March 05, 2009 10:48 am
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AUSTINBURG — “I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the community, and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can” said George Bernard Shaw, an Irish playwright and writer. Although Grand River Academy has students from many different states and six different countries, many of the teachers have roots in Ashtabula County.
Since their high school graduation from St. John High School in 1969, Larry and Barb Wilson have been very active in the community. Mr. Wilson has been GRA’s government teacher for 31 years, coached Austinburg Little League, Geneva T-Ball and has been a Cub Scout Leader. Mrs. Wilson has been a tutor in the Learning Center for 30 years. She has also been active in Girl Scouts and band boosters at Geneva High School. Both are members of St. Joseph Church in Jefferson and also National Honor Society.
Following her graduation from Christian Life Academy in 1985, Katy (Morosco) Studer has been GRA’s biology teacher for six years. She is very involved in her two children’s education at Austinburg Elementary.
Katherine Radwancky graduated from Harbor High and has been one of GRA’s tutors in the Learning Center for three years. Ms. Radwancky was a member of NHS as well as Harbor High’s homecoming queen. She is involved in Ashtabula County Adult Basic and Literacy Education and Ashtabula County Literacy Coalition.
Dan Riddell, the physical science and physics teacher for eight years at GRA, graduated from Harbor High School in 1983, where he was a top high school wrestler in the area. Since his graduation, he has served in the community through the Saybrook Volunteer Fire Department and the Saybrook Water Rescue as well as coaching varsity wrestling and junior varsity tennis at GRA.
David Scharping attended Ashtabula, Ashtabula Harbor, Jefferson and Conneaut schools before graduating from Ravenna High School in 2000. During high school he participated in tennis and basketball and is a member of the NHS. Mr. Scharping has taught civics and U.S. history for three years at GRA.
Three of GRA’s English teachers graduated from Geneva High School in 1995, they are Josh Hartz, Sarah Mundie and Brian Ballentine.
Mr. Hartz has taught British literature at GRA for 10 years. He is involved in his children’s lives through his coaching in little league baseball and midget league basketball as well as coaching GRA’s varsity golf and baseball teams.
Mr. Ballentine has taught ninth grade English at GRA for eight years. He has coached 14- and 15-year-old baseball teams as well as coaching GRA’s JV baseball team.
Sarah Mundie is GRA’s world literature teacher of six years and GRA’s yearbook and newsletter adviser.
These teachers not only have participated in community events but the community has influenced them in many personal ways.
“Ashtabula has made me realize I can live in a small town but still have a worldly view,” commented Mrs. Wilson. “I am also amazed by the generosity and helpfulness of the people when events happen or tragedy strikes.”
“Austinburg has served to better allow room for growth and care for others while maintaining continued support for my children,” said Mr. Hartz about his experience in Austinburg.
“The best part of Austinburg is the relationships I built through my childhood,” said Mr. Ballentine. “The best friends I had then are still my best friends now, it has been enjoyable growing up with those friends and the countless experiences I have had with them in Austinburg.”
“Growing up in a small community where everybody knows your name has created, for me, a vast network of valuable resources,” Ms. Radwancky said.
Grand River Academy students have benefited from the life lessons and skills that their teachers have learned from the community they grew up in and people they have interacted with. Ashtabula County has been the home for countless students and faculty for the past 178 years. These people and so many more have profited from the life lessons and educational teachings that have occurred at GRA, and this has been made possible through the connections and lifelong experiences of teachers and faculty that they have received from their family and friends in Ashtabula County.
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