Linda Valentino

Hi! I’m Linda (Kornowski) Valentino, candidate for Berkshire Board of Education. I am a graduate of Berkshire High School, having attended school in the district K-12. My husband of 20 years, Mike, son, Noah (16 year old Berkshire junior) and I reside in Claridon in a blended generation home with my parents.

Within my church, I am currently serving in my third year as treasurer and have 10+ years served on our Preschool Board of Education. I have also held the positions of President and Secretary of the Women’s Guild You could say I have a passion for service; I lend a hand volunteering with the Burton-Middlefield Rotary at the Maple Splash Raffle Festival, Jeep Rally and various other community service projects they sponsor. I also support the Geauga County 4-H animal auction at the Geauga County Fair.

This year began my 18th year of my Career with New York Life Insurance Company, where I am currently assisting the Client Communications Department. The bulk of my time is spent managing and solving issues that arise with correspondence that gets mailed to our clients. It requires a great deal of research, investigation and problem solving. Early in 2024 I will begin work on a large scale, multi-year project of developing a new administration system for the company. It is an honor to have been selected to work on this project with 5 of my colleagues who each are subject matter experts in the areas we represent.

Running for the Berkshire Board of Education was not an easy decision, however, I see a great opportunity to be of service and give back to the Berkshire community. My focus when elected to the Berkshire Board of Education is to use my leadership experience to foster an environment of engagement and accountability. Accountability will be key in the New Vision for Berkshire. One of my goals is to assure that the voices of the community are heard and the activities of the Berkshire Board of Education are transparent and representative of the communities they serve.

I am very excited to begin serving the Berkshire Community, therefore, I respectfully request your vote on November 7th, along with your votes for Julie Hunter (education focus) and Tim Snyder (safety focus). Together, VHS will execute a new vision for Berkshire Schools.

Julie Hunter

My name is Julie (Randles) Hunter, an East Claridon resident and I am running for the Berkshire Board of Education. I grew up in Burton, and I am a graduate of Berkshire High School. Education is my passion and I look forward to the opportunity to help guide Berkshire Schools, using a very student first approach. I thrive on multitasking and am very conscientious and diligent in all things I do.

My husband, Jeremy and I celebrated our 22nd Anniversary in July and we have two children. We live on a small family farm, raising broiler chickens, beef cattle and egg layers. We enjoy family time outdoors; camping, hiking, and playing sports with our kids, along with watching their sporting events throughout the year.

I am in my 18th year in education; with experience teaching grades 5-8. Currently, I am in my 5th year as a sixth grade science teacher at Bio-Med Science Academy, a public independent STEM school. I previously taught at Wickliffe Middle School for 13 years; nine years in sixth grade science and four years as a specials teacher, developing and teaching a STEM/Computer Science/Entrepreneurial class for grades 5-8, along with creating the curriculum for the K-4 computer program. I am also an entrepreneur; running a small hand-stamped metal jewelry business.

I have experience creating curriculum and implementing both project-based and problem-based learning. I have partnered with Hiram College and other professionals in both Lake and Portage County to bring engaging, hands-on learning experiences to my students. I work with the Young Entrepreneur Institute (YEI) at University School to bring Entrepreneurial learning and experiences to my students. I am currently a YIPPEE Market Ambassador for YEI.

This is my 5th year, serving on my school’s research and development team, helping to bring new and innovative educational ideas to the district. I have worked on several committees to develop and align curriculum, develop our school’s learning objectives and to fully implement mastery based grading. This year I will be working with KnowledgeWorks to create personalized learning with other Ohio educators Ohio. I am a STEM redesignation reviewer through the Ohio STEM Learning Network, Battelle Education. I was accepted into the Ohio Rural Educator Program through Ohio STEM Learning Network, Battelle Education; and I am creating a problem-based project for my students through collaboration with other Ohio educators from around the state.

As a former student of Berkshire Schools, I’m excited to share my expertise and passion for education with the district, using a student-first approach to bring fresh and innovative ideas to our classrooms. One of my goals is to enhance communication between parents, students, staff, and our wonderful community. Together, we can create an environment where everyone’s voice is heard and valued. Let’s work together to make Berkshire Schools a place where every student thrives and learns in a way that suits their unique needs.

Running For School Board

Background & Experience

Specific Improvements To Berkshire

Engaging With Community