Mark is director of communication services and member relations for the Ohio School Boards Association and is a member of the Dissemination Committee
What is your current role and how are you involved with the Ohio Deans Compact?
I currently serve as the Director of Communication Services and Member Relations at the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA). In this role, I work to strengthen engagement with Ohio’s more than 700 school districts and ensure that our members see and experience the value of belonging to OSBA. My involvement with the Ohio Deans Compact is centered on collaboration and communication. I contribute to conversations that elevate the partnership between K-12 districts and higher education institutions, ensuring that policy, practice, and preparation efforts are aligned to meet the needs of students, especially those who are historically underserved.
How has your involvement with the Compact benefited you or your organization?
The Compact has given me access to a community of thought leaders who bring diverse perspectives from across Ohio’s education landscape. This has expanded my own understanding of how higher education and K-12 systems can better align to improve outcomes for students. For OSBA, our involvement reinforces the importance of bridging theory and practice—helping local school boards see how statewide and university-level initiatives can directly support their districts. It has also created opportunities for deeper partnerships, shared learning, and innovative approaches to policy and practice that benefit both students and educators.
Why do you believe the Compact’s work matters?
The Compact’s work matters because it directly addresses one of the most critical challenges in education today: preparing, supporting, and sustaining effective educators who can meet the needs of every learner. By fostering collaboration between universities, state agencies, and K-12 practitioners, the Compact ensures that policies are not made in silos but instead are informed by practice. This work advances the mission of providing every child in Ohio with access to a high-quality education, regardless of zip code or circumstance.
What aspects of the Compact’s work are most meaningful to you?
What excites me most about the Compact’s work is its intentional focus on improving opportunities and outcomes for all children and systems change. Too often, efforts to improve education are fragmented or short-lived. The Compact brings people together across roles and institutions to think systemically and to commit to long-term change. For me, the most meaningful aspect is seeing the alignment of values—ensuring that the voices of local districts, universities, and state leaders are all represented at the table. That kind of shared leadership is rare, and it gives me hope that Ohio can serve as a model for how collaboration can transform outcomes for students and communities.