Comet Connections

Welcome back to another episode of Comet Connections, where we celebrate the people, programs, and passions that make Coventry Local Schools such a special place to learn and grow. Today’s conversation takes us into the heart of elementary STEM, and honestly, into the heart of what it means to go above and beyond for kids. We’re thrilled to be joined by two individuals whose fingerprints are all over the success of our district’s passion for STEM Learning — elementary STEM teacher Mrs. Chris Lorence and behavior specialist Mr. Mike Staiger.Chris has been a proud Comet since 1993, and Mike joined our team in 2005. Between the two of them, they’ve worn just about every hat imaginable — from elementary to middle school, from classrooms to coaching fields, and from clubs to leadership roles that extend far beyond the school day. What truly sets them apart, though, is their shared belief in creating meaningful, hands-on opportunities for students. Together, they have elevated our elementary STEM program through the creation of a Maker’s Space and the Green Thumb Club, giving students ownership over real-world learning experiences like hydroponics, cultivation, and food production. These aren’t just activities — they are experiences that build responsibility, curiosity, and confidence in our kids.What often goes unseen is the time and commitment behind this work. Chris and Mike come in early, stay late, and pour countless hours into making sure students have access to opportunities that spark interest and open doors for the future. They are helping set the tone for Coventry’s strong emphasis on STEM learning, paving a road to success that will benefit our students for years to come. The impact of what they’ve built is immeasurable, and the example they set — of passion, collaboration, and selflessness — is one our entire district is proud to follow.We are incredibly lucky to have educators like Chris Lorence and Mike Staiger on our team, and even luckier that our students get to learn from them every day. So kick back, relax, and enjoy this episode of Comet Connections as we dive into a conversation with two Comets who are shaping the future of Coventry in powerful and lasting ways.

Welcome back to another episode of Comet Connections, where we shine a light on the incredible people who make Coventry Local Schools such a special place. Today, we’re heading down to the heart of our elementary classrooms to talk with two of our brightest young educators — first grade teacher Paige Zielinski and third grade teacher Kylie Bowser.Both Paige and Kylie joined the Comet family less than two years ago, fresh out of the University of Akron, and from the very first day, they brought an energy that you could feel throughout the building. Their positivity is contagious, their care for kids is genuine, and the love they pour into their classrooms every single day has made a lasting impact on our students and families. Whether it’s watching Paige spark creativity through some incredibly unique lessons, or seeing Kylie’s passion come to life when she’s reading stories to her classroom — it’s clear that both of them live with the same joy and curiosity they inspire in their students.We often say Coventry is a family, and educators like Paige and Kylie remind us exactly why. Their warmth, their enthusiasm, and their dedication to our kids represent the very best of what it means to be a Comet.Beyond the walls of Coventry, we are not just dealing with two amazing teachers but two amazing people. Their rock solid beliefs and integrity make them wonderful role models to our kids. When they are not teaching, you can find Paige enjoying creating crafts or traveling and Kylie would be riding a bike, shopping or reading!Again, I will reiterate how very lucky I feel to have met these two young ladies as they were finishing up their schooling at the University of Akron and play a small role in recruiting them to Coventry. There is no doubt in my mind when you hear them talk you will understand why it is virtually impossible for our students to have a bad day when they are surrounded by the warmth and compassion that these two offer every day they come to work… We want to express our sincerest thanks to Paige and Kylie for what they are doing day in and day out to shape the future of Coventry into the masterpiece that they are. We are excited to talk with them today but more importantly just lucky to have them on our team every day… so kick back, relax and enjoy the newest episode as we dive into today’s conversation with two of Coventry’s rising stars — Paige Zielinski and Kylie Bowser!

Hello everyone and welcome back to our first episode of our new Season 3 of Comet Connections. In this episode we are super excited to have a conversation, and welcome back an alumni, with our new Middle School Assistant Principal Talia Pavlich. We cannot wait for all of you to have the opportunity to hear from this amazing educator. Last year, Talia was teaching English and Language Arts in the Green Local School District. I can say first hand what an incredible impact she has made in just the short time she has been here and cannot wait for her to share some of her background, insight and knowledge with all of our listeners.There have been a lot of signs since adding Talia to our Coventry team that we have found a perfect fit for Coventry Middle School. I have witnessed first hand the energy, passion and commitment that she brings to our school and district on a daily basis. I cannot wait for you to hear some stories and background directly from her summarizing how she is going to impact the day to day education and lives of our student body.We all know that the Middle School years can be very challenging on students as they grow, change and mature… with that, we need teachers, educators and administrators that are continually looking out for and being champions for our kids. I can with all certainty and every ounce of me guarantee you that that is exactly what we have in Mrs. Pavlich and again why Coventry is such a great place to live and learn.  Once again, as a Coventry alumni, who is married to another Comet alumni, we know that we have a very special addition this year in the Pavlich family and TOGETHER there is going to be some very exciting things happening at  Coventry Middle School for all of our Comets! Again, I will reiterate how very lucky we were to have the opportunity to hire this lady into our school and district. Through our conversation today, it will be evident to all of you the unbelievable care and compassion that will be shared with our middle school students throughout the course of their school year… We want to express our immense gratitude to Talia for what she is doing day in and day out at CMS but also to let you all know that the best is yet to come. We are excited to talk with her today but more importantly just lucky to have her on our team every day… so kick back, relax and enjoy the first episode of our 3rd season with Middle School Assistant Principal Talia Pavlich.

Hey everyone and welcome back for the next episode in Season 2 of Comet Connections. In this episode we are going to really take you on a trip down memory lane… but yet focus on how that will propel us into some exciting conversations about the future as well. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to chat today with current Middle School, and FUTURE High School principal Tina Norris.. It is hard to put into words the incredible impact she has had on Coventry, from the Middle School and beyond in her 30 years of service.Mrs. Norris has spent the majority of her time in Coventry at the Middle School with 20 years as their building principal. As she and I actually taught and coached together many years ago, I have witnessed first hand the commitment, empathy and passion she offers to our students and schools every day. I am excited for her to have the opportunity today to talk about her time and memories at CMS while preparing a vision for Coventry High School over the next couple years.As we dive into this next episode, we can’t express enough that Tina is someone who has been a cornerstone of our district for more than two decades. Tina is truly a dedicated school leader. She has led with an unwavering commitment to student success, and school improvement. Now, as she prepares to take on a new role as the High School Principal next year, we sit down with her to reflect on her journey, the impact she’s had, and what’s ahead for Coventry High School.In this episode, we’ll talk about Tina’s experiences leading the middle school, the challenges and triumphs she’s faced, and what excites her most about this next chapter. She has been a driving force behind so many of the initiatives that make Coventry Middle School a great place for students, and we know her leadership will continue to shape our high school in meaningful ways. So, whether you’re a student, parent, staff member, or community supporter, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss, now kick back, relax and turn up the volume for our news episode of Comet Connections!

For our current episode we are going to be joined by High School Health/PE Teacher and Varsity Coach Gary Kanaga. Gary is an amazing story here in Coventry and I could not be more excited to have him on today to share with us some of his background and what he brings to the table for our young Comets as far as experience and knowledge. Gary has been coaching in the district for a couple years but this is his first full year as a teacher, but definitely not his first year of teaching by far… that is part of his unique story that I’ll let him share with you. However, I can tell you that on a personal level, every time I have the opportunity to meet, talk or just be in the same room with this man, I get excited for our kids – whether they be his students, wrestlers or football players…. These young men and women are learning life skills that are going to benefit them for years to come and well beyond the walls of the classroom, football field or wrestling mat. Gary is the perfect fit to bring tradition back to the blue and gold and when you hear him talk today there is not a doubt that his passion, energy and foundational beliefs will resonate with you. I know we will all walk away excited about the future of Coventry. Now sit back, relax and turn of the volume for our talk with Coach Gary Kanaga!

Hello everyone and welcome back to our newest episode for Season 2 of Comet Connections. In this episode we are going to circle back to some of the ‘new’ things taking place at Coventry Elemetary, as we take the time to sit down with one of their new staff members for this school year. We are super excited to have the opportunity to chat today with 3rd grade teacher Autumn Gibson. Autumn came to us through Ravenna where she went to school and taught for 5 years before joining the Coventry team this year at CES. I can say first hand what an incredible impact she has made in just the short time she has been here and cannot wait for her to share some of the things she has learned about and brought to Coventry this year.. There is not a doubt in my mind that through our conversation today with Autumn that all of our listeners will realize what an amazing addition we made to our Coventry family this year with all of our new teachers we hired but specifically with Mrs. Gibson. I have witnessed first hand the compassion, energy and love that she pours into her students, class and our school on a daily basis. I cannot wait for you to hear some of the fantastic things that she brings to the table for our youngest Comets to learn and enjoy. . As you listen to us talking today, I really want to encourage all of you to go back to your 3rd grade self and really think about how incredibly blessed you would be to have this lady as your teacher… from there, you will certainly realize how very lucky our district is to have teachers like this caring for our students and again why Coventry is such a great place to live and learn.  To make that more meaningful and important, Autumn is not only a teacher but a parent as her daughter started Kindergarten here at CES this year. I’m excited that they have this opportunity to share TOGETHER in the exciting and amazing things happening here at CES as Coventry Comets!  Again, it is very hard to put into words how lucky we, our students especially, are to have this lady teaching and working with us here in Coventry. Through our time, I know you will walk away today with such a warm and positive feeling regarding the education, passion and love our students are receiving… We cannot express enough gratitude to Autumn for what she is doing in her short time with us. We are excited to talk with her today but more importantly just lucky to have her on our team every day… so kick back, relax and enjoy the next episode of our show with 3rd grade teaching super star Autumn Gibson.

Hello everyone and welcome back to our second episode for Season 2 of Comet Connections – As we continue to bring you some amazing Comet Connections that exist within our district, I must say that I am extremely excited about this coming episode. We are thrilled today to sit down and talk with two of our very own lifelong Comets. Both of these ladies not only went to Coventry Schools as students but raised families in the district and are now longtime teachers at Coventry Middle School. Today we welcome Debbie Gotto and Amy Ragland to the show. Amy has been teaching with us for 31 years and Debbie is in her 26th year. Through various capacities, Amy and Debbie have made countless contributions to this district, community and thousands of students. I have been honored to work alongside both of these ladies over the years, in a variety of capacities, and I can tell you that it is difficult to put into words how much they mean to our students and schools. These ladies are enthusiastic, energetic and passionate on a daily basis. On good days and bad, they put on a positive and reassuring smile to make our kids feel warm and welcomed. I know during our conversation throughout this episode you will hear some fun stories to remind us all why Coventry is such a great place to live and learn.  As you do, please remember that it is people like these two that are working so hard behind the scenes to provide for our students. I’m excited that they have this opportunity to share out about what it is that has kept them as lifelong Comets!  Again, I assure you that our kids are lucky and blessed to have classroom teachers like Amy and Debbie. While you listen to them share some stories today, you will see why our students love to learn from them. Comet Connections is not just a title to them but a way of life… We cannot express enough gratitude to them for all they do. We are excited to talk with them today but also lucky to have them on our team every day… so kick back, relax and enjoy the next episode of our show with 6th grade teachers Mrs. Ragland and Mrs. Gotto.

Hello everyone and welcome back to another season and episode of Comet Connections – As we dive into our next season, we thought it would be an exciting way to come back in a conversation with our Elementary Principal Mr. Savage. Danny has been a Coventry Comet for 15 years and has filled a variety of roles in that time. He is starting his 2nd full year as the Elementary Principal after taking over for Mr. Bryan in 2023. Through a variety of roles, Danny has had a vast impact on a lot of Comets during his time in the district. Whether that be his time as a Science teacher, coach of various sports, Athletic Director or Principal… this man has motivated and molded a lot of lives. I’ve had the privilege to work alongside Danny in several capacities over the years and I can tell you that there are not words to say how caring, dedicated and devoted this man is to our students, athletes and schools. I know during our conversation throughout this episode you will hear some incredible things that are happening within the walls of Coventry Elementary. As you do, please know that those things are due to the imagination and innovation of Mr. Savage’s leadership. I’m excited that he has this opportunity to share out and brag a little bit about the wonderful happenings  going on within his building.  I know when you listen to this episode you’ll agree that our Coventry kids and families are blessed to have a leader like Mr. Savage on our team. Nobody embraces “Comet Connections”  more than this man. He is working hard to pave the way for an incredible educational journey for our youngest Comets!… so kick back, relax and enjoy the first episode of our new season with Principal Danny Savage..

Hi everyone! For our next episode, we are going to take you on a trip down memory lane in Coventry… as we prepare to sit down with two lifetime Comets, Kindergarten teacher Lori Hall and 3rd grade teacher Lori Mitchell… as these 2 amazing teachers will be retiring together at the end of this year and riding into the sunset together after incredibly amazing careers in Coventry that spanned their entire lives – as they’re both also Coventry graduates and alumni. Both of these ladies have taught and served in a variety of buildings throughout their tenure in Coventry and combined for an inspiring ‘almost’ 70 years of teaching. Mrs. Mitchell and Mrs. Hall truly define what a teacher is supposed to be… patient, loving, empathetic, creative and passionate till the end of their careers. There are well over a thousand children and lives that have been touched and enriched because of these ladies. I have been blessed to have worked with both in a variety of buildings going back to Lakeview, Turkeyfoot, Erwine and now Coventry Elementary. I’m beyond excited to sit down with these two today and allow them to share just a little bit of their stories of Coventry going back over 50 years as students, teachers and community members in our incredible district. There is not a doubt in my mind that after listening to this episode you will all agree that Coventry is blessed to have these amazing ladies, and many teachers just like them, working with our kids, and we will dearly miss them next year. I know your about to smile, laugh and maybe be brought to tears by their stories… so kick back, relax and enjoy the next half hour with Mrs. Hall and Mrs. Mitchell.

Good morning everybody! On this episode, we are super excited to share with you some information about a position in the Coventry Local Schools that often flies under the radar but is an incredible asset to our parents and families of students with special needs. This position is our ‘Parent Mentor’. This job is currently filled by the amazing Tiffany Wearstler in her second year in that capacity. Among many things, her position is working to provide information about special education laws, policies and procedures to our district personnel but most importantly to parents. She works tirelessly to improve and increase parent and professional partnerships and relationships. Tiffany is a Mom of 3, two of which go to Coventry Middle School. She has begun to develop some incredible relationships with the special education families within Coventry, while establishing a lasting impact on so many people that she helps on a personal and professional level. I’ve had the privilege to work with Tiffany over the past 2 years as a colleague and a parent and there are not words to describe the passion that she brings to our district each and every day. Coventry has provided the parent mentor program for over 20 years now, and the position has been filled by 4 different and wonderful people over that time. It is incredible to think about the amount of families we have helped through those years, and heartwarming to see the ways in which Tiffany connects and builds bridges for so many of our families to make their lives a little easier. I know after our conversation today regarding the parent-mentor program, you will all better understand and agree that Coventry truly goes above and beyond to help our families, students and community. This is one more example of how our Coventry connections make this a great place… so kick back, relax and enjoy the next 15 minutes with Ms. Wearstler. Tiffany Wearstler - [email protected] (330) 644-0699 ext. 626021

Hello Coventry! On our next episode of Comet Connections, we are going to take some time to dive into what is being done at Coventry to help ensure our students are the most marketable and employable when they leave the walls of the High School. This will focus in our our Career Based Interventions class that has grown and improved significantly over the last several years. To do this we will be chatting with our CBI instructor and a longtime friend of mine Mr. Ed Egan. Ed has been teaching and coaching in the Coventry School system his entire career of 25 years now. It has been exciting to be able to watch him build the CBI program from the ground up and I can’t wait for him to share some of the ins and outs of how he has done that with all of you. Ed has a drive to help each and every student and athlete that walks the halls of Coventry. There is no one that he will not go out of his way to advocate for and push to work to their potential. I’m excited for him to join us today on Comet Connections to share his thoughts and ideas on how we drive all students to enroll, enlist or be employed when they graduate. I know when we are finished today, you will be excited about the possibilities that our students are presented on a daily basis to maximize their opportunities… so kick back, relax and enjoy the next 15 minutes with Coach Egan. Coach Egan contact information: [email protected] (330) 644-3004 ext. 624311 Instagram: @coachegan Twitter/X: @8Egan

For our next episode, we are so excited to sit down with our very own Devon McAfee – Coach Dev, and talk school, sports and community. Coach Dev has been a staple in the schools and community for over 10 years now. He is a stabling influence in the lives of many of our students, athletes and families. It is a blessing to us to have someone like him that gives and cares on a continual basis to improve the situations we are faced with on a daily basis. Not only has Coach Dev worked in the Coventry School system since 2014, but he has also resided in the district for 7 years and raised his family here. Dev has forged life-long partnerships, relationships and friendships within Coventry that extend well beyond the walls of the school, gym and field and bring meaningful bonds to our families. I’ve had the privilege to work alongside Dev in several capacities over the years and I can tell you that there is no one that is a bigger advocate for our Comet students than this man. Coach Dev and the basketball team are mid-season right now and we appreciate him taking the time out of his busy schedule to sit down and talk to us for a while. The team is off to a great 7-4 start and have a big league game tonight against Streetsboro. I’m hopeful that a lot of you will be able to get out, either tonight or soon, to watch out team play – as I know you’ll see a group of student-athletes that represent our school with class and pride. I know when you listen to this episode you’ll agree that our Coventry kids and families are blessed to have a mentor like Dev in their corner. Nobody embodies “Comet Connections” more than this man. He works tirelessly to afford and provide countless opportunities to our young men and women… so kick back, relax and enjoy our newest episode with Coach Dev.

Good day everyone! For our newest episode, we are pumped to talk to you about a new position and program that was started in Coventry this year, called our Behavior Health and Wellness Coordinator . This position was filled internally by our very own Shari Brustoski, better known as Mrs. Bru. Among many things, her position is working to provide consultation services to students and families in the district, along with implementing psychosocial assessments, planning interventions and supervising behavior coaches in the district – a position that she expertly held for years. Mrs. Bru has worked in the Coventry School system for 23 years now, almost all of those as a focus behavior coordinator. Shari has formed meaningful and lasting relationships with countless students and families over those years and will now parlay those connections into her new role. I’ve had the privilege to work alongside Shari in several buildings over the years and I cannot speak highly enough about the heart, care and compassion that she brings to the table on a daily basis. Coventry was lucky enough to be selected to participate in a 2 year pilot program in cooperation with the Summit County Educational Service Center and the Peg’s Foundation, allowing us to rollout this new position. The grant was for over $60,000 meaning that this incredibly valuable role to our Coventry families is cost free to the school district. There were only 2 districts in the entire county, us and Tallmadge that were awarded the opportunity to participate in this for the next 2 years. I know after you hear Shari talk today about this program, you’ll all understand and agree that the services being provided are building, enhancing and solidifying the incredible relationships and opportunities afforded here in Coventry… so kick back, relax and enjoy the next 15 minutes with Mrs. Bru. Shari Brustoski contact information - email: [email protected] phone: (330) 644-8469 ext. 621109

Hey everyone! In our coming episode, we are excited to really dive into our Comet Connections, as we welcome a guest who has played multiple roles and worn many a hats during her time in Coventry. We are always elated to share out and highlight so many of the meaningful relationships in place within the Coventry Schools. These relationships open doors and create endless opportunities for our young students, Elementary through High School. To highlight some of these relationships, we will be joined by Elementary Art teacher Sarah Wulff. Sarah has been in the Coventry School system as a teacher for the past 16 years. Sarah had experience elsewhere before joining us here in Coventry and since she has been with us, she has masterfully filled many different roles. I have been privileged to work closely with Sarah in several of her positions while at Coventry, and I can tell you that there is no one with a bigger heart for kids that this lady. She cares deeply about each and every student in her class and in our school – whether they are little ones in the Elementary or bigger kids at our High School. Mrs. Wulff knows each and every one of them by name and cares about them personally. She defines someone that is a champion for kids and we are privileged to have her on our team. Whether she is handing out fist bumps or hugs, kids know that Mrs. Wulff cares about them. I know when we are finished today, you will be excited about the connections that are being made in the schools and community of Coventry thanks to Sarah… so kick back, relax and enjoy the next 15 minutes with Mrs. Wulff.

Hello Comet Fans! In our third episode, we will be shifting gears from our last episode focusing on Reading to talking Science and STEM this time. We wanted to be able to share with all of you some of the incredible things happening in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math here in the Coventry Schools. The opportunities for our students in these areas has magnified tremendously in the last couple of years. To do this we will be meeting with Middle School Science teacher and STEM enthusiast Adam Shoemaker. Adam has been in the Coventry School system his whole life as an alumni and now a teacher of 22 years at CMS. This man has one of the most creative minds and puts it to great use, working overtime to provide innovative opportunities for our students to hone their critical thinking skills and better prepare them for future success. I have been blessed to work with him as a fellow teacher, coach and more importantly a friend. I’m excited for him to join us today on Comet Connections to share his thoughts and ideas that make our Science and STEM opportunities so engaging. I know when we are finished today, you will be excited about the opportunities that our students are presented on a daily basis in their Science classes… so kick back, relax and enjoy the next 15 minutes with Mr. Shoey.

Hello everybody! For our second episode, we will be piggybacking something that Mr. Fisk mentioned in episode one as he referenced our new Elementary Reading Series that was adopted for Grades Kindergarten through 5th. We wanted to take some time to dive a little deeper into what this series is bringing to our young emerging readers in Coventry and how this will reap rewards down the road in their educational journey. To do this we will be meeting with 1st grade teachers Missy Carr and Jen Elgin. Missy has been with Coventry for 32 years and Jen has been with us for 22 years, both in a variety of grade levels across our Elementary Buildings. They are both incredibly caring, compassionate and dedicated teachers, educators and people. I have been blessed to have worked with both in a variety of buildings going back to Lakeview, Turkeyfoot, Erwine and now Coventry Elementary. I’m excited for them to join us today to share their thoughts and opinions on our new Reading series Core Knowledge Language Arts, called CKLA, from Amplify. I know when we are finished today, you will be excited about the opportunities that CKLA is providing our young students and their teachers… so kick back, relax and enjoy the next 15 minutes with Mrs. Carr and Mrs. Elgin.

As we begin our journey into the world of Podcasting at Coventry Schools. This is an introduction into what residents and stakeholders can expect to hear, learn and take away from our episodes. We will also have a short interview with Superintendent George Fisk previewing some exciting things to look forward to in Coventry this year.