FCBDD welcomes Joe Petrarca to new administrative role

The Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities recently selected Joe Petrarca to serve in the new position of Director of Educational and Shared Services. Petrarca oversees School and Transition Services, Transportation, Facilities, Human Resources and Information Technology. A veteran educator, Petrarca started out as a speech-language pathologist and last served as Associate Director of the …

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Early Childhood Education program starts year with new leader

Smiling woman with shoulder-length hair

Dr. Kathy Lawton, an experienced educator with both professional and personal connections to central Ohio’s disability and early intervention communities, has begun her new role as Director of Early Childhood Education at the Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities. “I was really excited for the opportunity to make an impact at the county level,” Lawton …

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Becky Love to retire after 50 years of service to children and families

Jed Morison and Becky Love standing outside with many young children. Becky is wearing a red cape.
Becky Love wore her "Queen for a Day" cape as she and Jed Morison visited preschoolers at Christ Lutheran Church in Bexley.

Even after so long, Becky Love says, the days still don’t feel like work. There has always been so much to do and share and learn – and so many staff members on board with the mission – that it all seems more joy than job. “It’s been good,” said Love, who is retiring at …

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Staff spotlight: Mechanic happy to jumpstart career with FCBDD

Man wearing sunglasses smiling and standing in front of a school bus.

Deshaun Washington couldn’t help but notice how often his neighbor seemed to be out helping people, lending a hand or offering guidance. And if he wasn’t helping someone, James Leonard likely was working. “He’s a good man,” Washington said of Leonard, the Transportation Director at the Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities. “A good, hardworking …

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