President of Legacy Consulting Group and a consultant with the Legacy Group of Partnerships Make A Difference, a non-profit corporation providing training and educational materials development. She is also associated with the Growing Together Service- Learning Network.

Ellen has authored a variety of instructional materials and education-related articles as well as other books, works of poetry, and newspaper and magazine articles. She is also active in relevant education organizations at the state and national levels. During her leadership, the Upper Arlington City School District achieved the rare distinction of having all three of their secondary schools selected by the Corporation for National Service as “National Service-Learning Leader Schools.” Ellen holds a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Michigan.

Kathy Meyer, Program Director

Kathy Meyer, Co-Director, has been an educator for 40 years and served as an administrator for the Worthington Schools, Worthington, Ohio, from 1985 to 2000, where she supervised service-learning, career development, character education, vocational education, guidance, science, and after-school and summer school programs. Under her leadership, Worthington was selected as a model school district by Learn and Serve Ohio. Kathy retired from the Worthington Schools in December 2000 and is President of Legacy Consulting Group. In addition, she is associated with the Legacy Group of Partnerships Make A Difference and the Growing Together Service-Learning Network.

In these roles, Kathy has authored and published a variety of instructional materials and provided re- lated training programs in many public and private schools throughout Ohio and a number of other states. She has provided expertise in a variety of other settings and is active in many professional organizations. Over the years, she served in a number of leadership positions, including President of the Ohio Career Education Association. Kathy holds a B.A. from Wittenberg University and an M.A. from Wright State University.

Karen Patterson, Field Coordinator

Karen Patterson, Field Coordinator, taught language arts at Upper Arlington High School from 2000-2012. In recent years, Karen has also worked as a service-learning coach, helping individual teachers in the district utilize service-learning in their classrooms, securing additional monies for Upper Arlington service-learning projects through grant writing, and providing professional development at statewide conferences.

Currently, Karen is a consultant with the Legacy Group of Partnerships Make A Difference and the Growing Together Service-Learning Network. Karen holds a B.S. from Miami University and an M.Ed. from Ashland University.

Jane Hubbard, Field Coordinator

Jane Ramseyer Hubbard, Field Coordinator, retired from the Upper Arlington Schools where she taught middle level students, participated in service-learning activities, and served as the district Teacher Leader for Social Studies and Language Arts for nine years.

Jane has a B.A. and an M.S. from The Ohio State University. She has presented numerous workshops as a fellow with the Ohio Writing Project and has been recognized for her work with curriculum development, career education, and teaching. She continues to serve as a coach for high school mock trial teams and is also a consultant with the Legacy Group of Partnerships Make A Difference and the Growing Together Service-Learning Network.

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