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We hope you enjoy our monthly eNewsletter, spotlighting excellence in our programs, students and employees!


CQ CommUNITY

Perrysburg Schools recently merged its Diversity Committee and Diverse Learners Team into one group: CQ CommUNITY. The new team kicked off the school year with a retreat through RISE, Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality, founded by Stephen M. Ross, owner of the Miami Dolphins. At the retreat, 21 faculty, staff members, administrators and coaches from Perrysburg Schools attended a daylong training session based upon the data the school district has collected through community forums, surveys and focus groups. The day included diversity immersion experiences as well as setting goals for the school year.

The vision of the CQ CommUNITY is to support the school district’s mission and to ensure that the diverse talents, skills and experiences of the school community are valued, respected and supported. The intent of the committee is to:
• Provide support to all students with diverse talents, experiences and backgrounds;
• Educate and strengthen our staff members’ abilities, skills and understanding to support all students;
• Broaden our scope by ensuring a diverse representation of the school and community;
• Provide opportunities for community members to engage in activities that support the district’s mission; and
• Assist the school district in recruiting and retaining a diverse staff of administrators, teachers and support personnel.

Photo by Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE)
L to R: Daryl Edge, Dawn Burks, Dave Boyce, Thomas L. Hosler, Scott Sorg and Andrea Monheim



Sophia Grigsby
12th Grade
Perrysburg High School

Sophia Grigsby is in 12th Grade at Perrysburg High School. According to Sophia, the most satisfying course she taken was a principle of management class through DECA. “Taking that class put me out of my comfort zone, and I was able to learn a lot about business and communication skills,” she shared. “The class has helped me a lot as a senior and has helped guide me into a business career.”

“Sophia is a conscientious, compassionate, driven and thoughtful young lady with a heart of gold and a smile that lights up a room,” shared Dawn R. Burks, LPSC, School Counselor. “I have enjoyed her willingness to lead in so many different ways and I have been inspired by her passion to serve within her community. She is a testimony to her family and she strives to be her best in all that she sets out to do.”

Sophia is a member of Key Club, DECA, Environmental Club, Interact Club and Link Crew. She also loves sports and has been on the Cross County, Lacrosse and Tennis Teams. Sophia plans to apply to Northern Arizona and Bowling Green State University and will major in marketing.

For the last three years, Sophia has been a reader for the Silent Witness event, which honors individuals who have lost their lives to domestic violence. This past year when attending a BGSU Leadership camp, she came up with a project to make baskets of supplies for each of the Domestic Violence Shelters in the area.

We’re so proud of you, Sophia!



Ben Shipman
Head Custodian
Hull Prairie Intermediate School

Ben Shipman is the Head Custodian at Hull Prairie Intermediate School. “Ben is excellent at his job and goes above and beyond when working with our staff and students,” shared Laura Davidson, Assistant Principal. “We can always count on Ben to help with, troubleshoot or fix any issues.”

“Ben takes great ownership in our school,” shared Scott Best, Principal. “More importantly, he leads by example and is great with kids.”

“Ben does his job very well, only asks for what’s necessary to get it all done and being a Perrysburg grad and now resident he gets our culture,” shared Rob Ross, Director of Maintenance, Grounds and Custodial. “Ben’s positive can-do attitude is contagious and he leads by example – others around him want to perform at a very high level.”

“Ben has been absolutely AMAZING with my students,” shared Jessica Faust, Intervention Specialist. “He truly embodies the inclusive mindset by taking ownership of the students when he works with them, treating them with respect and always assuming that they are capable. He has always been open and willing to have students help with pre-vocational tasks around the school and has even approached me with his own ideas for new jobs. The students are learning valuable life skills throughout their school day that wouldn’t be possible without someone as caring and accommodating as Ben and his team. The students look forward to working with him each day!”

In his free time, Ben loves hanging out with his family. He is a self-proclaimed a music fanatic and collects records, record players and old electronics. He also loves to refinish furniture, cooking, creating something from scratch, smoking meats and watching the Indianapolis Colts on Sundays.


To suggest a program, student or employee for an upcoming Spotlight, please contact Rachel Zickar at [email protected].