November News and Updates

Meet EEG’s Newest Team Members and Role Stars

We have big news from the EEG office! We are growing and elevating our team to new heights. We are proud to introduce the dynamic new faces joining our mission, and to recognize the long-term talent, stepping into challenging and well-deserved new positions. Help us give a huge round of applause to the following outstanding individuals, as we move full speed ahead!

Adam Rydarowicz – Accounting and Finance Intern

Alan Szymanski – Director of IT

Allison Glass – Director of Curriculum and Instruction, SC

Ashley Durst – Director of Compliance

Autumn Rydarowicz – Project Manager

Brandon Rafferty – Director of IT

Bridgette Owens – Director of State Reporting

Raymond Blasingim – Facilities Manager

Inside This Month’s STEAM Projects

We have turned up the volume on learning across our K-8 campuses. With the full implementation of STEAM, our students are more engaged and excited than ever before. This is not passive learning; it’s active exploration! Our teachers are expertly facilitating the process, as students dive into Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. Check out the awesome projects and discoveries in this month’s highlights.

First Graders Are Taking Off with STEAM!

The first graders at Bridge Gate Elementary School are officially becoming young scientists and innovators. This month, they have been busy keeping weekly data journals on their growing plants, demonstrating impressive observation skills and recording insights like professionals. Plus, you can check out the incredible results of their recent boat design challenge. Just scan the QR code to see their engineering in action.

“STEAM has helped my first- grade class become more excited about math and language arts. I love that they can connect what they learn to the real-world, problem-solving and exploration!”

Ms. Felder, First Grade Teacher

Middle Schoolers Master Money and Storytelling

At Empowered by the Arts Academy, our students are not just reading, they are dreaming up their futures. Our middle schoolers are deep into the “Real Money, Real World” curriculum, but teachers brought the learning full circle with a fantastic creative challenge. To connect their financial knowledge to English language arts, students chose an intriguing occupation and penned a lively short story detailing “A Day in the Life of!”

STEAM teacher, Ms. Jameela Wilson, found the perfect platform to publish these budding authors: the StoryJumper app via Clever. We are thrilled to announce that three exceptional books written by our 8th graders have been selected as the top submissions. Get ready to dive into the imagination and professional insights of our future workforce. Click here to view one of published books from a student. What a great way to apply and synthesize learning!

7th Graders Drop Their New Album Art

Talk about a creative process! Beacon Academy’s 7th graders have been hard at work, moving from digital inspiration to stunning mixed-media masterpieces for their latest art project.

The journey started on their iPads, where students flexed their digital design muscles by curating vibrant mood boards to fuel their ideas for a personalized album cover.

Next, they took those tech-inspired concepts and brought them to life.

Using a dynamic range of mixed media materials of their choice, students designed and produced their own unique album covers. Check out the photos to see the whole process, from the initial spark on the screen to the impressive final artwork. Can you picture the sheer excitement, as our students watched their lessons powerfully come to life?

Making Education Relevant 

We believe the best way to learn is by doing. Our high schools are committed to providing dynamic, relevant, hands-on experiences through our robust Career Technical Education programs. We are consistently engaging students by connecting classroom concepts directly to real-world careers and industries. This approach allows students to build essential skills, explore potential paths and see the purpose behind every lesson. This is learning that sticks, makes sense and inspires their future. Check out the exciting projects and accomplishments from this month’s featured schools.

Culinary Arts Students Are Cooking Up Success!

It’s a delicious season at Akron Career Tech High School. Our Culinary Arts students are hard at work, transforming seasonal ingredients into beautiful harvest dishes while gaining invaluable skills.



This is not your typical class. It is a high-impact training ground. By integrating career exploration into every step, we ensure the learning is relevant and meaningful. These students are getting practical, real-world training that puts them on the fast track to a successful career immediately after high school. Join us in celebrating our students’ incredible dedication.

Building Futures and Community

Our Ohio Construction Academy students are getting hands-on experience where it matters most: right in our community!

In a truly priceless opportunity this month, our students collaborated with Habitat for Humanity, applying their classroom knowledge to help build homes for local families. This real-world job site gave them essential training in everything from framing and roofing to teamwork and project management.



This kind of practical experience is the ultimate form of career exploration, giving our students unforgettable moments while demonstrating the profound impact a career in construction can have. We are incredibly proud of their dedication to both their studies and their community.

“My son Josiah is out with his school working with Habitat for Humanity. Thanks to Ohio Construction Academy for giving him this opportunity.”

Tylene White, Parent and EEG Marketing Quadrant Leader

Virtual Reality Ignites Learning at The Steel Academy

Get ready for an educational revolution! Students at The Steel Academy are diving headfirst into learning with cutting-edge Virtual Reality (VR) sets.

This is high-impact, hands-on instruction in a whole new dimension. Imagine students exploring the complex structure of a human heart in 3D, walking through the Roman Colosseum without leaving the classroom or mastering welding techniques in a risk-free digital environment.

We are giving our 9th graders the ultimate tool for choosing their future. Through Virtual Reality, we are delivering Career-Based Intervention that shatters traditional classroom barriers. Using this advanced technology, students can instantly step into different fields, getting true hands-on experience that grounds complex subjects in unforgettable, real-world scenarios. 

By giving students the power to explore various career paths immersively, we are making learning relevant and equipping them to make informed decisions about their future. The era of powerful, personalized learning is officially here.

Wellness Focus for Fall

Heads up! Daylight Saving Time is here, and while that extra hour of sleep sounds great, the shift can throw your body off for days or even weeks. We know your well-being matters, so don’t miss our helpful tips on adjusting smoothly and avoiding that “time change drag.”

Prioritize Your Health: Essential Updates & Actions

This time of year, proactive health is key. Be sure to read the enclosed “Wellness in the News” flyer for two crucial updates:

1. Find the CDC’s latest vaccine recommendations to protect yourself and your family.
2.  The flyer also details powerful ways you can limit the risk of heart disease, including:

• Controlling high blood pressure.
• Moving to a healthy diet.
• Improving physical exercise.
• Decreasing weight if your BMI is high.

Nourish Body and Mind

We believe a healthy lifestyle must support both your physical and mental well-being.

• Mindful Eating: Choose diets that support your overall health! Evidence suggests severely caloric-restricted diets can contribute to depression, so focus on sustainable nutrition. Our Recipe of the Month—a hearty Pork Stew over Brown Rice in the crock pot—is the perfect delicious and balanced meal.
• The Power of Gratitude: It’s easy to get swept up in stress and negativity. We’ve included simple, effective ways to practice gratitude and positive thinking. Every small step you take can lead to a more positive and fulfilling life.

Beat the “Tech Neck” Trap!

Spending too much time hunched over screens can lead to painful “Tech Neck.” Fight back and protect your posture with these easy adjustments:

• Improve your ergonomics.
• Follow the 20-20-20 rule (look away every 20 minutes for 20 seconds at something 20 feet away).
• Strengthen and stretch your neck and shoulders.
• Mind your phone habits (bring the screen up to eye level).

Read more helpful tips by clicking the tabs below: