Board of Education

Title: Vice President

Email: walter.baber@strutherscityschools.org

After graduating from Struthers High School in 1992, Walter Baber attended Youngstown State University where he received a bachelors in Civil Engineering Technology. Over the next 12 years Mr. Baber worked for a couple of large engineering companies in the Cleveland area where he specialized in fall protection design. To limit the required travel, Mr. Baber went back to school to pursue his passion for teaching. After receiving a bachelor's degree in science education from YSU and a master's in career and technical education from Kent, Mr. Baber began teaching high school engineering at the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center where he has been since 2012. Mr. Baber also became the robotics coach in 2012 when he formed the school's first team. Mr. Baber has helped many schools start robotics programs in the valley and in 2019 he helped to form the first drone racing team at MCCTC. Having a passion to give back to the community, Mr. Baber has been a scout den leader, coached numerous sports, is a volunteer fireman in Struthers and became a member of the Struthers Board of Education in 2016. 

Email: joseph.fuline@strutherscityschools.org

What is your connection to the Struthers City School District (are you an alumni?
community member?) and why did you want to serve the district as a BOE
member?
My family has resided in Struthers for 46 years. My wife graduated from Struthers High
School in 1976, and my daughter followed in 2007. Throughout this time, we have
developed strong connections with both the community and the school district. I served
Struthers City Schools for 24 years as a teacher, coach, and administrator, and upon
retirement, I continued to support the district for an additional six years as the Director
of School Improvement. These experiences have strengthened my commitment to the
Struthers City School District and provided me with the knowledge and foundation
necessary to uphold our strong traditions while addressing future challenges. Serving
on the Board of Education offers me the opportunity to give back to a district that has
greatly benefited my family, and I am dedicated to fostering a positive and productive
environment for all.

What do you look forward to contributing to the BOE (do you have a special
project or initiative you have in mind?)
My experience and leadership will support the goal of building a future in
which all students receive a high-quality education that prepares them for lifelong
success. In addition, I am committed to fostering harmony and open communication
throughout the district. By strengthening collaboration and mutual respect, we can
create a productive working and learning environment that everyone can be proud of
and in which all individuals can thrive.

Tell us a fun fact or about your hobbies:
Although some may say that I am not particularly humorous and tend to be serious, I
genuinely enjoy spending time with my family and our grand dogs. I continue to
appreciate watching sports, despite being a devoted Cleveland fan, and I am a lifelong,
dedicated supporter of the Ohio State Buckeyes. In addition, I volunteer as an assistant
coach at the University of Mount Union, where my nephew serves as the head coach of
the Men’s Basketball Team.

Email: kristin.fox@strutherscityschools.org

Mrs. Fox has a deep and lasting connection to the Struthers City School District, with the majority of herself and family having attended Struthers schools for over three generations. She also had the honor of working in Struthers early in her career, teaching at the middle school for eight years. Today, she continues to call the community home, where she resides with her husband, Mike, and their two children, Landon and Laiken.

Through her service on the Board of Education, she hopes to provide a thoughtful and experienced voice in decisions that shape the district, with a focus on academic growth, transparency, and strong community partnerships. Her goal is to help ensure that every child in Struthers is prepared not only for graduation, but for lifelong success.

 Mrs. Fox earned both her Bachelor of Science in Education and Masters in Educational Administration degrees from Youngstown State University. She is currently in her 21st year in education and continues to serve students and educators with passion and purpose. She is the Associate Principal and Director of Academics at Northeast Ohio Impact Academy, an Ohio-designated STEM school, where she provides instructional leadership, oversees academic programming, and supports innovative, student-centered learning. 

Title: President

Email: robert.noble@strutherscityschools.org

Robert Noble has been a resident of Struthers since 1971. He is a veteran educator having taught for 31 years, retiring from Struthers in 2002. He is currently the President of the Board of Education of the Struthers City Schools, serving in his fourth term. Mr. Noble is a pastor, a lifetime member of the PTA, and author of a choral workbook series. He is performer and composer. Mr. Noble has lectured, presented workshops, and taught seminars both locally and on the state level, and served on the Ohio Department of Education Committee for Assessment in the Arts. He and his wife, Mary, have been foster parents for Mahoning County for 22 years.

Title: President

Email: ronald.shives@strutherscityschools.org

Mr. Shives was elected to the Struthers Board of Education in January 2014 and was re-elected for a second term in January 2018. Mr. Shives is a business professional where he leads a team of business professionals that deliver Electronic Security Solutions (Alarm, Video, Access Control, Fire Life Safety and the many services supporting those solutions) to a customer base in the United States. 2021 marks 28 years with the same company headquartered in Canton, OH. Mr. Shives was sworn in as a board member of the Mahoning County Career & Technical Center in January 2018 and again for a second term in January 2021. Mr. Shives is a 1985 graduate of Struthers High School and completed his undergraduate degree at Youngstown State University. Mr. Shives proudly served his country in the United States Air Force and is a Persian Gulf War Veteran. He and his wife, Megan, reside in Struthers and are members of Christ Our Savior Parish and have three daughters, McKenna, Karli, and Kamryn.