About Us
We are your local resource for continued education support in Ashtabula County.
ACCESS is a 501(c)(3) organization that was established in 1999 and began serving students in the 2000-2001 school year. In 2005, ACCESS was part of a federal GEAR UP grant in which Ashtabula County was one of eight sites across Ohio that came together for one state grant program. This grant provided direct student services in the areas of higher education, career early awareness and preparation for high school and middle school students in the Conneaut School District, which later expanded to other school districts in the county.
Lessons were developed that aligned with the goals of GEAR UP and also met the standards of each grade level and subject area. The ACCESS/GEAR UP Advisors presented the lessons and workshops to students and parents. Since establishing a productive program, ACCESS has expanded services and successfully provided one-on-one student sessions to more than 100,000 middle and high school students in Ashtabula County since 2000.
Our Mission
The Mission of ACCESS is to present Ashtabula County students with the information, strategies and resources that are essential for progression through an educational pathway that leads to a career.
Our team strives to meet our mission by integrating into the students day to day education. We have ACCESS advisors placed in each of the Ashtabula County public high schools; each student is guaranteed a meeting with their school's advisor. By maintaining a regular presence in the schools our advisors are able to provide a secondary source for career guidance focused exclusively on developing individuals plans for after graduation.
Executive Director
Emily Dobran, Ph.D.
Program Coordinator
Andrea Sullivan, M.Ed.
ACCESS Advisors
Richard Slusher
ATECH Advisor
Erin Smolinski
Grand Valley High School Advisor
Jeremy Stiles
Jefferson High School Advisor
Erin Smolinski
Pymatuning Valley High School Advisor
Glenda Betteridge
Edgewood High School Advisor
Andrea Sullivan
Geneva High School Advisor
Janet Gerdes
Conneaut High School Advisor
Andrea Sullivan
Lakeside High School Advisor
Board of Directors
Kaitie Park, President
Prevention Coordinator
Ashtabula County MHRS Board
Irene Skleres, Vice President
Senior Advisor/Career Advisor/College Credit Plus Advisor
Kent State University Ashtabula
Amanda Friday, Secretary
Youth Services Coordinator
Conneaut Public Library
David Thomas, Treasurer
Ashtabula County Auditor
Ashtabula County Auditor's Office
Paul Brockett
Principal
Ashtabula County Technical & Career Campus
Ed Brashear
Plant Manager
Gabriel Chemical, INC
Mike Candela
Ashtabula County Educational Service Center Superintendent
Richard Jackson
EVP Operations
ASHTA Chemicals, INC
Kellie McGinnis
Registered Nurse
University Hospitals of Cleveland
Tim Neal, Ed.D.
Principal
Conneaut High School