A Word or Two from the Board…



Greetings with Gratitude!

We hope you have had a wonderful holiday season filled with family, friends, fun, love, and happiness. May this New Year continue to bless you with good health, joy, peace, and hope.

All of YOU are blessings to ADSOEF through your donations, prayers, time and hard work on committees, and promoting us to your chapter members. Together we are enhancing excellence in education and supporting current and future educators as they persevere in challenging times with dedication and passion for their students and for learning.

In this issue, two appreciative recipients have sent their thanks, updates, and photos to showcase how your gifts have helped them improve education and uplift students. Please keep reading to find the newest A. Margaret Boyd Fellowship scholar’s, Paola Romero’s, description of her first semester in her master’s degree program. Also, learn about the wonderful project that helped student artists by reading Angie Miesle Stokes’ final report for the Individual/Classroom/Community Project Fund award. Be inspired to apply for a grant or scholarship or to donate towards these important funds! 

We are excited to discover what the New Year brings, to continue to raise funds for our mission, and to witness how we can impact education in 2026!

With thankfulness,

Chris Snoddy

The ADSOEF Board of Directors

Happy New Year

As we begin a new year, the ADSOEF Fundraising Committee would like to thank you for your support with our Colors of Hope campaign thus far. Winter is often a time for reflection as we deal with the season’s cold temperatures, ice, and snow. It’s a perfect time to assist with the efforts of our committee as we continue the quest to Paint a Brighter Future! 

According to a May article in Teachers of Tomorrow, Ohio employs over 100,000 teachers, but the number is steadily declining and threatens the quality of learning. The Fundraising Committee members know it's vitally important to support our educators, so we are asking that you share with us as we raise funds for grants, fellowships, scholarships, and individual/classroom/community projects that assist in supporting and motivating our educators and nurturing their students.

The committee’s goal this year is $14,000.88, with the $.88 recognizing the 88th birthday of Ohio State Organization. Since we began this campaign, we have raised $34,252.61 (this includes a $20,000 donation from Beta Lambda Chapter), and the Fall Appeal brought in $11,093.97. Thank you for your generous donations to achieve these amazing totals! 

Every donation received will make an impact on the lives of educators and students. It is important that we celebrate resilience and resourcefulness in education. Please consider joining us as we each become a part of our fundraising campaign to be one of the Colors of Hope by Painting a Brighter Future. Donations can be made online at www.adsoef.org.

Thank you for your generous donations as we continue to support educators and students!!

Charlene Green, Delta Mu

Annie Zahradnik, Gamma Theta

Holly Buente, Gamma Pi, Co-Chairman

Barb Zirke, Alpha Psi, Co-Chairman    

First Semester Update from Paola Romero

This year, I was honored to receive the A. Margaret Boyd Fellowship, which has provided invaluable support for my education. I am currently enrolled in the Special Education program at Kent State University, an experience that has felt both rewarding and surreal. 

Coming from a beautiful developing country (Honduras), where a formal special education system is absent, has strengthened my desire to grow, improve, and contribute meaningfully to the field.

This journey, however, has not been without challenges. Adapting to academic writing and speaking English in a professional context required significant effort, as I had not taken an English course since high school in 2014. 

Adjusting to different academic expectations and systems also presented obstacles. These challenges have only strengthened my determination to persevere and continue improving in my field, and I am deeply grateful for the support I have received, as it represents not only an investment in my education but also in the early development of special education in my home country. 

Fortunately, the support of dedicated professors, encouraging roommates’ family, and friends, and the A. Margaret Boyd Fellowship made this transition both manageable and enriching.

Sincerely

Paola Romero             

NextGen Youth Artisan Market Project

Final Report from Angie Miesle Stokes, Beta Eta

Angie Miesle Stokes, Beta Eta, was awarded a $500 Individual/Classroom/Community Project Fund grant which she used to purchase easels and display boards for the NextGen Youth Artisan Market. She details below the pre-market training workshop held for the youth artists, the market event itself, and the exciting prospects for future markets.

On Saturday, September 13, 2025, the Paulding County Chamber of Commerce hosted the very first NextGen Youth Artisan Workshop, welcoming 18 young makers from across Paulding County—including students from every school district and two homeschooled students. Throughout the day, participants explored a wide range of art forms including bracelet making, watercolor painting, charcoal drawing, printmaking, plaster art, and weaving on looms. They were guided by art mentors Jayne Smith (retired from Wassenberg Art Center, continuing to teach art classes and lead adult team-building projects), Angie Miesle Stokes (Wayne Trace STEAM teacher and member of Beta Eta Chapter), and Esther Richhart (student artist, Purdue Fort Wayne), who provided instruction, encouragement, and professional insight into their crafts.

Students showed curiosity, creativity, and teamwork, with mentors praising the group for their attentiveness, respectfulness, and willingness to learn. To wrap up the day, art supplies were raffled off so participants could continue creating at home—along with easels, picture mats, and gift cards to United Art & Education.

This one-day workshop was followed by an opportunity for the student artists to showcase and sell their artwork at Paulding’s Shop Small Saturday on November 22, 2025.  Their NextGen Youth Artisan Market was hosted by Grounded Coffee and Crumbs in downtown Paulding with an outdoor marketplace featuring over 100 works by the artists, ranging in age from kindergarten through seniors in high school. 

With the generous support of ADSOEF, these students were able to exhibit their work professionally with signs advertising the event along with easels and display boards showcasing their artwork.  With almost 300 visitors passing through the marketplace over the course of four hours, these young entrepreneurs got a great taste of what it means not only to be an artist but also a businessperson who can reap the rewards of showing off their creative talents!

With such great success, the Paulding Chamber of Commerce and the Paulding Area Economic Development Commission are planning to work with DKG member Angie Miesle Stokes to facilitate this event again next year.  The financial support of ADSOEF’s grant made it possible to invest in display pieces that will be reused each year and loaned to seniors who plan to display their artwork at graduation.  

The students were extremely pleased with the way their artwork was able to be showcased which in turn helped their sales, with multiple artists making over $50 at the one-day event.  We hope that through this program we are encouraging not only creativity and confidence building, but also life-long skills and an entrepreneurial spirit that will help our state to grow.

Opportunities Abound and Are Waiting

for You, Your DKG Chapter, and Your Community!



Have you considered the availability of funds for your professional development, a community project, or student needs?  

The Individual/Classroom/Community Projects Fund provides up to $500.00 in financial support for educational projects that fund targeted learners in the classroom, non-profit settings, and community-based projects. Apply for a project award for funding a service project supported by your DKG Chapter.  A team of teachers or community individuals can work together if a DKG member is the lead person and submits the application.  It’s a great way to help your community! 

The Leadership Fund provides support to members for expenses related to developing leadership knowledge, skills, or experiences and provides support to members for expenses specifically related to leadership or board participation.

The Lifelong Learning Fund provides support to members for expenses that encourage the ongoing, voluntary, and self-motivated pursuit of knowledge for either personal or professional reasons.

Do you know someone who will be student teaching in 2026-2027? The Esther H. Strickland Student Teaching Grant is available for students in state-supported universities and is awarded in the semester of their student teaching experience.  Applications are due February 1, 2026.

Are you furthering your education and need monetary help to pay for the courses?  Consider completing a scholarship application. Due date: February 1, 2026.

The Ruth Grimes Scholarship is available at Miami University, the Florence L. Woodward Scholarship is available at Kent State University, the Jane Brundige Stein Scholarship/Grant is available at The Ohio State University, Marion Branch and the Annie Webb Blanton Scholarship is available for use at any accredited university. Due date: February 1, 2026.

The A. Margaret Boyd International Study Fellowship - an Ohio Fellowship may be awarded to an Ohio State Organization member doing graduate study in a foreign country.  Application is due by February 1, 2026.

All applications are available on our website:  adsoef.org

Into the Future. . .Important Dates to Remember!

January 19, 2026

ADSOEF Board of Directors Meeting @ 7:00 p.m.

January 22, 2026

OHSO Scholarship Committee Meeting @ 7:00 p.m.

January 26, 2026

ADSOEF Personnel Committee Meeting @ 4:30 p.m.

February 2, 2026

ADSOEF Governance Committee Meeting @ 6:30 p.m.

February 4, 2026

ADSOEF Fundraising Committee Meeting @ 4:30 p.m.

February 11, 2026

ADSOEF Nominating Committee Meeting @ 7:00 p.m.

February 16, 2026

ADSOEF Board of Directors Meeting @ 7:00 p.m.