Contributors: Rachel Jamison, Deb Wang, and Aaron Yeager.
THE GENERAL ELECTION IS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2025.
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Stow Collaboration for Change endorses Dr. Pamela Wind, Kathrine Dannemiller, and Tina Merlitti for Stow-Munroe Falls School Board. Read more about our take on the other three candidates running: Jason Whitacre, JoAnne Loparo, and John Moyer.
Jason Whitacre
Jason served on the Stow-Munroe Falls School Board (SMF BoE) from 2018-2021 (as Board President in 2020 and Vice-President in 2021). He says he wants to “restore the board to a calm, boring, stable, and nonpartisan policy-making body.” We’d ask the community to consider two things with this in mind: 1) Was the Board actually “calm, boring, stable” or “nonpartisan” during Jason’s term? 2) What will Jason sacrifice in the name of keeping things “calm,” “boring,” and “stable,” moving forward?
The record from Jason’s term shows a pattern: prioritizing “calm,” deference, and process over student voice, accountability, and protection for vulnerable groups — precisely the qualities voters should not want in a board member right now, when public schools are under political attack, and students need active defenders.
A Low-Energy Record on the Board of Education
Let’s take a look at some of the things that went down while Jason was on the Board of Education:
Devaluing Student Voices — Part I
In March of 2018, just after Jason was elected to the Board, students planned a walkout in response to the school shooting in Parkland, FL. The Board of Education passed 3-2 a resolution stating that students should “remain in their classroom or other designated area of the school building for the anticipated walkout.” Jason voted in favor of the resolution which would keep students inside and not allow them to proceed. The irony of being forced to remain inside because it is “safer,” regardless of the fact that most school shootings take place inside the school building, was not lost on the students. As one student stated, “If they can’t keep us safe in school, what does it matter if we go outside?” This choice sent a message that Jason would prioritize order and risk-management over allowing students to exercise civic voice—an early and clear example of putting “calm” ahead of student expression.
Fiscal Oversight and Lawsuit #1
On April 16, 2019, a press release from the Ohio Auditor of State about an audit released that day exposed that Superintendent Tom Bratten had “authorized illegal expenditures and misspent taxpayer dollars on expenditures that lacked proper public purpose.” The release continues:
State auditors reviewed school payroll records and found that Franca Padula, the administrative assistant to the superintendent, received payment for one hour of unworked overtime for each day she worked from May 6, 2017 through Nov. 24, 2018. Auditors found Padula was not actually working those hours, making these illegal expenditures. [The auditor] issued a finding for recovery against Padula for $14,111 in favor of the school district.
The release also exposed the following:
…Bratten used $981 of public funds to pay for gifts that went mostly to board members and administrative staff. Additionally, he spent $1,309 of public funds on personal travel expenses. The Auditor’s office issued additional findings for recovery against Bratten for the sum of the two expenses totaling $2,290.
Despite these findings, Bratten remained on staff as superintendent until he stepped down in January of 2024. Additionally, the Board gave Bratten an overall positive performance review in 2019 and 2020, both reviews being signed off by Jason (as a board member in 2019 and board president in 2020). The audit is a formal, public rebuke about misuse of taxpayer money, yet Jason did not take decisive steps that would demonstrate accountability and reassure taxpayers.
In fact, he’s on the witness list for a lawsuit brought by a former treasurer of the district in 2019, who is suing the Board of Education because they didn’t renew her contract after she reported Bratten’s behavior to the Ohio Auditor of State. The lawsuit is still ongoing, and the original trial date of August 1, 2025 has been moved until after election season. Voters who want fiscal transparency and firm oversight should weigh all of this heavily.
Hypocrisy on Busing
Jason implies in bad faith, and in needlessly legalistic terms, that one or two busing issues are indictments of the current board’s leadership. But let’s look at the busing snafu of August 2019, which Jason proudly claims as happening on his watch. What exactly happened? Two younger students were reported missing after not getting off at their bus stop. When a parent called the bus garage to see when their child would be dropped off, they were told the child had already been dropped off. The child, and another child who was thought to be missing, were eventually found on their bus.
Ultimately, the two children were taken home in a school maintenance vehicle by two bus mechanics who also work as substitute bus drivers. The parent only found out her child was found secondhand, through their neighbor, and was not called directly by either the police or the bus garage until after the fact. Another 10th-grade student, who was on an IEP, had to walk three blocks from their house to the bus stop.
Finally, a different student reported their “bus driver didn’t know where he was going and was passing up kids’ stops.” At the next BoE meeting, more than a dozen commenters expressed frustrations related to busing issues, including “students believed missing, students told to go on the wrong bus, bus stops changed with little or no advanced warning, buses not picking up students until after the school day started, students commutes home lasting more than an hour, and an overall lack of communication.”
We have more details, but let’s summarize Jason’s logic: a radiator springing a leak is disqualifying for the current board leadership, but losing two whole kids means he should be re-elected.
Contract Buyouts
While Jason has consistently criticized the buyout of former Superintendent Bratten’s contract as part of his campaign, a buyout also happened under Jason’s term on the BoE. In January of 2020, the district’s transportation supervisor, Brandy Hollis, was placed on a long-term paid administrative leave until June 30, 2020, as part of a settlement agreement following transportation problems and complaints. Hollis was “hired in November 2018 under a two-year contract at an annual salary of $66,078.” According to the settlement agreement, Brandy Hollis was to be on paid administrative leave until June 30, followed by unpaid administrative leave through July 31. After that, her employment with the district was to end.
Bad Board Behavior — Part I (and Lawsuit #2)
In January of 2020, the SMF Board of Education faced ANOTHER lawsuit from a former employee of the treasurer’s office. The former assistant treasurer sued former Board President Kelly Toppin and the board of education alleging “sexual harassment, retaliation and intentional infliction of emotional distress.” School Board Members “strongly disputed the allegations.”
Dismissing Community Concerns
Unlike many surrounding districts, SMF School District refused to acknowledge the Black Lives Matter movement until outside pressure mounted from residents and alumni. An outpouring of letters were submitted by at least 40 community members and alumni to be read at the June 22, 2020 BoE meeting, where the agenda included a proposed statement on racism. Jason suggested none of the letters be read at this meeting due to the number received and “time constraints” and proposed attaching the letters to the agenda in the form of a PDF instead.
Ultimately, after public pressure, a special meeting was scheduled for June 29, 2020 for the letters to be read. Some of the letters were censored by Jason, at his sole discretion, when being read aloud at the meeting. Additionally, at the June 29, 2020 meeting, Lisa Johnson-Bowers (BoE Vice President at the time) repeatedly laughed, smiled, and looked at her phone, as statements related to bullying, racism, and suicide were read aloud. At a later meeting, after numerous calls for her resignation, Lisa Johnson-Bowers was sanctioned and admonished by other board members for her actions — but no further action was taken.
Bad Board Behavior — Part II
As the district continued to pursue further efforts related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Board of Education member, Gerry Bettio, became physically aggressive with a school employee during a strategic planning meeting on May 25, 2021 because she was offended by clip art used in a PowerPoint presentation—specifically the inclusion of a Black fist with white and rainbow fists. As a result, Ms. Bettio was no longer permitted to have any face-to-face discussions with this employee and any issues Ms. Bettio had regarding the DEI Committee had to be handled through Superintendent Bratten. Ms. Bettio also had to recuse herself from any official Board action as it related to this school employee, their employment, or any other issue presented to the Board. No further action was taken.
Devaluing Student Voices — Part II
In October of 2021, a SMF student started the “Concerned Students of SMFHS” Instagram account, where numerous students shared stories of their negative experiences at the high school, many related to bullying, sexual assault and harassment, issues with teachers and counselors, and how these issues were handled (or most often, not handled) by the administration. Not only was the student who ran the Concerned Students account suspended, they were also told directly by Jason to “cut everyone some slack.” As with the highlighted in point 8, Jason prioritized preserving civility and avoiding “division” rather than centering harmed students and pursuing accountability.
Post-Tenure Shenanigans
Delaying or Denying Accountability
Jason has frequently slammed the current Board of Education in his campaign, while taking little to no accountability for what happened during his term. The historical pattern during Jason’s prior term shows that when “calm” was chosen over confrontation, it often meant delaying or diluting accountability for serious problems. In a moment when public education and vulnerable students are being actively targeted, a candidate whose default is to quiet conflict rather than protect people is a risky choice. “Calm” often means inaction. In times of crisis, “calm” that means “don’t rock the boat” becomes complicity. Jason’s record from 2018 to 2021 shows several instances where more decisive action was warranted but not taken. Students and families need board members who will press for transparent investigations, enforce consequences when adults fail students, and defend marginalized students publicly. When organized campaigns target curricula, staff, and student protections, an insistence on enforced politeness and “nonpartisanship” is not leadership — but it is a very effective way to allow harm to continue.
“Accountability” When It Serves Personal or Political Interests
Since Jason targets and undermines political opponents like everyone else in a competitive election, we find his bemoaning of division and conflict quite disingenuous. During his time away from the BoE, Jason and his law firm were retained by the Stow Teacher’s Association (STA) during the superintendent search process to deliver a letter threatening legal action against two members of the current Board, Dr. Pamela Wind and Kari Suhadolnik.
The accusations of “chilling the free speech of STA” outlined in the letter appear to be primarily based on word-of-mouth communication from Nancy Binzel, the president of the Board at that time, who Jason states he “knows very well” and appears to have some level of personal relationship with. The letter accused Wind and Suhadolnik of preventing STA members from exercising their free speech rights, even though it was Binzel who directed STA members to “knock it off” as part of a larger communication. The letter speculates that “Binzel was, perhaps reluctantly, delivering the message from two other board members in her role as Board President,” with no actual proof of this accusation — an obvious and strained attempt to blame Wind and Suhadolnik for something they never said.
Jason’s choice to participate in this attack on Wind and Suhadolnik is in line with his persistent campaign strategy to attack progressive members of the board and fuel public distrust. Note, it was confirmed by the President of the Cleveland Heights Teachers Union (CHTU) that statements in a document authored and distributed by STA via email to their members attributed distorted and fabricated statements about Dr. Felisha Gould to the President of CHTU. Also, note that there is endless historical precedent for calling into question the credentials of a Black person either slated for or currently occupying a position of authority. It seems Jason is only interested in holding people “accountable” if he doesn’t have a personal relationship with them, or if it serves his personal or political interests.
Too Cozy with the Right-Wing
Jason has demonstrated time and time again that he will prioritize civility, calmness, and “respect” over uplifting student voices, holding staff and administrators accountable, and protecting marginalized populations. Setting aside his obsession with civility and respect when it suits him, what does Jason actually stand for?
Let’s take a look at Jason’s campaign. Jason has been quite vocal during his campaign on his opinions on the current Board of Education — at least, some members of it. Jason has taken aim at SMF BoE President, Dr. Pamela Wind, and Vice President, Kari Suhadolnik, numerous times during his campaign. His public accusations of “creating division” have even broadened to include local community members and our organization. If Jason’s conclusion is that standing up for what you believe in and refusing to cross the aisle to shake hands with the far-right is “divisive,” we have no confidence that he will provide any meaningful protection for public education or vulnerable students. Jason’s campaign has primarily revolved around 1) bashing the current Board of Education (especially some of the more progressive members) and 2) the idea he will provide “nonpartisan” and “moderate” leadership.
Jason has been courting extremist right-wing groups and “independents” throughout his campaign by continually blasting the current BoE President and Vice President. His rhetoric has fueled the flames of segments of the community (and other current board members) who have gone as far as to dox the BoE President’s family members — including children! — online.
Jason’s attacks have conveniently left out one member of the Board of Education — Mike Sheehan — time and time again. Sheehan is a mouthpiece for Moms for Liberty and has continuously undermined Board meetings since being appointed. Sheehan vocally opposes support for LGBTQIA+ students, students of color, and other marginalized populations. He’s anti-teachers union, against the separation of church and state, and all around anti-public education. Jason has not only garnered Sheehan’s support, he’s even received the public support of the President of Moms for Liberty Summit County (and the endorsement of the Summit County Republican Party). Jason’s campaign has also been attached to JoAnne Loparo’s (who we’ll talk about later on).
No Convictions, No Confidence
Jason’s positions shift with convenience, not conviction. He continues to make statements that contradict his previous actions and stances. He blasts the current BoE for lack of financial stewardship, but enabled former Superintendent Bratten to remain in his position even after Bratten misappropriated funds during Jason’s term. His attachment to fairness and support for STA does not seem rooted in principle. One the one hand, he backed STA in their action against certain members of the board and emphasized “due process” for a teacher who made racist comments on social media. But in relation to the latter incident, he complained privately to community members that STA should spend less time “defending their racist members.” And as far as “due process” goes, he certainly did not extend that to a parent he recently attacked on his campaign page.
The hallmark of moderate leadership is demanding that actively oppressed groups play nice with their persecutors. All Jason has to offer in this political climate is to chide those being targeted to be nice and follow the rules. For a moderate, there’s no greater crime than making people feel bad — so if Jason really was a moderate, right-wingers would know better than to trust him. And yet they do. The people rallying behind Jason are the same people who called Mike Pence, Mike DeWine, and Mitch McConnell “RINOs” — but they’re throwing their support behind an “independent”?
Ultimately, at a time when the country is free-falling into fascism, we feel Jason cannot be trusted. Jason Whitacre has already shown us who he is: a leader more concerned with appearances than accountability, and with maintaining order over doing what’s right. Public education deserves better than a self-proclaimed “moderate” who won’t stand up when it matters most. We do not have confidence that he will rise above his excessive desire to maintain “fairness” and politeness and avoid divisiveness to do what is needed to protect public education.
To paraphrase Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail”: the white moderate, who is more devoted to “order” than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice, is ultimately a stumbling block in the stride toward freedom.
When public education is being undermined and underfunded at the federal and state level, do you really want a “civil moderate” standing as the last line of defense for public schools and our most vulnerable students?
JoAnne Loparo
You might recognize JoAnne from her presence in community groups on Facebook. She has frequently been vocal about her extremely questionable beliefs and opinions. JoAnne being elected to the BoE would be devastating for the community, especially for vulnerable and marginalized populations.
JoAnne is the parent of a student in the district…and that’s about where her experience ends. She is in no way qualified for a position on the Board of Education. She has misspelled the name of the school district she would be elected to represent on her campaign signs, along with a number of other mistakes on her general campaign material.
JoAnne has no campaign page and no campaign website. All the information on her campaign has been primarily shared on her personal Facebook page and in community groups on Facebook.
Beyond that, JoAnne has spouted homophobic, transphobic, xenophobic, and racist rhetoric for years. She is anti-vax, anti-mask, and even anti-seatbelt. Her Twitter and Facebook posts speak for themselves.
You may also recognize JoAnne from her picture in the Akron Beacon Journal, where she had to be escorted out of a School Board meeting for throwing a full blown tantrum over the appointment of Dr. Felisha Gould as SMF Superintendent. Look familiar?
JoAnne has also garnered the public approval of the President of Moms for Liberty Summit County, and the endorsement of the Summit County Republican Party.
Recently, STA announced their endorsed candidates for the SMF Board of Education race. Upon not receiving their endorsement, JoAnne sent this reply to the teacher’s union, with a thinly-veiled threat of retaliation should she be elected. See below for her unhinged and entitled response.
JoAnne lacks the knowledge, professionalism, and experience required for the Board of Education — and is an all-around hateful human being. Is this the kind of person you want steering your child’s education? What impact would JoAnne have on our students of color, LGBTQIA+ students, and any other student that doesn’t fit within her narrow world view?
JoAnne being elected to the Board of Education would put students, teachers, staff, and families that don’t align with her extreme beliefs in serious peril.
John Moyer
John Moyer is a former teacher in the SMF School District. He has also aligned himself as a nonpartisan independent with no political affiliation.
Throughout his campaign, John has focused on broad leadership strategies and personal values, but has refrained from diving deep into more specific issues and strategies to address them.
When asked directly about programs like LifeWise and the current RTRI policy, John has not expressed any discontent with the encroachment of religion on the public school day. He says he will focus on minimizing educational disruption while these programs continue to be implemented, but the bottom line is, it is unlikely he will fight to keep LifeWise and similar programs out of public schools.
While John has remained pretty broad in terms of specific goals and priorities during his campaign, he has chosen to highlight his religion (it’s right under “Meet John Moyer” on his campaign website). While we have no qualms with practicing any religion and sharing this openly, we do find it interesting that John chooses to focus on it in a time when extreme evangelical Christian ideas are on the rise and continue to permeate the public school environment. With harmful bills like House Bill 8 being pushed by the state legislature, we wonder where John stands on the separation of church and state. When it comes to the intersection of an agnostic public school environment and his personal religious beliefs, how will he make his decisions?
John has also refused to provide a clear answer on where he stands on things like DEI and gender identity. He frequently deflects these topics, even when asked directly, instead falling back on the broad leadership strategies he has promoted continuously throughout his campaign.
When it comes to many important issues, like public school funding, the privatization of public education, facilities planning, etc. we know very little in terms of specifics on where John stands. He has stated he is happy to reach across the aisle and to “set aside partisan differences.”
One thing we have noticed is the support he has garnered from local extremists like JoAnne Loparo and Mike Sheehan. To date, he has also not distanced his campaign from Jason Whitacre’s or JoAnne Loparo’s. John also received the endorsement of the Summit County Republican Party.
Again, with authoritarianism, fascism, and evangelical christian values on the rise, we feel it’s a risk to put stock in a moderate, “apolitical” representative who appears to have won over the support of the far right.