When I moved back to the United States six years ago after more than a decade abroad, I was amazed by how much Perrysburg had grown. My wife and I arrived with two small children, thinking we would only stay a short while before relocating somewhere warmer. With my mom here, it seemed like a good stopover.
Then our daughter started at Woodland. The teachers were kind, attentive, and quickly noticed areas where she needed academic support, insight that was especially valuable after our years in Japan and India. Within days, they had her in the right programs. That responsiveness made a lasting impression. It convinced us Perrysburg was something special. We decided to make this community our home.
Throughout elementary school, our children have thrived, and we felt welcomed and engaged as parents. We had strong partnerships with teachers and a sense that families were valued as part of the learning community. But as we moved beyond those early years, that dynamic began to shift. The engagement and interactions with the district felt like navigating a bureaucracy, with little acknowledgement and openness to concerns. We heard the same from other families. That is a missed opportunity, because Perrysburg has no shortage of parents ready to support and collaborate…