Joseph "Joe" Meranto was appointed unanimously by the Youngstown Board of Education in October 2022. Mr. Meranto, a lifelong Youngstown resident, served over 50 years in education as a teacher, coach, elementary and high school principal, and career tech director. He received his B.S. in Education and M.S. in Educational Administration from Youngstown State University (YSU). Mr. Meranto has completed all coursework at YSU toward a Doctorate in Educational Administration.
During his long career as an educator, Mr. Meranto is proud of his accomplishments. Beginning as a teacher at his alma mater St. Anthony in Youngstown, where he eventually became the first lay principal, he developed a Montessori Primary School within a school. He also developed and coordinated a comprehensive athletic program for the parochial schools in Mahoning and Trumbull Counties.
Later transitioning to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School in Niles as principal, he developed a summer school program for the Diocese. He was also appointed director of junior high athletics, serving the 55 elementary schools in the six-county Diocese while remaining a principal.
Mr. Meranto later worked for Ursuline High School, then, after his tenure there, was appointed principal at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Louisville, Ohio. He developed a special needs program at Aquinas and hired a special needs coordinator. This program was the only one offered in the six-county high schools in the Diocese.
At the encouragement of his long-time friend and distinguished Youngstown school administrator, Tony Deniro, Mr. Meranto was hired by Dr. Ben McGee in 2003 as the Director of Career Technical and Adult Education for the District. During his tenure at Choffin, with the help of a strong administrative team and a great group of teachers and support staff, Choffin became a jewel of the District. Enrollment increased from 324 with 0 outside students to 614 students, including 94 external students.
Having served at Choffin Career and Technical Center for 14 years, Mr. Meranto was asked to be the superintendent by the appointed CEO under HB 70 Krish Mohip. In that role, Mr. Meranto's job was primarily to be responsible for the operations area in the District, including custodial, maintenance, transportation, athletics, food service, and school and District Secretaries.
Mr. Meranto continued as superintendent under the next CEO, Justin Jennings, where he was asked to implement the Equity and Diversity Initiative. After retiring in 2021, Mr. Jennings requested Mr. Meranto to serve as a Consultant to the District in the transportation department, where he served until the end of the 2022 school year.
On a personal note, Mr. Meranto has been married to his high school sweetheart, Anna Marie, for 52 years. "Annie" served the District first as a school Librarian and later as a secretary and is well known by many District employees for her care and concern for them. She retired after 35 years in 2020. They have two children, Christina {Don} Cheffo and Joseph Jr. {Angela} Meranto. Seven grandchildren-Dominic, Francesco, Donald Jr., and Giuliana Cheffo and Dylan Alders, and Joseph the third, and Preston Meranto.
Mr. Meranto is an active St. Anthony Catholic Church member in Brier Hill, the Wolves Club of Youngstown, the Association of Career and Technical Education, Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators, and Ohio Career-Tech Administrators, served as a former Powers Trust Trustee, is a YSU Alumni, and a member of the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Meranto sees his role on the Board as a voice for the voiceless and supports parents and teachers as they advocate for their kids, local public schools, and better education. He intends to bring his many years of educational experience both in Youngstown and out of Youngstown to do what is right, not for a few, but for all.