Pavlic-Roseberry

STEUBENVILLE — The Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities is adding a children’s services director to its administration as leaders hone their vision to reaching a younger demographic.

Longtime educator Georgia Pavlic-Roseberry took the role June 28 but is a familiar face to the area. The Wintersville resident previously served as assistant principal at Indian Creek High School and most recently worked with the Ohio State Support Team-Region 12. She said she is eager to get involved with JCBDD and work toward the benefit of the children it serves.

“I am honored to be able to be part of such an amazing group of professionals and to be able to serve the local families and school districts,” she said. “My hope is to continue to build on the fantastic services that the Jefferson County Board of DD has established and to support individuals and their families through the educational process.”

Pavlic-Roseberry is a graduate of Edison High School and earned her bachelor’s degree in special education with a reading endorsement from Franciscan University of Steubenville. She also attended Walden University and earned a master’s degree in curriculum, instruction and assessment and returned to Franciscan to obtain her licensure in administration and complete coursework to obtain her superintendent’s license. She completed her Ph.D. at Robert Morris University in instructional management and leadership and most recently obtained certification as a trauma-skilled specialist through the National Dropout Prevention Center. Highlights of her career included serving as an intervention specialist with Harrison Hills City Schools before becoming an intervention specialist, assistant principal and then director of special education at Indian Creek. She went on to lead the work in special education, secondary transition, equity and social justice, trauma-informed schools and school improvement.

She said she enjoyed working with SST-12 but saw an opportunity to benefit her community.

“I found myself wanting to take all I was learning from districts across the state to help students and families in my community. The deciding factor was that I get to work with people who truly have the desire to do what is best for students. The staff at The School of Bright Promise/Regional Spectrum Center and JCBDD are some of the most compassionate people I have ever encountered. It is the perfect fit for me.

“I am honored to get to come home and serve within this community. I missed working with students and their families. I have been grown by so many amazing members of our community and am ready to give back.”

As JCBDD plots its course in a new direction, other changes will ensue as current principal Jane Bodo becomes assistant administrator. Superintendent Michael Zinno said other BDD’s have a similar directorship but this marks a first for Jefferson County. He explained that having Pavlic-Roseberry on board will help with ongoing efforts to support youth in early intervention and preschool and also hone the board’s vision for the future, and the ultimate goal is to have differently abled students transition seamlessly into mainstream schools and society.

“We’re excited about what she brings to the table and particularly her issues with children,” Zinno added. “We want to help our school districts, but first and foremost we’re here to support our children. We want to have a common understanding of what school districts need, how we support them and Georgia is going to bring a wealth of knowledge for that.”

He said officials want to analyze the needs of students, families and school districts and work on methodologies to help prepare children as young as preschool for opportunities to attend surrounding elementary and secondary schools.

“(Pavlic-Roseberry) will work with districts to develop a common vision of what the school districts need. It’s time to analyze what school districts need, what services they need and how we want to get children integrated into the public schools. We want to provide services with the plan to return the child to the public school system.”