About Us

Paula Kucinic is the Director for Professional Development and Instructional Technology at the Educational Service Center (ESC) of Northeast Ohio. In her role, she provides leadership and strategic direction for the development, expansion, and coordination of professional development programming, networks and services, including those related to K-12 education, corporate training and adult learning. Paula also assists in writing and securing federal and state grants and works closely and in partnership with other departments, agencies and the leadership team of the ESC to support implementation of programs and services. 

She has worked in public education for more than 25 years and prior to joining the ESC, Paula worked as a Professional Development and Budget Coordinator for the Greater Cleveland Educational Development Center (GCEDC) and the Northeast Regional Professional Development Center (NRPDC) at Cleveland State University. She is certified to teach Elementary Grades 1-8, holds a M.Ed. in Adult Learning and Development, an Administrative Specialist License in Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Development as well as a Superintendent's license. 

Paula and her spouse, Mirko, reside in Rocky River with their mischievous Maltese, Zsa Zsa. Their twin daughters, Katarina and Anjelica, are both graduate students at The Ohio State University. Go Buckeyes!

Nadine Grimm is Coordinator of 21st Century Learning at the Educational Service Center (ESC) of Northeast Ohio, where she administers several grant-funded projects and coordinates various professional development programs. She is a grant writer and has managed U.S. Department of Education Teaching American History grants, Ohio Department of Education sub-grants, including High School-Higher Education Alignment and Competency-Based Education, as well as Ohio Humanities Educator grants, and those from local foundations. She organizes professional development workshops on American history, global education and cultural competency topics, the arts, and multicultural literature and literacy. She collaborates with community and education colleagues on the Northeast Ohio Adult Education Providers Network, Disrupting Poverty Network, College and Career Readiness, and others. She edits the ESC’s newsletters. 

Formerly, Nadine Grimm was Director of Education at the Cleveland Council on World Affairs, and she was a Program Manager in the College of Arts and Sciences at Cleveland State University. She has taught Composition and Literature courses at local universities. She serves on advisory boards for several community organizations.

 

Tippi Foley is the Director of Early Childhood & Workforce Development Consultant for the Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio. She is a proven leader with 30 years of experience as a teacher, administrator, coach, and has served as President and Vice President of the Perry Local Board of Education since 2016. Prior to her work at the ESC, Tippi spent 11 years as the Director of Early Childhood for the Lake County ESC and previously with Auburn Career Center where she held positions as a Teacher, Career Pathways Counselor, and Enrollment Specialist serving 11 school districts throughout Lake and Geauga Counties. Tippi also has experience as an instructor for the Dr. James H. Porter Center for Science and Mathematics. 

She received her bachelor's degree from Kent State University in 1992 with a major in Psychology, her teaching license from Lake Erie College, and Master's in Educational Administration from Cleveland State University in 2007. Tippi and her husband have three adult children and live in Perry, Ohio on Lake Erie where they enjoy spending time on the lake with their family and friends.

Amy S. Harker is the Northeast Region Career and Innovation Specialist of the Educational Service Center (ESC) of Northeast Ohio. Amy's experience with college and career readiness, leadership development and personalized learning will help build capacity in districts ready to expand or enhance their programming. In her role she serves as a connector of public schools, higher education, and businesses in the Northeast region to aid districts in building experience-based learning opportunities and creating comprehensive career plans for K-12. She has established a Career Readiness Leaders Network with participants coming from all over Northeast Ohio. She is serving in the role of Coordinator for Career Readiness for the First Ring Superintendent's Collaborative. 

Amy is a certified Focus 3 facilitator trained under Tim and Brian Kight (R Factor and Lead Now leadership skill building) as a culture change agent. She serves on the National thought leader team for Future Ready Schools and can support schools in working toward implementation of personalized learning using this framework. Creative Thinking Seminars, Design Learning and Personalized Learning seminars are a few of the professional developments that she delivers at the ESC of NEO. 

Prior to serving at the ESC of Northeast Ohio, Amy served in several school districts in the State of Ohio, including serving for 19 years (elementary, middle school and high school) both in regular education and as a gifted instructor in both Lorain Schools and Mentor Exempted Village Schools. She gained building level management skills as Assistant Principal in Willoughby-Eastlake Schools. As a central office administrator she has served as the Director of Exceptional Children in Chardon Schools, Gifted Coordinator in Willoughby-Eastlake Schools and then most recently serving as the Director of Student Services and College and Career Readiness for Perry Schools. Amy has been awarded several excellent teaching awards including the auspicious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. 

Amy has presented nationally with several audiences on personalized learning, career pathway and mentoring programming as well as leadership development. Recently, she has presented at the MidAtlantic Conference on Personalized learning as well as at the National Convention for Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE). She has worked and presented with Ohio Department of Education's Career Pathway Network and Future Ready Schools Framework. Amy has lead innovative efforts through organizations such as the Innovative Lab Network, Competency-based Education Imitative, Governor's Executive Workforce Board and Design Learning with an equity lens. . She has provided support in a variety of capacities including supervision of Gifted, English Language Learners, Homeless and /Foster care liaison and Special Education. She has helped to facilitate the K-12 Design Learning and Career Mentoring/Internship Programs in her service as an instructional leader. She has written and been awarded several grants that support district and regional initiatives. 

A lifetime resident of Ohio, Amy is one of seven siblings and proud mother of two daughters. She enjoys running, hiking, biking, and fitness training. She also enjoys travelling the world and artistic expression in many forms. She is an avid fan of her Cleveland teams.