Poland group to honor alumnus, educator

The foundation has raised about $100,000 to benefit school programs.

POLAND — The Poland Schools Foundation for Educational Excellence will honor John MacIntosh and Carmella Smallhoover as the outstanding alumnus and educator respectively at a banquet Oct. 25 at Mr. Anthony’s, Boardman.

The dinner begins at 7 p.m. Cash bar opens at 6 p.m.

It is the 15th annual event to benefit the foundation’s special projects, including teacher grants and improvements to Poland schools. The foundation has raised about $100,000.

Those interested in attending can buy tickets by calling Linda Weaver at (330) 503-5801 or Beth Alexoff at (330) 757-2242.

MacIntosh, Poland Class of 1961, and Smallhoover, principal of Union Elementary School since 2002, were chosen for their deep involvement in and contributions to their communities.

MacIntosh has serving on the boards of the Easter Seals of Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana Counties and the Mahoning Chapter of American Red Cross.

As chairman of the Easter Seals Accessibility Committee, he worked to eliminate barriers that impeded or prevented access to public buildings, public restrooms, drinking fountains and parking spaces. He led the effort that today allows access for all to the Poland Post Office.

While at Poland High, MacIntosh was president of student council, played first trumpet in the band, ran track, received the Hi-Y club’s Most Outstanding Boy award and attended Boys State.

He graduated from Youngstown State University in 1965. While there he enrolled in ROTC (he was inducted into its Scabbard and Blade Honor Society) and, following graduation, served as a lieutenant in the Army.

He served in Vietnam as in intelligence officer. Just before he was to leave the Army, he was in a car accident that left him a quadriplegic and an advocate for the handicapped and disabled.

MacIntosh is vice president of the board of trustees of the Butler Institute of American Art and serves on the boards of the Youngstown Symphony Society and the Poland Riverside Cemetery. He also sits on the Hine Memorial Fund Distribution Committee of the Youngstown Foundation and is a 50-year member of Poland Presbyterian Church and serves in its investments committee.

Smallhoover, born in Pittsburgh, came to Poland 44 years ago with her husband, Bill, and their two daughters. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education at Youngstown State University. While there, she was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi, an academic honorary society.

Smallhoover went on to earn her master’s degree in education (elementary school administration) at YSU.

She began her career in Poland public schools as a special tutor at McKinley Elementary School in January 1976 and became a teacher at North Elementary the following September. In September 1985, she was named the teaching principal at North.

The Poland school board named her principal of the Union school in 2002.

Smallhoover is a member of Holy Family Parish, where she is a lector and Eucharistic minister. She is chairwoman of the literacy committee of Poland Rotary and is a trustee of the Poland All-Sports Boosters.

She is a legislative representative of the National Association of Elementary School Principals and serves as chairwoman for the Poland Local Schools Development Committee.