MANSFIELD — Andrea Moyer is a master of details.
Whether it’s making sure there’s a plan in place for every scenario or coordinating with local police to make sure children are safe on their walk to school, student safety is always at the top of her mind.
The director of school improvement and safety for Mansfield City Schools, Moyer recently received a statewide honor for her efforts.
Moyer was one of two Ohio educators to receive a Stand Out Staff Award from the Ohio School Safety Center at its summit earlier this month.
Moyer was honored for her passion and drive to keep the schools and students safe –physically, emotionally and educationally.
“I was shocked. I had no idea that I’d been nominated,” Moyer said.
Part of Moyer’s job is staying on top of all state-required documentation and procedures, including a school safety plan for each building in the district.
But that doesn’t mean she stays in her office all day.
Moyer oversees the district’s building- and teacher-based teams, which work on large scale initiatives throughout the district. She also ensures safety equipment is in place at each building and the staff are trained to use it, according to a statement read at the school safety summit.
“Andrea Moyer is a very organized and detail-oriented leader,” said Vincent Shirey, marketing and outreach coordinator for the Ohio School Safety Center.
“Her ability to inspire those around her to step up to their game is a testament to her leadership.”
Moyer was unable to attend the ceremony, so she got her plaque at a school board meeting Tuesday night, along with a second award from the district naming her an “Every Student, Every Day Champion.”
Moyer was quick to share credit, even while holding an award in each hand.
“We have a district safety team, we have building safety teams, and it’s a group effort,” she said.
Moyer is wrapping up her 38th year with the district. She was hired as a fourth-grade teacher and served as principal in various buildings, including Hedges Elementary, Sherman Elementary and Malabar Intermediate.
After overseeing the consolidation of the intermediate grades at Malabar, Moyer became the district’s director of school improvement in 2019. Safety was added to her title and responsibilities upon the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Colleagues described her as dependable, detail oriented and a strong communicator.
“She doesn’t miss any details,” said Holly Christie, director of student support programs. “She follows up on everything. She’s the one that makes sure it gets done.”
Supt. Stan Jefferson also praised Cathy Troyer, who is retiring at the end of the month. Troyer has worked as an executive assistant in various offices throughout the district and been the executive assistant to the superintendent for the last 19 years.
Jefferson described her as a “dear friend.” Board president Chris Elswick called her “vital” to the district’s operations.
“I also had the pleasure of working with both Andrea and Cathy for 16 years now,” Elswick said. “They are incredibly important to the district in everything that they do and the district would not run without them.”
Moyer recently retired, but will be back at the district next year in a part-time capacity. Her position was reduced to a three-day-a-week job during recent cost saving staffing reductions.
Board approves service contract with North Central Ohio ESC
In other news, the board voted on several service contracts, including a one-year agreement with the North Central Ohio Educational Service Center for $608,961.56.
Listed services include 80 days of gifted student services coordination, 234 days of speech therapy and services from an occupation therapist, occupational therapy assistant and psychologist equivalent to approximately four full-time positions.
Pupil services director Amanda Terakedis said the contract costs less than previous contracts with the Mid Ohio Educational Service Center, but also contains fewer services.
“What we found through a financial audit was, as a district, it saves us money if we do the contracting the services directly with the provider,” she said.
“I am out making phone calls, trying to find providers for us and I will continue to bring contracts to the board until we have all of our requirements met for the district so that all of our kids can receive services.”
During a financial update, Treasurer Tammy Hamilla said the district received proposals from eight vendors for an audit of district’s health insurance.
The district put out an RFP in April for a “qualified independent health care insurance consultant/broker to provide the Board with an objective audit and analysis of the District’s current insurance coverages as well as available market alternatives, competitive benefit and plan design options, innovations, etc., and potential cost savings.”
Hamilla recommended scheduling an insurance committee meeting to discuss the RFPs.
