Principal lauded for stellar career

BOUQUETS >> To Mary Petelin, principal of St. Mary Catholic School in Chardon, on her upcoming retirement, which will wrap up her four-decade career in education.

Petelin has served the last six years as the head of St. Mary School and helped to bring many new initiatives to life during her tenure. Just this year, for example, the school became the first Ohio Department of Education STEM designated school in Geauga County and one of only 44 in the state. Petelin, who will retire at the end of the 2017-18 academic year, also helped to initiate a 1:1 laptop program for the school.

Current sixth-grade teacher Julie Fedak said, “I feel privileged to have worked with Mary Petelin. She has a way of encouraging her teachers to grow as teachers, even if it is to go out of their comfort zone. Mary is also there to support that growth. She sees the potential and helps the school to move in that direction.”

During her career, Petelin has worked as a teacher in special education at St. Mary Magdalene School in Willowick as well as at St. Vitus in Cleveland.

As an administrator, she helped to lead at St. Paul’s in Euclid, St. Cosmos and Damian in Twinsburg and was principal at St. Rita’s in Solon before coming to St. Mary Chardon.

Petelin certainly has distinguished herself as teacher and principal, and we wish her well in her retirement.

BOUQUETS » To Amotec, a national staffing and recruiting firm based in Cleveland, on opening its fifth office, this one in Willoughby.

The office, at 35104 Euclid Ave., will provide employment resources to candidates and clients on Cleveland’s east side. In addition to its Cleveland and Willoughby locations, Amotec has offices in Sheffield Village, Nashville, Tennessee, and Miami, Florida.

Founded by Carmine Izzo in 2000, Amotec partners with companies and organizations to assess prospective employees, manage the recruitment process and provide the best talent, a news release stated. Since its start 18 years ago, Amotec has positioned itself as a leader in the staffing and recruiting industry.

“We’re excited to bring our services closer to Cleveland’s east side,” Izzo said.

“We continue to aim to be the staffing firm of choice for Cleveland companies and this new office will allow us to better serve our clients and candidates.”

It’s great that Amotec saw Willoughby as a prime location in which to do business. Here’s hoping that the venture is successful.

BRICKBATS » To former Cornerstone Christian Academy teacher Anthony J. Polizzi, after he was sentenced to the maximum 33 years in prison for sexually assaulting two former students.

Polizzi asked for mercy May 4 at his sentencing hearing in Lake County Common Pleas Court.

Instead, Judge John P. O’Donnell sentenced Polizzi, 41, of North Royalton to a maximum prison term.

“It’s not an ‘inappropriate relationship.’ It’s a crime,” O’Donnell said.

“You groomed these girls, and then you threatened them. You’re a predator. That’s what you are.”

Polizzi taught history at the private Willoughby Hills high school from 2007 to 2010. He was also a mock trial adviser, class adviser and cross country coach.

The criminal offenses occurred during the 2008-09 and 2009-10 school years when the victims were 17 and 18.

After he was fired for being caught with a student off of school property, Polizzi still did not face legal consequences.

He finished his law degree and worked for three years at a firm as an attorney.

Polizzi previously pleaded guilty to six counts of sexual battery and two counts of gross sexual imposition.

In addition to his lengthy prison term, he also must register as a Tier 3 sex offender for life after his release.

We believe that Polizzi deserves his fate.

BRICKBATS » To Gloria Lee of Akron, after she pleaded guilty to killing her boyfriend by running him over with her vehicle while she was intoxicated.

Prosecutors say Lee, 48, entered the plea May 1 to charges of aggravated vehicular homicide and DUI related to the May 2017 death of Darrone Jones, also of Akron.

Police say Jones, 57, was walking toward Lee’s vehicle on the opposite side of an Akron road when she sped up and hit him. Jones died of his injuries about a month later.

Lee’s blood alcohol level was measured to be 0.192, more than twice the legal limit. She is slated to be sentenced on June 14.

This story provides yet another vivid example of how drinking alcohol and driving can be a deadly combination.