Professional Development

Bring The Cleveland Way
to Your District

Mary Cleveland — OSBA 2026 President — brings 15 years of board governance and a law degree to your boardroom. Real training from someone who's sat in your seat. Available for keynotes, workshops, and one-on-one board consultations.

What We Offer

Three ways to level up your board

Most Requested

New Board Member Onboarding

2-Hour Workshop

Everything a new board member needs to know in their first 90 days — and what nobody tells you until it's too late.

  • Your first 90 days: what to read, who to call, what to skip
  • Meeting prep and parliamentary procedure basics
  • Building a productive superintendent relationship
  • Understanding your fiduciary and legal responsibilities
  • Navigating board dynamics and public comment sessions
High Impact

Legislative Advocacy Bootcamp

Half-Day Session

School funding and policy don't happen at the board table — they happen at the Statehouse. Learn to be in the room where it happens.

  • How to track bills that affect your district
  • Writing effective testimony and talking points
  • Building coalitions with other districts and associations
  • Understanding Ohio's school funding formula
  • Working with legislators: dos, don'ts, and real talk
Keynote Available

Governance Best Practices

Keynote or Workshop

The difference between a board that governs and a board that manages. This session resets the standard for how your board operates.

  • Ethics, conflicts of interest, and public accountability
  • Community engagement that actually works
  • Strategic planning: from vision to measurable outcomes
  • Board self-evaluation and continuous improvement
  • Equity-focused governance and inclusive decision-making
Why Mary

Not theory. Fifteen years of practice.

Mary doesn't teach from a textbook. She teaches from the boardroom — three terms elected, four years as board president, and the state's highest school governance office. Her legal training and business education mean every session has substance, not just slogans.

15+
Years of board service
700+
Ohio districts represented as OSBA President
J.D.
Chase College of Law
2026
OSBA President
Credentials
  • 2026 OSBA President
  • Princeton City Schools Board — 3 terms, President 4 years
  • Great Oaks Career Campuses — Board Chair since 2023
  • SW Ohio OSBA Executive Committee Past President
  • 2024 Career Tech Outstanding Board Member Award
  • J.D., Chase College of Law (NKU)
  • B.B.A., University of Cincinnati
1.7M
Ohio students represented
Book a Training

Request a free 30-minute governance call

Not sure what your board needs? Mary will talk through your specific situation and recommend the right training format. No commitment required.

OSBA 2026 President
Mary Cleveland
Princeton City Schools · Great Oaks Board Chair

What happens next

  • 1 Fill out the form below (2 minutes)
  • 2 Mary or her team responds within 24 hours
  • 3 Free 30-minute call to understand your board's needs
  • 4 Custom proposal delivered within 5 business days
Get Your Free Strategy Call
No commitment required. We respond within 24 hours.