Chief Executive Officer of Regional Programs
Jefferson County Educational Service Center
craig.closser@omeresa.net
740-283-3347

Craig Closser has worked in Ohio public schools for the past 40 years. He has just concluded his twenty-seventh year as a superintendent and his twentieth year as Superintendent of the Jefferson County Educational Service Center (JCESC). Craig is currently serving as Chief Executive Officer of Regional Programs for the Jefferson County Educational Service Center.

In 1977, he founded the Ohio Mid-Eastern Regional Education Service Agency (OME-RESA) with an Appalachian Regional Commission Grant. In addition to traditional school-related computer services, such as payroll, budgetary accounting, scheduling, grade cards, attendance, networking, library automation, and the Education Management Information System, OME-RESA facilitates cooperative purchasing of educational supplies, cafeteria products, and natural gas for districts across the region. OME-RESA also has developed and implemented a school employee Health Benefits Plan for nearly 8700 employees.

Under Craig's leadership, Jefferson County's regional programs have grown significantly, making JCESC a recognized leader in providing vital county and regional services. At the present time, JCESC has county and regional initiative contracts with 199 Ohio school districts located in 51of Ohio's 88 counties. The budget for fiscal year 2005 is $87 million.

Most recently under Craig's leadership, JCESC has developed a Virtual Learning Academy with an online curriculum for grades 2-12 aligned with the Ohio Academic Content Standards that are, in turn, rooted in the National Standards. The curriculum is owned by and copyrighted by the Jefferson County Governing Board. The database management system for delivering the 68 VLA courses is also owned by the Jefferson County Governing Board.

Professional Affiliations and Offices
  · The Ohio Education Computer Network (OECN): Management Council Member 15 years;       Management Council Chair 1990-91
  · Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA): Member 24 years
  · Ohio Educational Service Center Association (OESCA): Member 18 years; Executive Committee       7 years; Member of a 16-member Panel to develop a statewide plan to align the delivery system      for regional educational services in Ohio Professional Presentations
  · The Association of Educational Service Agencies (AESA): 2001 Atlanta, Georgia; 2002 Dallas,      Texas; 2004 Phoenix, Arizona
  · Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Conference on Telecommunications and the Future      of Appalachian Communities [in 13 states]: 2003 Abingdon, Virginia

Professional Awards
  · 2004-05 Technology Leader - Administrator of the Year, Buckeye Association of School      Administrators (BASA), Region 7