Jeff Radel's Biography
Director of LaGrange County
My formal education began in 1990 at Ashland University where I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education. My post graduate work started at the University of Toledo where I studied Clinical Counseling. After moving to Lima, Ohio, I completed graduate work at the University of Findlay to become highly qualified in special education for the State of Ohio in: Math, Social Studies, Science, and Language Arts. I then earned a Master’s of Special Education from Ball St as well my Administration degree and Director’s License. In addition to my formal education, I have had extensive training in the following areas, including but not limited to:
• Psychopharmacology
• Applied Behavioral Analysis
• Differentiated Instruction
• Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Oppositional Defiant Disorder
• Bipolar Disorder
• Social Skills Training
• Positive Behavior Intervention and Support
I started my career in education working for the Toledo Public School systems. I taught children with emotional and learning disabilities. I then worked for the parochial school system in Toledo working as a consultant for students who needed additional educational assistance. I taught in Whitehouse, Ohio for the Whitehouse school system teaching special education for high school students. We then moved out of the Toledo area to Lima, Ohio when my wife transferred to a new job. I continued teaching middle and high school special education for both Findlay and Wapakoneta School Systems. While in Findlay, I also taught an after-school program for students with emotional disabilities who could not attend a regular school day. Throughout my various teaching positions, I was also involved in coaching baseball, football and strength training. My wife then accepted a position in Northeast Indiana and I was fortunate to find employment with the Northeast Indiana Special Education Cooperative as the special education teacher for students with emotional disabilities at Central Noble High School. In 2012, I was hired as the Steuben County Director. I now serve as the director for LaGrange County and West Noble High/Middle School, as well as our Bright Horizon’s program. It is my goal as an administrator to provide our teachers with the professional development, leadership and support they need to meet the demands of their students.
Some of my professional affiliations include: Member of the Council for Exceptional Children, Indiana Council of Administrators of Special Education, ICASE Membership Committee, ICASE DDRS Liaison, ICASE Presidential Scholarship Chair, Council for Children with Behavior Disorders, National Association of Special Education Teachers, Mentor for Aspiring Special Education Leadership Institute, Phi Delta Kappa Educational Honor Society, and Phi Delta Theta