Ohio Northern University’s Department of Education and the Center for Teacher Education will present “Leading from the Heart” in the James F. Dicke Hall forum on Tuesday, Sept. 2, at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, and a reception will follow in the atrium of Dicke Hall. Prospective students and their families, teacher candidates, local educators and ONU faculty are all invited to attend.

Guest speakers Julie (Herendeen) Travis, a 2004 ONU graduate, and Ryan Malany, a 2005 ONU graduate will share their perspective stories of successfully leading within their classrooms to leading entire teams of teachers within their school buildings. The evening is meant to help educators at any stage in their careers to refresh individually, reconnect with colleagues, and remember why they entered the profession.

Travis, a successful language arts classroom teacher working with high-needs students in Nashville, Tenn., expanded her role to become a literacy coach and mentor to other teachers. She was named Teacher of the Year in 2009-10 and completed her M.Ed. in administration and supervision. She is an assistant principal at Maplewood High School in Metro Nashville Public Schools, a district comprised of 154 schools serving 83,000 students.

Malany, a middle school teacher, taught social studies and language arts in the Kenton City School District where he was known for his innovative teaching strategies and his ability to motivate all of his students to work to their potential. Now holding a master’s degree in school administration, he is elementary principal at Arcanum Elementary School in Arcanum, Ohio.