MILESTONES

MILESTONES

LEADERSHIP

Library director

Youngstown resident Michelle Alleman was chosen as the new director of the McKinley Memorial Library in Niles at a library board meeting earlier this month. Alleman was selected from 50 applicants to replace retiring director Patrick Finan. Alleman will oversee the library’s day-to-day operations as well as the operation of the McKinley Museum and McKinley replica birthplace home.

Alleman grew up in Youngstown, attended Chaney High School and graduated from Canfield High School. She earned degrees from Ohio State and Kent State universities and earned her master’s degree in library science from Kent.

The new director has a special interest in history. She has piloted and planned history activities in previous positions, including a History Day inspired by her own participation in the program and as a competitor in National History Day.

She previously was a branch manager with the Akron Public Library System.

HONORS

Leader of the year

Landon Brown, principal of Stambaugh Charter Academy, 2420 Donald Ave., Youngstown, was named school leader of the year by the Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools at its 2015 conference.

The annual award recognizes an outstanding and innovative charter-school leader who demonstrates the capacity to motivate and achieve success for their school and students. Brown was one of three finalists in the school-leader category.

Those nominated are selected based on leadership, professional behavior, staff and student interaction, and their role within the community as well as the school. School Leader of the Year Award winners typify extraordinary commitment to changing the lives of students and teachers and staff by educating, inspiring, and paving the way for a new generation of excellence, according to OAPCS.

This is Brown’s second year as the academy’s principal. Previously, he spent 16 years in education serving in a variety of roles including principal, assistant principal and teacher.

Peer-mentor award

The Mahoning County commissioners recently recognized Erica Phillips, a South Range High School senior, for being one of just three youths statewide to receive the Ohio Department of Youth Services peer-mentor award.

Phillips received the state award Dec. 3 in Columbus.

Having suffered from bullying, Phillips completed juvenile court counseling and programming and became a peer mentor for the court’s Girls’ Circle Group.

At the same Columbus event, Judge Theresa Dellick of Mahoning County Juvenile Court received the president’s award from the Ohio Association of Juvenile Court Judges for excellence in judicial leadership.

Milestones is a regular Sunday feature in The Vindicator. Articles must be submitted within 30 days of the Milestone event. Include a stamped, self-addressed envelope if you want a picture returned. Pictures also may be picked up at the paper’s Front Street facility at the security guard station. Send items to: Milestones, c/o The Vindicator, P.O. Box 780, Youngstown 44501.