This article is part of the 2025 General Election Voters' Guide produced in partnership with the League of Women Voters of the Akron Area.

Elisa Staats

Nonpartisan

Why are you the best candidate for the office?

I have experience on the school board, both inside and outside Norton City Schools. I understand the role of the Board of Education, and I am committed to working with the other members of the Board to continue to make Norton an excellent school district.  As I am married to a teacher and we have a daughter attending Norton Middle School, I bring a unique perspective to the Board, having experience with both what occurs outside and inside the classroom. I am a successful attorney with a practice dedicated to family law, so I am familiar with and understand many of the issues our students face. Having received a quality education myself, I know firsthand how a solid academic program can open doors for students. Thus, I want to see continued improvement in Norton’s state and national rankings and test scores. As an active member of several community organizations in Norton, I am aware of what citizens want out of our school district and for their children.

What are the most significant issues facing the school district and what ideas do you have to address these issues?

If elected, I plan to ensure that our students receive a top-quality education that prepares them for success and careers in the 21st century. While Norton offers an excellent education, there is always room for improvement, and the district should seek new educational opportunities to help students realize their full potential. I support creating multiple pathways to career readiness and boosting state and national test scores and rankings. I also intend to improve school programs both inside and outside the classroom. We must educate the whole student—academically, artistically, and physically. Additionally, we need to ensure our students learn in an environment that fosters learning.

What ideas do you have for ensuring safety in your school district?

 It is essential to be able to identify safety concerns before they become an issue.  Many schools’ safety issues are linked to mental health.  Norton City Schools has several counselors in the district assisting students through difficulties. In addition to counselors, Norton Middle School has a calm room that allows children to relax and decompress during difficult times.  Identifying safety concerns, limiting access to school buildings, conducting safety drills, and installing Bolo Sticks in the event of a building breach are proactive measures to maintain safety in Norton City Schools.  We also have a Resource Officer who ensures our schools are safe.

What action, if any, do you believe the Board of Education should take to support all students and ensure they are provided with a high-quality, meaningful education?

Norton’s new initiative, “The Panther Way,” instills in our students the importance of contributing, persevering, communicating, being responsible, thinking critically, and adapting to new challenges both in and out of the classroom.  The Panther Way is a skillset that is woven into our curriculum and will serve as the foundation for any endeavor our students undertake.

Cindy Webel

Nonpartisan

(Editor’s note: The candidate did not respond to requests for information.)

Glen Nazworth

Nonpartisan

(Editor’s note: The candidate did not respond to requests for information.)

Chris Inks

Nonpartisan

(Editor’s note: The candidate did not respond to requests for information.)

Editor-in-Chief (she/her)
Zake has deep roots in Northeast Ohio journalism. She was the managing editor for multimedia and special projects at the Akron Beacon Journal, where she began work as a staff photographer in 1986. Over a 20-year career, Zake worked in a variety of roles across departments that all help inform her current role as Signal Akron's editor in chief. Most recently, she was a journalism professor and student media adviser at Kent State University, where she worked with the next generation of journalists to understand public policy, environmental reporting, data and solutions reporting. Among her accomplishments was the launch of the Kent State NewsLab, an experiential and collaborative news commons that connects student reporters with outside professional partners.