Titan Talk

As 2025 comes to a close, we reflect on a year that spanned endings, beginnings, celebrations, loss and resilience. We closed one school year with pride, spent the summer preparing our buildings and our people for the return of our Titans and launched into a new school year with purpose. Month after month, the progress was clear.

Let's look back together on the points of pride and togetherness that marked 2025.

Our students continued to shine on every stage. From Lorain City Schools being named a Best Community for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation to our middle school robotics teams qualifying for the State Championships this coming March, our Titans demonstrated excellence in academics, arts and innovation. Our culinary arts students returned to competition for the first time in years, earning second place and the People's Choice Award at the Ohio ProStart Competition, while our bands from Longfellow and Southview earned “Excellent” ratings at OMEA's Large Group Adjudication. We hosted our first-ever Discover the Arts Fine Arts Festival, giving visual, dramatic and dance artists the spotlight they deserve.

Individual acts of courage and leadership defined the year. Alexis Simon performed the Heimlich maneuver to save a student, earning the district's Caught Being Great honor. Jacob Juchnik received a mayoral proclamation for the lifesaving measures the teen took after a schoolmate had a seizure in June. Tamara Jones was named OASSA Zone 5 Assistant Principal of the Year. Two band directors, Angelo Kortyka and Shelli Boes, were selected to march in the 2026 Rose Parade. And our Assistant Superintendent, Michael Scott, drew national attention from the Cleveland Browns and the Stay in the Game! Attendance Network and will represent Lorain City Schools at Super Bowl LX.

Our community wrapped its arms around our students and staff. With the help of countless partners and volunteers, we distributed more than 400 Thanksgiving turkeys, opened a new staff wellness room at Lorain High, and expanded Titan Grounds through a partnership with BIGGBY Coffee. We set a world record with Walls of Love founder and LHS alumna Holly Jackson, collecting over 10,000 pairs of socks for those in need. Eight schools received Laura Bush Foundation library grants to purchase new books for our school libraries.

This year also carried profound loss. We said goodbye to teachers Scott Roule and Sandra Peloquin, student Isaac Brocco Rivera, and Lorain Police Officer Phillip C. Wagner. In those moments of sorrow, our Titan family showed what community truly means by supporting one another with compassion, strength and love. They remain forever part of our story.

Voters renewed Issues 21 and 22, affirming their belief in Lorain City Schools and in the future of our children. We celebrated the Class of 2025, including summer graduates whose persistence carried them across the stage. We welcomed more than 900 new students and more than 140 new employees.

Through every challenge and every triumph, one truth remains: Our strength is our people. So as we close out 2025, we want to thank our Titan families, staff, students and community partners for the care, commitment and heart you bring to Lorain City Schools. The work we do is only possible because of the people who show up for our children every day.

Thank you for making all of 2025 — from January to December — a year to remember.

As we turn the page to a new year, Lorain City Schools remains focused on creating more opportunities for every student to succeed. That includes expanding learning pathways and strengthening the supports that help students stay on track toward graduation.

Beginning January 20, the district will launch Titan Virtual, an online learning option designed for students who need support as they work toward earning their diplomas. This program offers additional flexibility while maintaining the academic expectations and support our students deserve.

Families of eligible students will receive more information directly, and additional details will be shared in the weeks ahead. More to come.

Lorain City Schools will welcome two new members to the Board of Education in January: Diamaris Rosario and Mark Ballard II.

Both bring meaningful experience working with young people and families, as well as a strong commitment to public education and to the Lorain community. We look forward to their leadership, collaboration and service as we continue working together to support our students, staff and families.

January 5 | Grades K-12 return from winter break. Step Up to Quality Day for preschool. No school for preschool students.

January 6 | Preschool students return.

January 15 | End of the second grading period.

January 16 | Professional Development and Records Day. No school for students.

January 19 | Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. No school for students and staff.

January 26 | Lorain Board of Education Meeting at 5 p.m. in LCS Board Room.

January 31| Titans VEX Robotics Tournament

February 9 | Conference Waiver Day. No school for students.

February 16 | Presidents' Day. No school for students and staff.

March 20 | End of the third grading period.

March 30 to April 3 | Spring Break. No school for students.

May 5 | Professional Development Day. No school for students.

May 25 | Memorial Day. No school for students and staff

May 26 | Lorain High School Graduation at George Daniel Field.

May 28 | Last day for students. End of the fourth grading period.