Richard Atkinson, President
Current Term to 2015: Richard Atkinson is serving his second term as a member of the Youngstown Board of Education and is the current board president. Mr. Atkinson oversees the function of the board and also serves on the Academic Distress Commission committee and serves as the Legislative Liaison and the Rayen Stadium Reformation representative.
Marcia Haire-Ellis, Vice President
Current Term to 2015. Marcia Haire-Ellis is serving her first term on the board and is its current vice president. She serves as the chair of the Curriculum/Extra Curricular/Sports Committee, serves on the Finance/Business/Non-certified Committee and is on the YEC Steering and Academic Distress Commission committees and is a liaison to the committee and is the Student Achievement Liaison.
Ms. Haire-Ellis is a life-long Youngstown resident. She attended East High School and Youngstown State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education, a Master’s Degree in Counseling and completed studies for an Elementary Principal’s license.
Ms Haire-Ellis enjoyed a thirty-five year career in the Youngstown City Schools. She was a teacher before becoming a School Counselor (mostly at East High School) and served as Teacher on Special Assignment for three years. She ended her career at Youngstown Early College where she worked on the start-up team for the new high school. While working in education, Marcia served on several boards including the Ohio State University Counselor Advisory Board and the A.C.T. Ohio Assembly School Counselor Advisory Board. She has also been a presenter at state and national conventions.
Ms. Haire-Ellis is a member of Centenary United Methodist Church where she has served many years as the Youth Director and choir member. She currently is a Board Member for Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation, United Methodist Community Center and has served on the Wean Neighborhood SUCCESS Grant Committee. Ms. Haire-Ellis has held leadership positions in several national and local organizations and was president of Youngstown Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., served as 1st Vice President of Ohio Alliance of Black Educators, and Past President of Youngstown Area Alliance of Black Educators.
Ms Haire-Ellis is the proud mother of Christopher and Andrea Ellis of Albany, New York, and Jared M. Ellis of Baltimore, Maryland.
Lock P. Beachum, Sr.
Current Term to 2013: Lock P. Beachum, Sr., has served as a member of the Youngstown Board of Education for the past fifteen years, and recently completed two terms as board president. He is the board representative to the Ohio Black Caucus and Youngstown Early College, the Academic Distress Commission, NSBA and serves on the Curriculum/Extra Curricular/Sporst Committee.
A leader in local and national organizations, Mr. Beachum served as President of Youngstown Area Urban League, McGuffey Center Inc., Youngstown Community Action Center, Inc., and Mahoning County Drug Clinic. He served as Immediate Past Chair of the Council of Urban Boards Steering Committee and a two-year term as Chair of the Council of Urban Boards of Education and serves on the National School Boards Association Board of Directors. He also served two years on the National League of Cities Board of Directors.
Mr. Lock P. Beachum, Sr. was formerly a principal at both North and East High School in the Youngstown City School District, and was a Youngstown City Councilman for Ward 2 serving as the Chair of the Council Finance Committee for several years.
Mr. Beachum received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Fayetteville University, a Master of Science in Secondary Administration from Youngstown State University and further advanced studies at Kent State University. He is a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.
Mr. Beachum and his wife, Janice, have two children.
Rachel Hanni
Current Term to 2013: Rachel Hanni is serving her fourth year as a member of the Youngstown Board of Education. Ms. Hanni serves on the Curriculum/Extra Curricular/Sports committee Career Tech and is an OSBA Delegate.
Brenda Kimble
Current Term to 2015. Brenda Kimble is serving her second year as a member of the Youngstown Board of Education. She is the chair for the Certificated Personnel/Legal/Legislative committee and serves on the Legislative Liaison.
Mrs. Kimble graduated from Chaney High School and is a mother of four children who were also graduates of Chaney. She also has two stepsons and is a grandmother of five. She has dedicated over 30 years volunteering with various programs e.g. Ohio State Young Scholars, Underground Railroad, MacGyver’s Science Team, school music and Band supporter, Destination Imagination, Sojourn to the Past and the Parent-Teacher Organizations.
Mrs. Kimble is a member of the Third Baptist Church under the direction of Rev. Dr. Morris W. Lee. She serves on the Nurse’s Guild, Cradle Roll, Angel Tree Ministries, Girl Scouts and is a Preschool Sunday School teacher. She is currently attending Youngstown State University pursuing a degree in Education.
Andrea Mahone
Current Term to 2013: Andrea L. Mahone is serving her fourth year as a member of the Youngstown Board of Education. She is the Chair of the Legal/Legislative/Policy Committee and serves on the Finance and Extra-Curricular/Sports Committees. She is the Board City Legislative Liaison.
Ms. Mahone is the City Youth Director for Youngstown, Ohio, working through the Increase the Peace initiative under the direction of the Mayor of Youngstown. She is the television host for Increase the Peace weekly show on MYTV, an ABC affiliate, and the Youth Pastor at Everlife Worship Center. For more than 20 years, she has been recognized for providing positive youth development programming for all youth, and especially for at-risk- youth in urban communities. She is a licensed facilitator and a motivational speaker.
Ms. Mahone received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Rhetoric from Kent State University and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Executive Leadership from Liberty University.
Michael Murphy
Current Term to 2015: Michael Murphy is serving his second term as a member of the Youngstown Board of Education. Mr. Murphy serves as the Board Chair for the Finance/Business/Non-Certified Committee. And is the City Legislative/Legislative Liaison.
Student Board Members
Charidan Hilson
Chaney Campus Representative: Charidan is a Junior in the STEM program at Chaney, specifically Biotechnology. She sees a great opportunity to be the “voice of her peers” as the Chaney representative and wants to expand her base of experience for the future. Charidan has already proven herself able to work both independently and with others. She is always respectful of classmates and teachers, and even says she loves animals. Some of her extra-curricular activities include the Community Initiative to Reduce Violence (C.I.R.V.); “Skills USA”; along with working on the Yearbook committee. Charidan’s current GPA is 3.32.
Shannon Sharp
East High Representative: As a Senior at East, Shannon sees her serving on the Board as a great way to continue involvement in both her school and community. Shannon brings compassion for others and an overall positive attitude to the Board. She has proven herself in many areas already, including: Sojourn to the Past; Mahoning Valley Youth Leadership; Big Brothers / Big Sisters; Y S U’s Upward Bound; and balances those credentials with serving East High as a class officer; flag line member and even more. In addition, Shannon carries a 4.245 GPA and is the top ranked student in her class.
Nicole Miller
Youngstown Early College: Ms. Miller wants, as a Student Board Member, to be able to tell other people about the positive things related to her school. Nicole is a Senior at YEC and needs only two additional classes to earn her Associate Degree from YSU. Nicole is articulate and speaks her mind without ever being negative. She is liked and respected by both peers and adult staff. Never one to shy away from a challenge, this young lady applies herself in the most demanding high school and college classes available each year. Her combined GPA is 3.27.
