New Teachers, Administrators Welcomed To Perkins Schools

The Perkins Local Schools community welcomes several new teachers and administrators, who have been hired by the Board of Education and will begin their tenures in the 2024-2025 school year. On Tuesday, August 6, staff members attended orientation and toured the school district.

The new staff includes Dr. Lonny Rivera, the district’s new superintendent, who officially took the position on August 1. Dr. Rivera has been with the district as the deputy superintendent since April. 

Dr. Rivera previously served as Director of Innovation for North Point Education Service Center in Sandusky, and started his career as a special education teacher for Toledo Public Schools, was a principal for Maumee City Schools and Oregon City Schools, Superintendent of Oregon City Schools, and interim Superintendent of Public Instruction for the state of Ohio.

Dwayne Arnold will divide his time as assistant principal at Furry Elementary and Meadowlawn Intermediate Schools. Mr. Arnold comes to Perkins Schools from North Point Educational Service Center, where he was the Director of Emotional Disabilities Programs and previously had been a principal for Fremont City Schools and assistant principal for Put-In-Bay Schools.

Among the district’s new teachers are Paige Orshoski and Brianna Sokol, who will be at Meadowlawn. Mrs. Orshoski, a 4th-grade teacher for Sandusky City Schools since 2018, will teach Grade 4 English Language Arts. Mrs. Sokol, who has been a tutor for Sheffield City Schools since 2023 and a 3rd-grade teacher at Horizon Science Academy in Lorain since 2021, will teach Grade 3. 

At Briar Middle School, Brandon Roberts will teach math. Mr. Roberts comes to Perkins Schools after teaching French for 17 years at Clay High School in Oregon. Also new to Briar will be Noah Rish, who will teach instrumental music. Mr. Rish, who also will serve as the assistant PHS Band director, comes to Perkins Schools as a Bowling Green State University 2022 graduate, private music instructor, and substitute music teacher.

Also new at the high school this school year is Ginger Velliquette. Miss Velliquette has taught Spanish at Oak Harbor High School since 2014.  

Meanwhile, Tricia Rosekelly will be the new counselor at the high school. Ms. Rosekelly had previously been a counselor at the Kelleys Island School District and Huron City Schools.