Center for Arts-Inspired Learning Elects New Members to Board of Directors

The Center for Arts-Inspired Learning is pleased to announce that Anthony Ania, Erica Clayton, Shawn Leeth, and Nwaka Onwusa have been elected to the CAL Board of Directors. The Board approved the appointments during meetings held on May 12, 2020 and August 11, 2020. All four members will serve terms through June 2023.

“It is with great excitement that we add four new members to our board of directors, ” said CAL President and CEO Marsha Dobrzynski. “Each one brings extensive professional expertise that will provide valuable new perspectives to the table and will help the organization as we work to evolve to meet the needs of the changing educational landscape. I am delighted they have chosen to share their time and talent with CAL.”

Anthony Ania
Assistant General Counsel, Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems
Tony Ania is an accomplished attorney with broad and progressive experience in private, firm, and corporate legal environments. Since 2014 he has worked as Corporate Counsel/Local Compliance Officer for Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC, a multinational, $2 billion manufacturing company. He is responsible for corporate transactions, contracts, oversees HR, and all compliance. Prior to that Tony built his own practice providing legal services and counsel to businesses and individuals in the areas of corporate, employment, business, real estate, transactional, insurance, compliance and injury law. Tony previously practiced in civil litigation and has vast trial experience. He received his JD from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and BA in Political Science from Miami University.

Erica Clayton
Director of Academics, West Park Academy (ACCEL Schools)
As Director of Academics for West Park Academy, Erica Clayton works closely with the principal in day to day operations of the school as well as engaging teachers in the coaching cycle to improve classroom instruction using best practices in teaching. As part of the coaching cycle, she holds data meetings with teachers to assess the quality of assessments, outcomes of the assessments, and how to use the data garnered from disaggregation meetings to engage in high impact teaching. Erica reviews and provides feedback to teachers about lesson plans and models lessons when it will provide the greatest impact on teacher growth. Her administrative duties include supervising curriculum implementation and conducting professional development for West Park Academy and ACCEL schools in the Cleveland/Akron region.

For the 2020-2021 school year, Erica authored the curriculum map for writing and established best practices in delivery of Demand Writing for schools in the Cleveland/Akron region. She is a 2020 fellow for BES Leaders of Emerging Networks of Schools (LENS). In the Cleveland area Erica has also worked at Breakthrough Schools’ Village Preparatory School, Cliffs Campus. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master’s Degree in English from John Carroll University.

Shawn Leeth
Cleveland North East Regional Account Executive, PNC Bank
In this role Shawn assists in consulting current and prospective business clients in finding different solutions to better run their business. He is responsible for increasing the region’s portfolio and diversifying payment solutions for businesses in all economic backgrounds. He manages 8 branches in Cleveland North East Region for Merchant Services and lead the central market in diversity and inclusion dialogue. Shawn possess practical knowledge in Finance and Operations and utilizes analytical and strategic rationale for optimal decision making to ensure organizational benchmarks are met as well exceeded. He is also a member of the Cleveland Chapter of National Black MBA Association. Shawn is currently pursuing a Bachelors of Accounting & Organizational Leadership from the University of Louisville.

Nwaka Onwusa
Chief Curator and Vice President of Curatorial Affairs, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Nwaka is a lover of music and a contemporary bohemian with an old soul. Her knowledge and appreciation of music and art span a vast globe of cultures and histories. Guided by the belief that “the past speaks to us through music and song,” Nwaka develops exhibits and programs that are informative, immersive and celebrate the diversity of musical expression. Prior to becoming a curator, Nwaka worked in educational programs committed to inspiring students to explore the arts and museum studies. Nwaka earned a Bachelors in Sociology at UC Riverside and a Masters of Leadership at USC’s Sol Price School of Public Policy.

In 2012, she was honored as a Museum Rising Star by the Museum of African American Art and in April 2018 was selected by American Express to participate in their Women in Music initiative identifying the industry’s rising leaders and recently was named one of Cleveland’s Most Interesting People of 2020.

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Inquiries can be directed to:
Katie McCullough, Marketing Communications Director
katie@arts-inspiredlearning.org
216.561.5005 ext. 13