Firelands Middle School

Chad Heileman is the Director of the Center for Out of School Advancement (COSA) at Open Doors Academy. He leads a team of seven Regional Specialists dedicated to elevating the field of out-of-school time education and programming by supporting over 300, 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) grants—and their teams of staff—across the state of Ohio. COSA provides technical training, on-site and virtual consultations, and staff development to all of Ohio’s 21st CCLC Program Managers, Site Coordinators, and front-line staff, indirectly impacting the lives of over 40,000 Ohio students every year. In addition, Chad oversees ODA’s nine custom afterschool locations in Lima (4), Mansfield (2), Firelands (2), and Sandusky (1).

Chad has worked with out-of-school time organizations, school districts, youth, and families for over 12 years. Before joining ODA in August of 2023, Chad was the Senior Director of Programs at Boys & Girls Clubs of Ohio Alliance and Director of School-Based Initiatives for Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio. Over 10 years of service to communities across the state of Ohio have taught Chad the power of afterschool programs to connect students not just to fun, unique experiences, but to caring adults, creating a safe place for meaningful relationships to be built, and resulting in a life-changing impact.

Chad earned his Master of Science degree in Education, Curriculum, and Instruction from Concordia University in 2012 and his Bachelor of Science in English from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 2006. He and his wife, Kim, have three children and enjoy spending their time fellowshipping with family and friends, camping, fishing, kayaking, tending to their vegetable and flower gardens, and supporting their children as they pursue their passions.

Michelle is passionate about shaping young minds through mathematics. She earned her degree in Middle Childhood Education from Ashland University in 2009 and later completed her master’s in Technology, Curriculum, and Instruction in 2017. Every day, she has the privilege of teaching Algebra I and 8th-grade math, aiming to make learning both fun and meaningful. Outside the classroom, Michelle and her husband enjoy life with their three wonderful children and three energetic grandchildren, who never fail to keep them on their toes!