Ranger News

Dear Ranger Families,

May has arrived, marking the final stretch of the 2024–2025 school year. It’s hard to believe how quickly time has flown! In just a few short weeks, we’ll be celebrating a truly historic moment—the 100th graduating class of North Ridgeville High School.

We’re especially excited to share that this year’s graduation ceremony will take place at Ranger Stadium for the very first time. Please note that this will bring increased activity to our campus and surrounding community. Graduation is scheduled for Tuesday, May 28, at 6:30 PM and we look forward to honoring the incredible
achievements of the Class of 2025 in such a meaningful way.

This month, we’re also celebrating and bidding farewell to a group of dedicated staff members who are retiring. Together, they represent an extraordinary 148 years of commitment to North Ridgeville City Schools. We extend our deepest gratitude and congratulations to Mrs. Robin Bahle, Mr. Jim Brandenburg, Mrs. Mary Forpahl, Mr. Richard Hogue, Mrs. Kelli Kujawa, Mr. Joe Mueller, Mrs. Jean Nagy, Mrs. Joy Sherrill and Mrs. Jody Yoxthimer. Thank you for the passion, care, and excellence you’ve brought to our schools. You will be truly missed, and we wish you all the best in your next chapter! You can learn more about our retirees below.

While we’re wrapping up this school year, planning is already underway for 2025–2026. The district calendar is available on our website, and you can click here for a printable version.

Wishing you a joyful and successful end to the school year!

Sincerely,

Roxann Ramsey-Caserio

May 17: Prom

May 23: Last Day of School for Seniors

May 26: No School, Memorial Day

May 28: Commencement at 6:30 PM, Ranger Stadium

May 29: Last Day of School

Earlier this week, we shared important information with our parents and community members regarding House Bill 96. If passed, this legislation would result in North Ridgeville City Schools losing nearly $15 million in funding during the first year alone — a devastating impact on the quality of education we can offer our students.

We encourage you to take a moment to learn more about House Bill 96, understand how it will affect school districts across Ohio, and find out how you can make your voice heard. Click here to get involved.

After nine dedicated years with North Ridgeville City Schools, Mrs. Robin Bahle is retiring, leaving behind a legacy of care, reliability, and community spirit. Robin began her journey with NRCS in 2015, serving as a Paraprofessional and Auxiliary Aide, and later as a lunchroom monitor at the Academic Center. Her calm presence and willingness to step in wherever needed made her a trusted and valued team member.

Before joining NRCS, Robin brought her talents to Horizon Education Centers as a program staff employee. She is also a licensed practical nurse and supported NRCS as a substitute in both Food Service and aide roles. Beyond her professional contributions, Robin was deeply involved in the school community—volunteering as a room mother for her son’s classes from kindergarten through fifth grade and giving her time to the Boy Scouts.

Robin’s dedication and compassionate nature have left a lasting impression. We wish her all the best in her well-earned retirement and thank her for her years of service and support.

After an incredible 42-year career with North Ridgeville City Schools, Mr. Jim Brandenburg is retiring—officially this time—on July 1, 2025. Jim began his journey in 1983 as a leave replacement high school business teacher and was quickly hired full-time as a middle school typing teacher for the 1983–1984 school year. Over the decades, he wore many hats—teaching middle school science, business, and later transitioning into technology as a Technology Integration Teacher in 2014.

Beyond the classroom, Jim’s impact stretched across the district as he served as a mentor, coach, club advisor, committee member, and even gave up his lunch periods to work with students. His colleagues have always known him as the go-to person—reliable, knowledgeable, and kind-hearted. Though he retired once before, his commitment to NRCS brought him back to support staff and students with our ever-evolving technology needs. As he embarks on his well-earned retirement, Jim looks forward to traveling and spending quality time with his family. His legacy and presence will be deeply missed. Congratulations, Jim, and thank you for everything!

After more than 30 years of service to North Ridgeville City Schools, Mrs. Mary Forpahl is retiring. Mary began her journey with us as a support staff substitute in 1992 and was hired as a Cafeteria Server at Liberty Elementary in 1993. Over the years, she held various roles including Cashier, Paraprofessional, and Instructional Aide, serving multiple buildings including NRAC, Lear North, Wilcox, ECLC, and Liberty.

Since 2006, Mary has been a dedicated full-time Instructional Aide at Liberty Elementary. Prior to joining the district, she worked in daycare, taught Sunday School, and supported kids at summer camp. These experiences truly reflect her lifelong commitment to children.

Mary’s kindness, patience, and commitment to the North Ridgeville community will be greatly missed. She has made a lasting impact on students and staff alike. We thank her for her incredible service and wish her all the best in her well-earned retirement!

North Ridgeville City Schools is proud to recognize and celebrate the retirement of Mr. Hogue, a dedicated and dependable member of our transportation team. Mr. Hogue began his journey with NRCS on January 21, 2020, as a support staff substitute while training to become a bus driver. Just a few months later, on May 19, 2020, he officially stepped into the role full time, quickly becoming a valued and trusted presence in our school community.

Before joining NRCS, Mr. Hogue brought with him a wealth of experience in maintenance and management. He served as a Manager/Foreman for Paradigm Property Enhancement, worked as a Maintenance Director at Riverview Pointe Care Center, and spent over ten years as a Maintenance Coordinator at Larchwood and Avon Care Centers. His strong work ethic and commitment to excellence were evident in every role he took on.

Mr. Hogue’s reliability and dedication to student safety have left a lasting impression. As he begins this new chapter of retirement, we thank him for his service and wish him all the best in the years ahead. Congratulations, Mr. Hogue!

After a remarkable journey in education, Mrs. Kelli Kujawa is retiring, leaving behind a legacy of dedication, leadership, and love for learning. She began her teaching career in 1988 as a First Grade teacher at Dorothy Lewis Elementary in Solon, Ohio. After taking time off to raise her children, she returned to the classroom in 2000 as an Enrichment Teacher at Royal Redeemer Lutheran School.

In 2009, Kelli joined North Ridgeville City Schools as a Third Grade teacher at Wilcox Elementary, later moving to Fourth Grade in 2011. Throughout her time at NRCS, Kelli went above and beyond the classroom—serving on the Building and District Leadership Teams, contributing to curriculum development, leading as a Grade Level Chair, mentoring fellow teachers, and supporting students through Summer School.

Kelli’s calm presence, thoughtful leadership, and commitment to student growth have made a lasting impact on the district. As she steps into retirement, we thank her for her incredible service and wish her joy and fulfillment in this next chapter.

Mr. Joe Mueller has been an invaluable member of Ranger Nation for the past three years, capping off an extraordinary 50-year journey in education. Throughout his career, Joe has brought dedication, vision, and heart to every role he’s held. Before joining North Ridgeville City Schools as Principal of North Ridgeville High School, he served with distinction in several districts—including West Geauga, Perry Local, and Brecksville-Broadview Heights—leaving behind a legacy of excellence and positive change at each stop along the way.

While his time with us may have been relatively short, Joe’s impact has been nothing less than transformational. He poured his energy into strengthening school culture, empowering staff, and building meaningful relationships with students, families, and the wider community. His leadership style—rooted in authenticity, compassion, and a relentless drive for improvement—has elevated all of us.

Joe has not only helped shape the future of our schools but has also left an indelible mark on the hearts of those fortunate enough to work beside him. His signature phrase, “Get Better Every Day,” has become more than a mantra—it’s a mindset that will continue to guide us long after his well-earned retirement.

We are truly honored to have been part of Joe Mueller’s remarkable educational journey. Thank you, Joe, for your wisdom, your passion, and your 50 years of service to students and educators alike. Your legacy will live on in Ranger Nation for generations to come.

After more than a decade of dedicated service to North Ridgeville City Schools, we are honored to celebrate the retirement of Mrs. Jean Nagy, a beloved Fifth Grade Teacher at the Academic Center.

Mrs. Nagy officially joined NRCS on July 16, 2013, after serving as a leave replacement teacher at Liberty Elementary and working as a certified substitute teacher for the district since the 2009-2010 school year. Her path to education was shaped by a variety of meaningful experiences—from running an in-home daycare and preschool for four years to working in customer service and inside sales at Arnco Corporation for seven years.

Throughout her time with NRCS, Jean was not only a passionate educator but also a leader among her peers. She served on both the District Leadership Team and the Wilcox Building Leadership Team and contributed to professional development through Science Fusion Training and Instructional Planning initiatives.

Jean's warm spirit, commitment to her students, and collaborative approach have made a lasting impact on our school community. We thank her for her years of service and wish her all the best in this exciting new chapter of life. Enjoy your well-earned retirement—you will be deeply missed!

After over a decade of service, Mrs. Joy Sherrill is retiring as a Bus Driver from North Ridgeville City Schools. Joy joined NRCS as a support staff substitute in March 2013 while completing her training to become a full-time driver. She officially began her career behind the wheel in January of 2014, safely transporting students and supporting school operations ever since. In addition to her regular driving responsibilities, Joy contributed her time as an interior bus cleaner and served as a driver for our Extended School Year program during the summers.

Before joining NRCS, Joy spent eight years working in banking as a teller. She also brought valuable experience from working with children at her local church, where she helped coordinate and supervise a nursery.

Joy’s reliability, warm personality, and commitment to students have made her a valuable member of the transportation team. We thank her for her years of service and wish her a happy and relaxing retirement!

After more than two decades in education, Mrs. Yoxthimer is retiring from North Ridgeville City Schools. She began her teaching career with Nordonia Hills City Schools, where she taught Biology and Honors Biology for five years. In 2004, she joined North Ridgeville High School as a Science teacher.

In addition to her classroom duties, Mrs. Yoxthimer contributed to several initiatives over the years, including serving as the High School Lab Manager, teacher mentor, UDL Coordinator, and a member of various committees such as the Local Appraisal Review Committee and the Course of Study for Science.

Before entering education, she held various roles in the medical field, including positions at Robinson Memorial Hospital. Jody has left us all with lots of memories and we wish her all the best in her retirement!

We are excited to announce several administrative appointments for the 2025–2026 school year. These changes reflect both internal growth and the addition of new talent to our district!

• Mrs. Andrea Vance, currently at ECLC, will transition to a new role as the Grades 3–4 Associate Principal at the North Ridgeville Academic Center (NRAC)
  
  

• Mrs. Jennifer Pinzone, currently the Assistant Principal at Liberty, will become the next Principal of the Early Childhood Learning Community (ECLC), succeeding Mrs. Vance
  
  

• Mr. John Townsend will join the NRAC administrative team as the Grades 7–8 Associate Principal
  
  

• Mrs. Kelsey Mellino will join North Ridgeville High School as an Assistant Principal

We’re excited to welcome Mr. John Townsend, who currently serves as Principal at Garfield Heights High School. He has also held roles as an Assistant Principal and social studies teacher. Mr. Townsend earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Baldwin Wallace University and brings a wealth of leadership experience to his new position at NRAC.

We’re also thrilled to welcome Mrs. Kelsey Mellino, currently an Assistant Principal at Avon High School. She previously taught science at both Avon and Elyria high schools. Mrs. Mellino holds a Bachelor’s degree from Ohio University and a Master’s degree from Concordia University Chicago. Her instructional expertise and leadership will be valuable additions to our high school team.

Check out the flyers below to learn more about all of these administrators.

As you may have noticed, there’s a lot of exciting activity happening around the NRAC and NRHS campus! Construction of the new Maintenance and Transportation Facility is officially underway just north of the Academic Center along Ranger Way. In addition, early site work for the new high school is scheduled to begin shortly after the school year concludes with an official groundbreaking ceremony planned for August.

Here’s a look at some of the spring and summer projects you can expect to see around campus:

• Continued construction of the Maintenance and Transportation Facility
• New parking lots in front of the high school and NRAC main entry
• Groundwork and fencing in front of the high school

Please understand that due to construction, parking will be limited on campus. Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, there will be specific parking lots for students and staff. We know it will be challenging for the first few months, so please be patient as we work through any issues.

Congratulations to Grace Balina, Danya Chougui, Paige Wasil and Sydney Weisbarth for winning the Amazing Shake!

The Awards ceremony was held earlier today and these four students were awarded a trophy, tshirt, and a $500 check to their selected nonprofit organization. These donations were made possible by our sponsors the Peck Family, Frank and Carol Toth, The Somerville Family, and Dr. Ron and Trish Arndt. Thank you for supporting the schools and this event!

The following nonprofit organizations were granted a $500 dollar check: Lorain County Friendship APL, The Gathering Place, Wee Care Closet, and Laura's Home.

Congratulations to our student and nonprofit winners!

Our annual Adaptable Athletics Day will take place on Friday, May 16 at Ranger Stadium beginning with Opening Ceremonies at 10 AM. This is such a fun day planned by the NRCS ABLE Department. Join us to promote inclusion with adaptable athletic events!

Leading up to this amazing event, we will be celebrating All Abilities Spirit Week! See the info below for the daily themes!

Ebrahim Alzraqat is a high honor roll student with a 4.46 GPA. Despite attending multiple school districts and high schools, he has thrived as a Ranger over the past two years. Ebrahim is a member of the National Honor Society, Champions for Life, and Key Club, where he consistently ranked among the top in volunteer hours. He also volunteers regularly at his mosque, especially during Ramadan events.

Athletically, Ebrahim has been a standout on both the cross country and track teams. He served as captain for both, holds the school record in the 800m (which he broke twice), and was named team MVP. He earned Southwestern Conference honors and recently placed 8th in the state while qualifying for Adidas Nationals.

Ebrahim will attend John Carroll University to study medicine and compete in track and cross country. He received a $32,000 renewable merit scholarship and he plans to pursue a career as a physician assistant or physical therapist.

Madeline Klimchak is a high honor student and two-year member of the National Honor Society. She earned the prestigious AP Scholar with Distinction award twice, having passed AP Research, AP Seminar, and five additional AP courses.

Madeline has been a dedicated four-year member of both the Academic Challenge Team and the marching band, where she plays piccolo and earned the Musicianship Award. She also plays flute in the Symphonic Band. A passionate reader, she has been involved in Book Club for three years and has served as its president for the past two. She's also a longtime member of the Spanish Club and Key Club, where she currently serves as Volunteer Coordinator and led in volunteer hours during her first year.

Madeline has volunteered at the North Ridgeville Public Library for seven years, helping in the Children’s Department and leading STEM and Pi Day activities. She also works at Danbury Senior Living, assisting with meal service and kitchen duties.

Madeline will attend Ohio Northern University to study Pre-Med with plans to become a pediatrician.

Isabella Kucirek is a high honor roll student and two-year member of the National Honor Society. She serves as the sole student representative on the school’s Endowment Committee and has been active in Key Club for three years. A four-year member of Varsity “R,” she was selected to the Women’s Leadership Committee and spoke at this year’s event.

Athletically, Bella played JV and Varsity basketball, serving as team captain her senior year. In softball, she’s been a Varsity player for over three seasons and currently leads as captain. She has also dedicated four years to volunteering at youth basketball and softball camps and has led her own station at Camp Intervention for two years.

Recently, Bella was recognized at the Lorain County Senior All-Star Basketball Game, where she received the Lorain County Great Lakes Basketball Association Scholarship.

She will attend Ohio University to major in forensic chemistry with a minor in computer science, with plans to pursue a career with the FBI.

National Junior Honor Society is a nationwide organization that recognizes students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership and service. They are holding a Chipotle fundraiser night tomorrow, May 3rd from 4 - 8 PM at the Lorain Road location. Grab dinner and support a great cause!

Don't miss out on this new collection from Able Not Label! Order your gear today!

Join us on June 12 and support the Endowment Funds Committee, which is a community-based organization designed to develop and provide a source of funding for improving the quality of education in our school district. The Endowment Committee offers a scholarship to senior students each year and provides grants to NRCS employees.

Support their mission with a day on the links! Learn more in the below flyer and click here to register!

Ranger Youth Football Camp | Incoming Students Grades 1-8
June 3 - 5 at Ranger Stadium
9 - 10:30 AM (drop off starts at 8:30 AM)

Register here!

Questions? Email Coach Morgan at bryanmorgan@nrcs.net

Boys Basketball Camp | Incoming Students Grades K-8

June 2 - June 5 at the North Ridgeville Academic Center

Grades K-2: 11 AM to Noon

Grades 3-8: 11 AM to 1 PM

Register here!

Questions? Email Coach Chase at benchase@nrcs.net

Girls Basketball Camp | Incoming Students Grades K-8

June 9 - June 12

Grades K-4: 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Grades 5-8: 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM

Register here!

Questions? Email Coach Esser at amyesser@nrcs.net.

Volleyball Youth Camp | Incoming Students Grades 4-8

June 23 - June 25 at the North Ridgeville Academic Center

Grade 4-6: 9:00 - 1100 AM

Grades 7-8: 11:30 PM - 1:30 PM

Register here!

Questions? Email Coach Berner at lisaberner@nrcs.net

This is a free three day summer camp to empower girls entering grades 4-8! Attendees will learn bike safety and maintenance skills to feel confident when riding. Click here to sign up!

Each month, the city of North Ridgeville shares a community newsletter full of events, tips, and the latest news. You can opt in to receive newsletters and view past issues by clicking here.

Don't miss the fun at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new South Central Park Playground! It will take place on Wednesday, May 7 at 6 PM!

LCCC is hosting an open house event for new students on May 13 from 1 to 5 PM. Stop by anytime to get help with reviewing placement, completing the FAFSA, and career exploration. Click here to register!

LCCC is offering summer experiences for preschool kids, ages 3-5. Learn more about the available programming here.