Kaufman seeks county commissioner job

VW independent/submitted information

Staci A. Kaufman has filed nominating petitions as a Republican for election to the January 2, 2017, term of Van Wert County commissioner.

Kaufman currently serves as superintendent of Vantage Career Center, following her appointment by the Vantage Board of Education in 2007. She has devoted the past 25 years to workforce development education as an administrator.

She was a career technical supervisor at Four County Career Center for 16 years, prior to accepting the position of superintendent/CEO of Vantage nearly nine years ago. Her teaching career began with a part-time position in 1981 at Antwerp Local Schools in Paulding County during her senior year at Defiance College. Additional experience was at International Business College in Fort Wayne, Indiana; a senior lecturer in business education at The Defiance College, and part-time instructor at Northwest State Community College in Archbold.

She completed a master’s degree in secondary education at Indiana University in Fort Wayne in 1986 and an education specialist degree at the University of Toledo in 1997 in education administration and supervision. While Vantage superintendent, Kaufman led a successful bond levy in 2009 that provided for a complete renovation and expansion of the school. She also oversaw the development of a 1-megawatt solar field project, saving the district an average of $50,000 per year in utility electric costs.

Kaufman has met her personal and professional goals during her tenure at Vantage and believes she can impact more youths and adults in the community in the role of county commissioner.

If elected, Kaufman plans to strengthen Van Wert County by tackling the heroin epidemic as a health issue, in addition to supporting law enforcement to curb the resulting criminal aspect of drug abuse. She will seek funds for programs to educate parents and youths about the risks of heroin and the growing human trafficking trade, as education can deter victimization.

Knowing the importance of role models and mentors for children, Kaufman will seek assistance in increasing adult volunteers for children in programs such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters. She believes that curbing drug abuse and building mentors for youths of all ages will maintain a community that attracts new businesses and residents.

Kaufman intends to continue efforts to assist workforce development in the county, and would like to improve the chance of youths returning to live and work in the county through a student career shadowing program for area schools with local employers. Kaufman supports development of one economic development program to serve the entire county.

Her administrative experience in public education built her skills in accountability measures, budgeting, and strategic planning, which have prepared her to assist the county in the role of commissioner. Kaufman will work to help kids, community and workforce.

She is a native of Defiance and has been a rural county resident for much of her life. She is an alumnus of Tinora High School and grew up next door to her grandparents’ farm, showing market lambs and sewing in 4-H. She raised her children next door to her parents and grandparents and moved into a city for the first time in 2007 when she relocated to Van Wert.  Her 10-year 4-H experience included much Junior Fair Board work and she was later employed as a 4-H program assistant by the Ohio State University Extension for two summers while in college. Kaufman was a 4-H advisor in Defiance County, and a member of the 4-H Council. She put herself through college by working as a general laborer on a construction crew, and as a secretary in a veterinarian’s office.

Kaufman has earned several state leadership awards, beginning with Ohio’s 4-H Leadership award in 1979.  She is a 1994 Fellow of the Ohio Vocational Education Leadership Institute (OVELI), and the Ohio School Leadership Institute (OSLI) 2009-10. She was named Ohio’s “Assistant Principal of the Year” in 2001 by the Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators, (OASSA), and was honored with the “Outstanding FHA-HERO Administrator” award by Ohio’s FHA-HERO student organization (now FCCLA) in 1997-98.

Vantage FFA awarded her the Honorary Chapter member status in 2014, and she was named the “Economic Development Volunteer of the Year” by the Van Wert Economic Development Advisory Group in 2014.

Kaufman has served six years — including two terms as president — on the Western Ohio Education Foundation (WOEF) Board of Trustees at Wright State University-Lake Campus, which raises and awards scholarship funds at the Lake Campus. The WOEF Board also funded and developed residence housing at the Lake Campus during her service.

She is a three-year member of the Wassenberg Art Center board, and serves as vice president of the Off Stage Productions dinner theatre board. Kaufman is a past president of Van Wert Rotary Club and an active member, serving on the Van Wert Rotary Foundation Board. She is a former member of the LifeLinks Community School Board and a current member of the YMCA, Van Wert Elks Lodge 1197, and St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, all in Van Wert.

Kaufman is a patron member of Van Wert Civic Theatre, enjoys painting in watercolor and acrylic, reading, jogging, and golf. She has an avid interest in healthy lifestyle and exercise. She is the parent of two daughters, and has two grandchildren, all in Defiance.