A Powerful Partnership Transformed Allison Coneglio from Student to Teacher

The old saying is that education opens doors, but for Allison "Alli" Coneglio, education did something even more profound; it led her through the door and back home again.

As a recent graduate of Kent State University, Alli’s journey is the ultimate realization of a vision planted years ago. Today, she is walking back through the doors of the Nordonia Hills City School District—not as a student carrying books, but as an Intervention Specialist at Rushwood Elementary. Her homecoming marks a triumphant milestone for an innovative partnership between Kent State University and Nordonia City Schools designed to cultivate, train, and retain homegrown educational talent.

Planting the Seeds of Tomorrow

Alli’s path toward the classroom began during her own high school days at Nordonia High School. It was there that she joined the "Nordonia Students Today, Teachers Tomorrow" (NST3) teaching club. The initiative was intentionally built with three ambitious goals:

1. to create a "grow-your-own" pipeline that encourages and prepares local students to become educators in their home district,
2. to provide robust equity and inclusion development for staff,
3. to create an African American history and culture course to contextually emphasize the importance of a diverse, professional workforce.

Even as a kind and enthusiastic high school student, Alli stood out. Through the NST3 club, she visited Kent State University, catching a glimpse of a future she was eager to pursue.

"When we first agreed to partner with Nordonia’s NST3 program, we signed onto a deeply intentional ‘Grow Your Own’ model of teacher recruitment," said Lisa Testa, Ph.D., professor and interim director of Teacher Preparation at Kent State University. "Seeing Alli progress from an enthusiastic high school club member to a dedicated preservice leader, and now to a professional educator, proves the profound value of investing in our local students. She represents the exact heart and soul of what this partnership sets out to accomplish."

Cultivating Potential Through Lead2Teach

In the summer of 2022, Alli took her next foundational step by joining Kent State’s College of Education and Human Services. She was selected as a member of a selective, grant-funded project called "Lead 2 Teach" (L2T).

Designed to support students pursuing high-need educator licenses in Ohio—such as Special Education, Mathematics, Science, and World Languages—as well as students from historically underrepresented backgrounds, Lead2Teach offers up to $4,000 a year for instructional fees, books, and meal plans. More than just financial support, the program supports future educators with a built-in community of success navigators, faculty mentors, tutors, and immersive field experiences.

During her freshman year, Alli leaned into the L2T community with boundless energy. She joyfully engaged with peer mentors, absorbing how to navigate the challenges of college while learning the art of teaching. She added immense value to every workshop with her good nature and humble willingness to lift those around her.

Her growth was so evident that by the following school year, Alli was hired to serve as a Lead2Teach peer mentor herself. Observed across countless academic and social settings, she consistently exceeded expectations, proving herself to be hard-working, meticulously organized, and fiercely devoted to the success of others.

A Full Circle Homecoming

Now, the investment made by Kent State University and Nordonia City Schools has officially paid off. Alli has come full circle, returning to her roots to shape the minds of the next generation in Sagamore Hills.

For Nordonia Hills City Schools Superintendent Casey Wright, Alli’s hiring is an historic victory for the community and a validation of the district's long-term recruitment strategy.

"Our ultimate goal with the 'Grow Your Own' initiative was always to foster talent right here in our community and bring those incredible future leaders back to influence our own students," said Superintendent Casey Wright. "Allison is the very first Kent State graduate to fully realize the ultimate intent of this partnership. We could not be prouder to welcome her back home to the Nordonia family, where her journey began, to inspire the next generation of Knights."

Through passion, partnership, and a dedication to growing local talent, the bridge between Kent State University and Nordonia City Schools has proven that the best way to secure a brighter future for classrooms is to nurture the dreams of the students already sitting in them.