Teacher Leaders Program

From the very beginning, Toledo Federation of Teachers has encouraged leadership positions among its members. The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Teacher/Paraprofessional Leaders Program (TLP) brings together a select group of teachers and paraprofessionals throughout the school year to learn how to take active leadership roles in their schools, unions and communities. Participants in the program help to strengthen the union and its connection to the community building greater support and understanding of public schools.

Congratulations to the 2024-2025 TLP!

On Saturday, May 10th, 2025, the 2024-2025 TLP cohort presented on many different topics to conclude their year of rigorous and passionate research. Congratulations to all participants! Take a look at their research (displayed below).

We invite you to read their research of the 2024 - 2025 TFT TLP cohort:
Jill Posta - Methods of Effective Discipline
Alex Tuttle - Technology Integration
Destine McClaflin - Mentoring Substitutes
Cathy Sadowski - A.I. Website Access
Deanna Rice - Black Educator Recruitment and Retention
Angie Ivy - Electives and The Junior High Experience
Tonia Kuyoth - Inclusion of Students with Disabilities
Sheron Garmon - Interdisciplinary Collaborations with OTs
Joie Stevenson - Co-Teaching in Grades K-3
Christine Swan - Communication Strategies to Increase Union Commitment
Jan Harmon - School to Prison Pipeline
Sara Ellis - Successful Inclusion in Kindergarten
Kamille Berry - Teacher Retention in Urban Districts
Angie Free-Knack - Teachers’ Use of Social Media

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**Are you a former member from one of the TLP cohorts? Would you like your research published on our TFT website to share with others? If so, please send a copy of your work to tft250website@gmail.com

2024 Members of the Teacher Leaders Program with School Board Member Sheena Barnes

The following is a complete list of members from previous cohorts in alphabetical order:

Todd Abbott
Ryan Ackerman
Amy Adams
Joyce Alexandria
Mona Al-Hayani
Maria Bailey*
Jill Balibrea
Sara Barnhill - What effect does increased member engagement have on promoting and protecting professionalism?
Kora Barnes - Is Self-Contained of Inclusion the Best Model to Meet the Needs of Special Education Students
Todd Beavers*
Jennifer Bickford
Aerika Blankenship - The RTI Process
Karl Borko
Janet Bird*
Brenda Brooks
Denise Brown*
Elizabeth Buckholtz*
Monique Burton
Julie Campbell*
Penny Choma - From Tray to Trash: A Look at Food Waste in Toledo Public Schools 6-8th Grades
Katie Coffey
Abby Creecy - The Effects of Inclusion
Xiaobin Dai
Angie Dalton
Brenda Davis
Daphne Demaline - How Can We Most Effectively Use Our Teacher Based Team Time To Improve Student Behavior?
Capucine Dickerson
Katie Empey
Lynn Flanagan
Dan Fray*
Ian Furman
Jodie Goldstein
Therese Gordon* - What effect does increased member engagement have on promoting and protecting our professionalism?
- PowerPoint Presentation
Shannon Griffin - Teacher Mental Health
Lavada Griswold - Social Emotional Wellness in Middle School
Kimberly Grossman-Bigioni
Sarah Guobadia
Lisa Gutherie*
Jeanne Halada*
Tina Hall
Kristin Haney - What effect does increased member engagement have on promoting and protecting our professionalism?
Kara Houser - Professional Development and the Science of Reading
Lori Hurdle
Tammy Hutchinson
Elizabeth Jackson - Blending SEL & MTSS
David Johnson
Lisa Jones - Professional Educational Interpreters
Allison Klein - Music Opportunities in Magnet Schools
Camille Knopps
Nada Kwiatkowski
Julie Kwiatkowski
Jessica Kuohn - The Impact of Mentoring on Novice Union Member Involvement
Jennifer Lahey*
Kate Liberios - Computer Science Instruction; Benefits of Computer Science Instruction in Schools
Megan Losh - The Effects of Policy Against Suspension for Students
Tamara Mabrey
Nancy Martin
Vicki Mayfield
Angela McClue
Shelby McElroy
Debbie Mills
Emily Mylek
Amy Netter
Melisa Nusbaum
Sandy Orth*
Theresa Paredes
Gretchen Paskiet
Lori Pfeiffer
Valerie Powell*
Judy Price - Moving Schools and losing Services
Amanda Rabara - How can implementing trimesters for Art Class improve the environment for learning success?
Melissa Rang - Equity & Funding within Districts
Mike Rahal
John Riegel - Veteran Teacher Onboarding
Renee C. Roberts - Alternative Resident Educator support
Josh Rosinski
Kristin Royer
Michael Saloiye
Kristine Schultz
Kristina Schwarzkopf
Ashley Shepler
Zachary Shepler
Helen Schuff
Erik Seiber - Effective Middle School Models
Ian Smith
Jennifer Smith
Julie Smith
Lynn Smith*
Bridget Spruce
Laura Stipancich
Daniel Taylor
Michelle Thomas*
Steven Thomas
Jennifer Trumbull
Amanda Vail
Deanna Valachek -Addressing Student Hunger
Katherine Velikaz
Kay Wait
William Werner
Rodney WestEstell
Kris Whitker - Middle School Model vs. K-8 Model
Elaina Winhover
Shannon Wittenberg
Renee Zeismer