Joanie Mencl was a teacher for Independence Local Schools for 38 years and is a life-long resident of Independence.

She graduated from Kent State University with a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in the Art of Teaching from Mary Grove College.

Joanie is a proud mom to daughter Lacey who is also an Independence Local Schools and a Kent State graduate.  Lacey attended Cleveland Marshall School of Law and is now a practicing attorney.

 

Joan Mencl
216-233-1885
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Lynne Laski has been involved with the school community since the mid-1980's when her children began in Hillside Preschool. She has held leadership positions in the preschool, as well as in the Independence Primary PTO, Independence Middle PTO and the High School PTO before running for elected office on the Board of Education.

Lynne and her husband, Bob, have lived in Independence for 34 years with their nine children. They were foster parents for Cuyahoga County Children and Family Services for about 10 years. They eventually adopted four children from the foster system.

The younger four, Jake, Ali, Nick and Ryan, joined five older sisters.  The older sisters are Kate, Kara, Lauren,  Emily,  and Michelle.  All of their children attended Independence Schools.  They have five grandchildren.

Lynne grew up in Sagamore Hills and graduated from Nordonia High School in 1975 and then went on to Mount Union College and graduated in 1979 with a degree in International Business. 

 

 

 

Ron Bernstein has lived in the City of Independence for over 25 years. He is a corporate tax accountant at Applied Industrial Technologies, where he has worked for 30 years.

Ron graduated from Cuyahoga Heights in 1981.  He graduated from Cleveland State University in 1986, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History/Social Studies, minoring in Political Science.  He is married to Kelli (Orack), Independence Class of 1985. He has four sons, Joe – IHS Class of 2015, 2019 Mount Union graduate, currently in the MBA program at Cleveland State; Justin – IHS Class of 2017, currently a junior at Akron University; Ryan – IHS Class of 2021; and Nathan – IHS Class of 2024.

Ron has been actively involved in coaching soccer, basketball and baseball for Independence Recreation League for 18 years; is involved with the Independence Stadium Foundation; an active member of the Independence Athletic Boosters; serves on the Student Life Committee and Facilities Committee; IMS and HIS PTO; Independence Music Boosters; indoor soccer coach for HIS soccer players; and scorekeeper for the boys soccer team.  He is also a member of St. Michael Church, and has been an acolyte for over 25 years.
 

Cell (216) 832-3626

Andrea Marek
Term Expires: December 31, 2023

 

Andrea Marek has been a resident of the City of Independence for the past 30 years.  She is an alumna of Independence Local Schools and an active parent in the school district including a member of the PTO board, member of the Athletic and Music Boosters and coordinator and volunteer not only in the district, but the community.

Andrea is the secretary of the Independence High School PTO and she also has served as the Independence Middle School PTO president and secretary.  She is a coordinator and room parent at Independence Primary School and also volunteers for the school’s Green Thumb and Medical Clubs.

Andrea is married to Bob, who also is a lifelong resident and graduate of Independence Local Schools.  They have two children, Ava, 15, who is a student at the high school and Dominic, 9, who is a student at the primary school.  For the last 20 years, Andrea has been a family nurse practitioner at the Cleveland Clinic.  She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing at the University of Akron and her Master of Science in Nursing at Ursuline College.

In 2018, Andrea was a member of the district’s Strategic Planning Committee, establishing goals for the district’s student life and also expansion of social/emotional learning.  In 2019, she was a committee member for the school levy.

Andrea Marek
(216) 396-2826
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