Chagrin Falls High School’s Monica Asher named Ohio Principal of the Year

CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio — Monica Asher, principal of Chagrin Falls High School, has been selected as the 2022-23 Ohio Principal of the Year by the Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators.

Asher, who has been the school’s principal since 2017, was selected from a large field of nominees for the award, according to a news release from the Chagrin Falls Schools.

“It’s pretty exciting and very humbling, and obviously I have a lot of pride, especially to represent Chagrin and our staff and kids here,” Asher said.

“Any success I have, quite honestly, is a direct result of the incredible work of the teachers here,” she continued. “I have been really fortunate to step into a building to work with teachers who are kind, creative, innovative and fearless.

“They are willing to try anything, and they put students at the center of all their decisions. They’re incredible, so it’s hard to say there’s anything I did in particular.”

Victor Puskas, a former science teacher at Chagrin Falls High School, nominated Asher and spoke of her as a true instructional leader.

“(She) encourages teachers to take risks and encouraged me along the way, was excited about my progress and asked me to share my work,” he said in the nomination.

Puskas also praised Asher’s communication style and her encouragement as he sought employment in school administration.

In a letter of recommendation, Janet Coriell, an intervention specialist at the high school, described Asher as someone whose “door is always open.”

“I know I can come to her to talk not only about curriculum, students, special education, but also big issues like diversity, personal growth, relationships and women in leadership roles,” she said in the letter.

Asher will receive the award at the OASSA fall conference in October in Columbus.

Prior to becoming principal of Chagrin Falls High School, Asher was assistant principal of Rocky River High School and an assistant principal at Avon Lake High School.

She served as athletic director and English teacher at Huron High School after coming from Sig Rogich Middle School in Las Vegas, Nev.

A Cleveland resident who grew up in Huron, Asher earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Bowling Green State University. She is a candidate to earn a doctorate in educational leadership this spring from BGSU.

Asher, who has been a member of OASSA since 2012, served as the diversity at-large director, chaired the OASSA Women’s Committee and has spoken at numerous conferences. She has served for many years on the Ohio Educator Standards Board.

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