October 15, 2025 • 9 mins
On today’s episode, David discusses the Board’s upcoming luncheon and keynote speaker Steve Paramore. Steve is the superintendent of Ashland City Schools. Steve will discuss the impact of the School-Community Liaison program from his perspective. Register today for the Board’s Annual Luncheon by calling the Board at 419.281.3139 or online at www.ashlandmhrb.org. The price is $25. The program starts at Noon and will end by 1:15 pm.
(Record Date: October 14, 2025)
(Record Date: October 14, 2025)
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome. You're listening to the Keeping Ashland Healthy podcast, a
podcast production of the Mental Health and Recovery Board of
Ashland County, Ohio. Thanks for joining us, and welcome back
into the studio for another episode of Keeping Ashland Healthy.
This is a podcast of the Mental Health and Recovery
Board right here in Ashland County, Ohio. My name is
David Ross. I am the executive director of the Board
(00:24):
and in today's episode, a rather brief episode. Really I
hear all the clapping and the cheering on the brief episode.
I just wanted to make sure folks knew about the
upcoming annual luncheon that the Board is having on October
twenty second over at Upper Conbo starts at noon. We'll
(00:44):
get you out of there by one fifteen so you
can still get back to work and do all the
other things you need to do. But this is one
of those things that we do obviously annually. It used
to be dinner. Now it's a lunch. People have told
us that they find that more convenient. So we love
working with our partners at AU in the catering department,
and we promised to keep it short, to the point
(01:08):
hopefully interesting. This year's keynote is Steve Parmore. Most if
you know Steve, if you have kids or grand kids
or no, somebody in the Ashton City School District. Steve
is the superintendent, and I want to read a little
bit of his bio. He's a lifelong ash resident, ninety
nine graduate of the Ashton High School himself. I think
(01:31):
that's a kind of a cool concept to graduate from
a school and then turn back around and be the superintendent.
Years later, Paramore earned his bachelor's degree in business administration
from Florida Southern College, where he was also a standout athlete,
achieving four time NCAA Division two All American status and
men's golf and contributing to the college's two thousand national
(01:55):
championship team. That's awesome. After college, he returned to Ashland,
began substitute teach, and then moved into a full time
physical ed role at Ashton City Schools in two thousand
and four. So, as you can see just from that
opening piece of his bio, Steve really cares about the
Ashland community and wants to be involved with the educational system,
(02:16):
particularly at the high school. He's got a Master of
Education and Curriculum and Instruction and Master of Education and
Educational Administration, both from Ashton University, again local. He completed
his superintendent's license at Ashton University in twenty seventeen. Says
here Paramore values innovation and continuous improvement for Ashton City Schools,
(02:36):
focusing on teacher retention, staff development, and preparing the district
for technological advancements such as A. I what I've enjoyed
getting to know Steve, he says, all in in his
commitment for kids and families here in Ashland. And when
(02:57):
I had asked him to speak about the liaison program,
which again, as you know, this is one of the
largest programs that the Board's fund and by far it's
the largest program that we fund with local levy dollars,
he was just couldn't say yes quick enough. And I
appreciate that because mister Parrimore is a very busy man.
(03:18):
So you want to come out to the luncheon, of
course for the great food. We will have brief opening
remarks that I'll make, and they are brief because I
want to get you to lunch, and then I want
to do a little bit of education about the board.
Who's on the Board who cycled off just a little
(03:38):
bit about the Board's annual report. So we release the
annual report to the public for the first time at
the annual luncheon, and this will be for the fiscal
year that just ended June thirtieth, so this will be
fiscal year twenty twenty five. I won't go into the
whole report because you'll have that in front of you,
but also you can download from the Board's website, et cetera.
(04:02):
But I'll talk briefly about some of the highlights of
the year that was and then introduced mister Parahmoer, who
will speak after Steve is done, though I always this
is my favorite part. After our keynote is two awards.
We've limited the awards to too, the Martha Jordan Beacon
Award and then our Community Partnership Award, and we have
(04:25):
two very deserving recipients. Obviously I can't tell you their names.
It's a secret they don't even know. The Martha Jordan
Beacon Ward is dedicated to the memory of Martha Phillips Jordans.
Some of you in the community know Martha. She was
very well known before her passing some years ago. But
the Martha Jordan Beacon Award was established to honor her
(04:47):
legacy and recognize outstanding leaders in our community who reflect
her work of supporting and caring for our fellow citizens
who struggle with mental health and substitute issues by helping
them lead a full and independent life in our community.
Martha was the counsellor's counselor. I can tell you many
is the time I've heard about folks that were counselors
(05:10):
themselves that went to Martha just to vent or just
for support or guidance. She was always willing to listen,
not only in individuals that were struggling, but to her
fellow colleagues and counselors and social workers. So that's the
Martha Jordan Beacon Award. We have a I think very
deserving recipient this year, and then last but not least,
(05:31):
is our Community Partnership Award. The board to set this
up recently to recognize an outstanding organization or individual who
has demonstrated exemplary leadership in the community by working together
with all sectors public, private, governmental to ensure individuals and
families with mental health and or substance concerns received the
(05:52):
vital care they need to live productive lives. Effective partnerships
are a cornerstone of strong communities. Because we believe in
that so strongly, we wanted to start to identify these
individuals organizations so that award will also be given at
the luncheon, and then of course pictures afterwards. If you'd
like to get your picture with either of these recipients,
(06:13):
hang around for a few minutes before you jet back
to work. You know our board members. Andrew Kinney is
our chair, Mary Dieter just cycled off our previous chair,
Katie Wright's our secretary. Ben Keeps our Finance committee chair.
Sarah Batison is our Planning committee chair, Connie Butler Nominating committee.
(06:35):
And then we have Chad Brown, Nancy Yudoff, Tom goss
ed Keeper and Cindy Kaiser also all of those board members.
Hopefully we'll be able to make it. If you know
one of these folks, please say something to them about
their work. These folks serve voluntarily. They give of their
time and their talent and yes, their treasure because sometimes
(06:57):
they contribute to what we're doing some of our events,
and they're wonderful individuals. They understand and have a passion
for mental health and substance use issues in Ash County.
I am blessed to have such a wonderful board. The
staff will also be there, myself Patty Polakowski, who is
our Associate director Fiscal Officers, while as Sandy Hoffman, my
(07:20):
Community Relations coordinator. You know the Board's mission and vision.
We work through our providers and our community partners to
achieve the mission and the vision of the Board to
create that environment bringing hope, improving the quality of life
for persons impacted and affected by trauma, mental health challenges,
(07:42):
and substance use. It is a good time. I enjoy
catching up with some of the folks I haven't had
to meet, haven't had a chance to meet throughout the
year or at some of our other events. I would
encourage you to register today, and if you're listening to
this podcast you don't have much time, I'm please register
(08:02):
This week. October twenty second is coming up very quickly.
We start at noon au Upper Convo. I just encourage
you to come out and see us and be part
of what we're doing at the board. Learn about what
we've funded in twenty five, some of the outcomes from
fiscal year twenty five, but also learn from mister Paramore
(08:27):
about the school community liaison programs from his perspective as
a superintendent of Ashion City Schools. I think you'll be
educated and informed, and yes, a little entertained. Mister Paramore
is a wonderful speaker by that keynote presentation, so I
hope to see you all this October twenty second at noon.
(08:50):
Thank you for listening to another episode of the Keeping
National and Healthy podcast. The podcast is a production of
the Mental Health and Recovery Board of Ashland County, Ohio.
You can reach the Board by calling for one nine
two eight one three one three nine. Please remember that
the Board funds a local twenty four seven crisis line
through Applese Community Mental Health Center. It can be reached
by calling four one nine two eight nine sixty one
(09:12):
one one. That's four one nine two eight nine six
one one one. Until next time, please join us in
keeping Ashland Healthy.
Welcome. You're listening to the Keeping Ashland Healthy podcast, a
podcast production of the Mental Health and Recovery Board of
Ashland County, Ohio. Thanks for joining us, and welcome back
into the studio for another episode of Keeping Ashland Healthy.
This is a podcast of the Mental Health and Recovery
Board right here in Ashland County, Ohio. My name is
David Ross. I am the executive director of the Board
(00:24):
and in today's episode, a rather brief episode. Really I
hear all the clapping and the cheering on the brief episode.
I just wanted to make sure folks knew about the
upcoming annual luncheon that the Board is having on October
twenty second over at Upper Conbo starts at noon. We'll
(00:44):
get you out of there by one fifteen so you
can still get back to work and do all the
other things you need to do. But this is one
of those things that we do obviously annually. It used
to be dinner. Now it's a lunch. People have told
us that they find that more convenient. So we love
working with our partners at AU in the catering department,
and we promised to keep it short, to the point
(01:08):
hopefully interesting. This year's keynote is Steve Parmore. Most if
you know Steve, if you have kids or grand kids
or no, somebody in the Ashton City School District. Steve
is the superintendent, and I want to read a little
bit of his bio. He's a lifelong ash resident, ninety
nine graduate of the Ashton High School himself. I think
(01:31):
that's a kind of a cool concept to graduate from
a school and then turn back around and be the superintendent.
Years later, Paramore earned his bachelor's degree in business administration
from Florida Southern College, where he was also a standout athlete,
achieving four time NCAA Division two All American status and
men's golf and contributing to the college's two thousand national
(01:55):
championship team. That's awesome. After college, he returned to Ashland,
began substitute teach, and then moved into a full time
physical ed role at Ashton City Schools in two thousand
and four. So, as you can see just from that
opening piece of his bio, Steve really cares about the
Ashland community and wants to be involved with the educational system,
(02:16):
particularly at the high school. He's got a Master of
Education and Curriculum and Instruction and Master of Education and
Educational Administration, both from Ashton University, again local. He completed
his superintendent's license at Ashton University in twenty seventeen. Says
here Paramore values innovation and continuous improvement for Ashton City Schools,
(02:36):
focusing on teacher retention, staff development, and preparing the district
for technological advancements such as A. I what I've enjoyed
getting to know Steve, he says, all in in his
commitment for kids and families here in Ashland. And when
(02:57):
I had asked him to speak about the liaison program,
which again, as you know, this is one of the
largest programs that the Board's fund and by far it's
the largest program that we fund with local levy dollars,
he was just couldn't say yes quick enough. And I
appreciate that because mister Parrimore is a very busy man.
(03:18):
So you want to come out to the luncheon, of
course for the great food. We will have brief opening
remarks that I'll make, and they are brief because I
want to get you to lunch, and then I want
to do a little bit of education about the board.
Who's on the Board who cycled off just a little
(03:38):
bit about the Board's annual report. So we release the
annual report to the public for the first time at
the annual luncheon, and this will be for the fiscal
year that just ended June thirtieth, so this will be
fiscal year twenty twenty five. I won't go into the
whole report because you'll have that in front of you,
but also you can download from the Board's website, et cetera.
(04:02):
But I'll talk briefly about some of the highlights of
the year that was and then introduced mister Parahmoer, who
will speak after Steve is done, though I always this
is my favorite part. After our keynote is two awards.
We've limited the awards to too, the Martha Jordan Beacon
Award and then our Community Partnership Award, and we have
(04:25):
two very deserving recipients. Obviously I can't tell you their names.
It's a secret they don't even know. The Martha Jordan
Beacon Ward is dedicated to the memory of Martha Phillips Jordans.
Some of you in the community know Martha. She was
very well known before her passing some years ago. But
the Martha Jordan Beacon Award was established to honor her
(04:47):
legacy and recognize outstanding leaders in our community who reflect
her work of supporting and caring for our fellow citizens
who struggle with mental health and substitute issues by helping
them lead a full and independent life in our community.
Martha was the counsellor's counselor. I can tell you many
is the time I've heard about folks that were counselors
(05:10):
themselves that went to Martha just to vent or just
for support or guidance. She was always willing to listen,
not only in individuals that were struggling, but to her
fellow colleagues and counselors and social workers. So that's the
Martha Jordan Beacon Award. We have a I think very
deserving recipient this year, and then last but not least,
(05:31):
is our Community Partnership Award. The board to set this
up recently to recognize an outstanding organization or individual who
has demonstrated exemplary leadership in the community by working together
with all sectors public, private, governmental to ensure individuals and
families with mental health and or substance concerns received the
(05:52):
vital care they need to live productive lives. Effective partnerships
are a cornerstone of strong communities. Because we believe in
that so strongly, we wanted to start to identify these
individuals organizations so that award will also be given at
the luncheon, and then of course pictures afterwards. If you'd
like to get your picture with either of these recipients,
(06:13):
hang around for a few minutes before you jet back
to work. You know our board members. Andrew Kinney is
our chair, Mary Dieter just cycled off our previous chair,
Katie Wright's our secretary. Ben Keeps our Finance committee chair.
Sarah Batison is our Planning committee chair, Connie Butler Nominating committee.
(06:35):
And then we have Chad Brown, Nancy Yudoff, Tom goss
ed Keeper and Cindy Kaiser also all of those board members.
Hopefully we'll be able to make it. If you know
one of these folks, please say something to them about
their work. These folks serve voluntarily. They give of their
time and their talent and yes, their treasure because sometimes
(06:57):
they contribute to what we're doing some of our events,
and they're wonderful individuals. They understand and have a passion
for mental health and substance use issues in Ash County.
I am blessed to have such a wonderful board. The
staff will also be there, myself Patty Polakowski, who is
our Associate director Fiscal Officers, while as Sandy Hoffman, my
(07:20):
Community Relations coordinator. You know the Board's mission and vision.
We work through our providers and our community partners to
achieve the mission and the vision of the Board to
create that environment bringing hope, improving the quality of life
for persons impacted and affected by trauma, mental health challenges,
(07:42):
and substance use. It is a good time. I enjoy
catching up with some of the folks I haven't had
to meet, haven't had a chance to meet throughout the
year or at some of our other events. I would
encourage you to register today, and if you're listening to
this podcast you don't have much time, I'm please register
(08:02):
This week. October twenty second is coming up very quickly.
We start at noon au Upper Convo. I just encourage
you to come out and see us and be part
of what we're doing at the board. Learn about what
we've funded in twenty five, some of the outcomes from
fiscal year twenty five, but also learn from mister Paramore
(08:27):
about the school community liaison programs from his perspective as
a superintendent of Ashion City Schools. I think you'll be
educated and informed, and yes, a little entertained. Mister Paramore
is a wonderful speaker by that keynote presentation, so I
hope to see you all this October twenty second at noon.
(08:50):
Thank you for listening to another episode of the Keeping
National and Healthy podcast. The podcast is a production of
the Mental Health and Recovery Board of Ashland County, Ohio.
You can reach the Board by calling for one nine
two eight one three one three nine. Please remember that
the Board funds a local twenty four seven crisis line
through Applese Community Mental Health Center. It can be reached
by calling four one nine two eight nine sixty one
(09:12):
one one. That's four one nine two eight nine six
one one one. Until next time, please join us in
keeping Ashland Healthy.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.