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Poland school board member recognized for 25 years of service
By Bruce Walton
POLAND
For a quarter of a century, Poland schools have had a selfless worker who is receiving state recognition for her effort.
Elinor Zedaker, Poland school board vice president, received a plaque from the Ohio School Boards Association on Jan. 9 at the local board’s reorganizational meeting, recognizing her 25 years of service.
Serving through two superintendents, an interim superintendent and more than a dozen board members, she said she witnessed many life-changing moments and accomplishments. Over time, she had to deal with the biggest rise in technology in academics in decades as well as the evolving diversity of the Poland community.
But to her, changes were inevitable, and as a lifelong learner, she only wanted to make sure the district could adapt to those changes.
“My experience has allowed a lot of development along the way because one thing as a board member is, you’re always doing homework, you must always be reading, listening, asking questions,” she said.
She has been a Poland resident for more than 50 years and first started serving the school board in 1991. The platform she stood for in 1991 is one she still stands by today: That she is “dedicated to the schools remaining fiscally sound and focusing on academic excellence,” and that “students must be offered choices of challenging curriculum on all levels and a variety of extracurricular activities.”
Zedaker said she never considers running for another term in office immediately. Instead, she depends on her perspective to consider if she can be of any help for the future of the schools. She said she’s never had a personal agenda while serving as part of the school board, and she said she is proud of that fact.
“You cannot serve yourself when you serve a school board,” she said. “It’s selfless, I emphasise, you cannot have that personal agenda.”
One of Zedaker’s favorite moments has been watching each student at their commencement every year.
“My heart is so warmed by this moment in the journey for these students,” she said. “They’re starting a new chapter ... and we, the school district, have helped prepare them for that new experience.”
Superintendent David Janofa said though he has only known Zedaker for four years, he knows how important she has been to the district.
“When you have somebody that has been around the education community, you get an understanding of history, tradition, that not everybody has and that’s very valuable to me,”
She also believes the success of the district isn’t because of her – it’s the community support of its citizens, parents and students who always express their love of tradition for the district.
Her husband, Robert “Bob” Zedaker Jr., to whom she was married for 47 years, died in 2014. They have two sons, Rob and John, now living in the Youngstown area; and two grandsons.
She retired from the Youngstown State University Foundation and received an associate degree in business from YSU and earned a certificate from Certified Fund Raising Executive International. She also serves as chairman of the Poland Municipal Forest Board, a board member of the Poland Schools Foundation for Educational Excellence as well as a founding member of Association of Fundraising Professionals Mahoning/Shenango Chapter.
In her free time, Zedaker loves to spend time gardening, reading (biographies), traveling (most recently to Florida) and enjoys time with her family and church community. She is a member of the Poland Presbyterian Church.
She doesn’t know what’s next for her in terms of the community, but as long as she is able to serve, she’d like to continue on the school board.