Our Mission
Franklinton High School will prepare graduates to be successful in a variety of fields.
ABOUT US
“all students, irrespective of differences, can learn at high levels and graduate from high school”
As we designed our school, substantial research confirmed that students like Franklinton students will thrive into their futures if they have strong relationships with friends, with teachers and school personnel, with mentors and academic advisors, and with those from the community who will be working with FHS students. Positive relationships are the glue that keeps students in school, showing up every day to focus on their learning, earning their high school diploma, and heading toward a successful career and life.

Meet our Staff

Marty Griffith
Founder and Principal
Marty Griffith earned degrees from Kent State University and the Ohio State University College of Law. As an attorney, Marty worked with young men and women involved in the criminal and civil court systems of Franklin County and helped people launch businesses. In 2000, Marty returned to OSU, acquired a teaching license and embraced the fledgling charter school movement in Columbus. Since then, Marty served on the founding faculty of the Graham School, the A+ Arts Academy and launched a development and advancement department at the Arts & College Preparatory Academy before opening Franklinton High where he serves as its principal and superintendent.
Marty loves everything about FHS but mostly the kids who attend it. Marty serves on several local Boards, consults on school development, leadership and fundraising, loves to ski and lives in Bexley with his wife Jennifer, a Columbus City School’s Vocal Music Teacher and their two high school aged children.

Jennifer Griffith
Vice Principal
Bio Coming Soon

Anne Hyland, PhD
Teacher Leader
Dr. Anne Hyland is a graduate of Bowling Green State University and the University of Toledo with majors in Curriculum, Instructional Supervision, and Testing and Measurement. She is also a School Improvement Specialist certified by North Central Association – Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement.
Dr. Hyland believes that FHS is a rare opportunity for students to attend a small high school, where everyone knows your name, and cares about you. At FHS the teachers focus on the learning needed to earn an Ohio high school diploma, and do so while also helping students learn to make good decisions for themselves, help students find their own learning strengths and use those strengths in productive ways into their own futures. She is very pleased to be part of this student learning experience.

Tenishia Benson
21st Century Leader/Athletics Director

Chelsea Arnold
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
Chelsea is the counselor at FHS. Chelsea is working here through The Village Network to provide in-house clinical counseling services. She went to Ohio University where she studied Psychology and Diversity Studies and then attended Kent State University for Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She has worked in a crisis setting, college campus, with the juvenile courts, and adoptions.
Chelsea is here to help students reach their full potential. She is trained to identify and remediate stressors in functioning, resolve conflicts in relationships, and provide support for the student in the school, home, and community setting.

Lisa Bradley
Social Studies
My name is Lisa Bradley and I teach social studies at FHS. I have always had a passion for history and how its connections to today can help guide us into the future. I want, above all, to instill in my students a curiosity for the world around them and the desire to be engaged citizens. I obtained my B.A. from The Ohio State University in International Studies and Diplomacy and my teaching license from Otterbein University. I grew up in Central Ohio, leaving only for a short time to study abroad in London, England. I feel very lucky to have been welcomed into the FHS community. I love the small school atmosphere and the connections that I have already made to my students and fellow staff. When I'm not at school, I spend my time with my husband and two kids. We love to travel and see new places as often as we can!

Brady Calestro
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS AND ETHICS & MORALITY TEACHER
Brady Calestro teaches English Language Arts and co-teaches Ethics & Morality with Roni Edwards. He received his BSc. from the London School of Economics (UK) and his M.Ed. from Antioch University. Prior to this, he founded Mondokio International News—a website that allowed high school students to consider multiple perspectives on the same news topic. He is also FHS’s boxing coach.
Email Mr. Calestro

Ed Chatman
CTE Teacher

Jennifer Chen
EMIS Coordinator
Jennifer Chen is multilingual, multicultural, and multifunctional. Aside from streamlining the FHS student database, one can find her hiking in the woods, biking on the trails, or playing volleyball. As the days get shorter, she is often on the couch wrapped in layers of blankets with a hot cup of tea and a good book.

Josh Davis
Math Teacher

LeRoyna Edwards
Intervention Specialist
Roni Edwards, M.Ed., a holistic health educator, master joyologist certified Hatha yoga & tai qi instructor, community mother, nonprofit leader and lifelong practitioner of healthy living will teach students on the basic needs to prevent obesity and disease; manage stress and promote wellbeing. Roni has a BS in Environmental Education from OSU and a masters from Ashford University in Culturally Responsive Education. She is also certified in Kemetic Yoga and Therapeutic Yoga, Phlebotomy and Raw Food preparation.

Jill Harris
Blended Learning and Art Teacher
I went to Columbus West High school. I hated school so much I couldn't wait to get out! I worked for one year outside of high school and realized I couldn't do the daily grind at such a boring job! I called my high school art teacher and asked her if there was anything she could do to help me submit an application to college. She had me come to her house and draw until I had enough drawings to submit. I found out years later that she had written a letter that accompanied my portfolio. I give her all the credit for my going to college at The Columbus College of Art and Design and becoming an artist and a teacher! I have a BFA in Fine Arts with a minor in Art Therapy. I earned my Master's degree in Art Education from The Ohio State University and had the opportunity to travel to Reggio Emilia, Italy to study at the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre and saw many incredible masterpieces and works of art in Florence and Rome. I truly hope I can have a positive impact on each and every student. I believe each student is full of potential and at Franklinton high school they are given the opportunity of being actively engaged in their own learning journey.

Megan Klang
College and Career Coordinator; Next Step Initiative Leader
My name is Megan Klang and I am excited to join the FHS team this year! I am serving as our college and career coordinator, helping students identify what they want to do once they graduate. I also work with our 21c after school program. I recently graduated from OSU with my masters in social work and am passionate about helping students embrace their full potential. My favorite part about FHS is the family like environment. When I’m not working, I like to explore Columbus, travel and go to concerts.

Fritz Juskalian
Academic Work Force Liaison
Mr. “J” comes to Franklinton High School with a background in business and coaching/mentoring individuals. He has a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Franklin University, and sales and business consulting experience overseas and abroad. His goal is to work with the community of Franklinton to place FHS students in job shadowing, internships and finally meaningful wage jobs. If you know of an opportunity don’t hesitate to call!

Sam McCoy
Director of Development and Music Teacher
Sam McCoy has a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies from The Ohio
State University as well as a Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies from William Paterson University. He earned the Graduate Scholar Award in 2006, and has had private studies with Bill Goodwin, Matt Wilson, Joe Ong and Jane Varella.
Sam has been teaching and performing for over 20 years. He has performed with various jazz artists in New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago and Ohio. While at William Paterson, he worked closely with jazz greats: Mulgrew Miller, Don Braden, Harold Mabern and many others. He was a house drummer for Premier Cruise Lines in 1999-2000. He has taught everything from marching drum lines to Jazz History. He teaches the World Percussion Ensemble at Franklinton High School and the Ohio Avenue Steel Band for Directions for Youth and Families. He has worked with many schools around Ohio as percussion instructor.

Hugh Morris, PhD
Math and Science Teacher, Robotics Coach and Lead Mentor
Arts and Movement Teachers

Eric Rollin
Song Writing Teacher
Rollin, professional singer/songwriter, educator, mentor and audio engineer, is a native of the greater Columbus area and graduate of Gahanna Lincoln High School. He is the founder of the Columbus Chicken and Beer Festival, co-founder and singer/songwriter for the national band Mistar Anderson, and founder of the local music initiative "The Break" (longest running free style hip-hop open-mic night in Columbus, Ohio). He is also a member and/or advocate of various non-profit organizations dedicated to community music development.
Mr. Rollin, former instructor at Directions for Youth and Family Services, currently serves as the songwriting instructor at Franklinton High School. For the past 15 years, he has been writing music professionally and empowering youth by encouraging the use of positive and creative outward expression as a tool to increase socialization skills, academic success, and to overcome behavioral and emotional challenges. His passion for improving community by inspiring individual works of freedom makes him a great leader and role model for today's youth.

Bill Darby
Theater Instructor
Bio Coming Soon

Kate Morris
Jewelry Teacher and Website Admin
Kate has a degree in Jewelry Design and a Masters in Fine and Decorative Arts. She worked for many years in the Jewelry Department at Sotheby’s in London before turning her focus to textiles. In 2013 she founded The Lesser Bear, a socially conscious textile company, using natural dyes to create silk ribbon and table linens for weddings and special events. Recently she has been making pigments, dyes and watercolor paints out of plants, rocks, and minerals.
This is Kate's 4th year teaching a FHS and she has been amazed by the students' creativity and willingness to learn new skills.

LeRoyna Edwards
Health Instructor
Roni Edwards, M.Ed., a holistic health educator, master joyologist certified Hatha yoga & tai qi instructor, community mother, nonprofit leader and lifelong practitioner of healthy living will teach students on the basic needs to prevent obesity and disease; manage stress and promote wellbeing. Roni has a BS in Environmental Education from OSU and a masters from Ashford University in Culturally Responsive Education. She is also certified in Kemetic Yoga and Therapeutic Yoga, Phlebotomy and Raw Food preparation.

Tenishia Benson
Basketball Coach

Lorii A. Wallace
Dance Teacher
Lorii is a Dancer, choreographer, writer, interior and set designer who hails from Toledo, Ohio. Born into a musical family, she began playing the viola and piano at a young age. She began dancing with her sisters with African dance troupe Imuzi Ikaya, and then continued her study with Toledo Ballet, Toledo Performing Arts Company and more.
After studying Dance Therapy at the University of Toledo, and training with the late Geraldine Blunden of Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, she moved and danced with The Seattle/Tacoma Performing Arts Company, where she did off Broadway productions,and created her first performing arts company.
Her love for all the arts inspired her to create Tapestry Performing Arts Company right here in Columbus. Some of her credits include writing over 20 original productions and has had the honor of directing and choreographing numerous productions across the country including The Wiz and Black Nativity. Lorii most recently choreographed the CATCO productions of the Broadway Musical “EUBIE “ and “My Way”. During the last 10 years, Lorii has successfully worked with over 100 Ohio churches, schools, companies, and organizations creating numerous community-wide workshops and arts programs. Lorii was presented with acknowledgements from Columbus City Council, State Senators Office and Congress for her community arts productions to raise awareness for human trafficking and other subjects that affect our community.
She is the Artisti/Creative Director of Tapestry Performing Arts Company. She serves on several community boards and committees including, the Advisory Board of Ft. Hayes, BalletMet Columbus Educational Committee, Hope and Liberation Committee and is the Co Chair of The Demand Reduction Committee for human trafficking for CORCC at the Salvation Army, while operating her own interior decorating business (Set The Atmosphere Interior Decorating & Decor).

Quaeyla Wallace
Yoga Instructor
GOVERNING BOARD
Christiana Moffa
BOARD PRESIDENT
Nafis Azad
Vice-President
Stephen Swift
SECRETARY
Michael Hudoba
MEMBER
Catrina Blackwell
MEMBER
Jeff Johnston
MEMBER
Saif Karmi
Member
Tyler Overton
MEMBER
Patrick Reidy
MEMBER
CONTACT
Email: info@franklintonhigh.org
Address: 880 South Wayne Ave.
Columbus, Ohio 43204
Phone: 614.636.3721